My wife and I took a '10 Kia Soul + out for a test drive this evening. I've been meaning to take one out since checking them out at the NAIAS in Detroit earlier this year. I was surprised to find that they are as nice as I remembered. They aren't the best looking vehicles on the road, but I think they fit their market segment nicely. For a Kia, they are loads nicer and better quality materials than their other offerings.

We just went on a short drive, probably 5 miles, but it got quite a few stares and folks pointing at it. It drove very nicely, firm suspension, QUICK steering ratio with quite a small diameter wheel, fairly sporty driving. It cornered well, really a nice ride. Lots of really nice features (integrated bluetooth, ipod hookup, usb, etc). Its on our list of "possibles," we need to determine if its large enough for our needs, but its a nice car. The sales guy said they've been selling like crazy, someone else came to check them out while we were there, and someone else was picking theirs up the evening we were there. I don't think he was lying.

I think the commercial for these is hilarious, so here it is:

quote Originally posted by Rainman: My wife and I took a '10 Kia Soul + out for a test drive this evening. I've been meaning to take one out since checking them out at the NAIAS in Detroit earlier this year. I was surprised to find that they are as nice as I remembered. They aren't the best looking vehicles on the road, but I think they fit their market segment nicely. For a Kia, they are loads nicer and better quality materials than their other offerings. We just went on a short drive, probably 5 miles, but it got quite a few stares and folks pointing at it. It drove very nicely, firm suspension, QUICK steering ratio with quite a small diameter wheel, fairly sporty driving. It cornered well, really a nice ride. Lots of really nice features (integrated bluetooth, ipod hookup, usb, etc). Its on our list of "possibles," we need to determine if its large enough for our needs, but its a nice car. The sales guy said they've been selling like crazy, someone else came to check them out while we were there, and someone else was picking theirs up the evening we were there. I don't think he was lying. I think the commercial for these is hilarious, so here it is:

Why not buy an American brand. (disclaimer....I own a Subaru, just wondering if OP shopped Domestic as well)

quote Originally posted by WBailey1041: Why not buy an American brand. (disclaimer....I own a Subaru, just wondering if OP shopped Domestic as well)

Is there even a domestic in its class? I think the closest is an HHR or Dodge but those are bigger.

quote Originally posted by WBailey1041: Why not buy an American brand. (disclaimer....I own a Subaru, just wondering if OP shopped Domestic as well)

While attempting to not alter the direction of this thread (if avoidable), I'll simply say there is nothing domestic that I want.

there are 4 of those in town. They are (no offense meant) the UGLIEST car on the road!! The tail light design makes me think of a diecast toy.

quote Originally posted by Rainman: While attempting to not alter the direction of this thread (if avoidable), I'll simply say there is nothing domestic that I want.

There really is no similar domestic vehicle anyway.

Have you also looked at the Nissan Cube? I saw one of those for the first time earlier this week. They also are not the prettiest thing on the road, but look like they would be very similar to the Soul as far as size and available space.

quote Originally posted by Fformula88: There really is no similar domestic vehicle anyway. Have you also looked at the Nissan Cube? I saw one of those for the first time earlier this week. They also are not the prettiest thing on the road, but look like they would be very similar to the Soul as far as size and available space.

The cube is a competitor along with the xB. This would likely be my wife's vehicle, we both can't stand the xB and I don't think she could get over the cube's looks. We liked the styling of the Soul in a weird way. It was definitely a "fun" car.

While at the dealer, my wife mentioned to me that the Pilot has grown on her (which is what we would be replacing) and now isn't sure she wants something different. I think its because she's gotten comfortable/used to it.

Edit, my wife just emailed me from work and said she wants to keep the Pilot. So, that is that, going full circle regarding replacing to keeping the Pilot.

[This message has been edited by Rainman (edited 05-22-2009).]

quote Originally posted by 8Ball: They are (no offense meant) the UGLIEST car on the road!! The tail light design makes me think of a diecast toy.

Ever see their competition? They are way better looking than a Nissan Cube or a Scion xB in my opinion.

hey. You can't forget who started the box car thing. The honda element. My mom has one and its awesome. Its just big enough for a dirt bike to fit in.

quote Originally posted by kslish: Ever see their competition? They are way better looking than a Nissan Cube or a Scion xB in my opinion.

Im with your guys. The new look apparently is ugly as you can make it. Another retro fad like the Gremlin and Pacer.

Hi. I'm collecting souls for the 2010 soul drive. Care to donate yours ?

i actually like the older xB's and love the new soul's as well.. but i like square styling..

Here is another idea based on trying to figure out what a wife wants:

My wife loved her Honda Pilot except for the 14 mpg she was getting. So she was willing to get something else. Got her a Mazdaspeed 3. Asked her about 15 times if the ride was too rough and the exhaust too loud. No. It's fine. After about a month with it...ride is too rough and it is kind of loud. Ok, well I can live with it. I'll drive it.

Well, what DO you want?
So after many different ideas, she decided she liked the Pilot but not the gas mileage. Looking for kind of a "mini" Pilot.

OK. How about the Toyota RAV4 with the V6? It is smaller, but still decent room for 5. And it has a similar V6 engine to the Pilot in size and output, but with pulling around a lighter load, would get about 21 to 22 mpg.

So that is what I just got her last weekend. So maybe she would like THAT balance of power, size, and gas mileage?

If you were back along the lines of a Kia, as far as gas mileage and utility, what about a Honda Fit? Maybe a little more "mainstream" looking, but still decent interior space and flexibility.

Haha, good story, Frontal. They could be sisters. And I hear my wife's sister is the same as well.

I like the Fit. I think they are a neat car. I might have to show her one. But now that she has made up her mind on the Pilot, I might leave well enough alone.

Our Pilot is getting pretty decent mileage. We average around 23mpg hwy, not really sure about city, probably around 18mpg. We drove to the west coast and back last summer and averaged between 22-24mpg on each tank. That was with a FULLY loaded vehicle as well.

Man, I don't know what the deal was. Yes, it was a 4wd model, but 14 mpg city seemed low. And usually not any better than 19mpg hwy. Almost everyone was getting better mileage than that, but we just never did. So I'm jealous of you guys, and maybe she would have kept our Pilot if we had mpg like you guys are getting.

My wife considered a Fit several times, but it was just a little lower end of "cushy" than she wanted. Totally fine by any means. But certainly not the "cush" level of a Pilot.

quote Originally posted by frontal lobe: So she was willing to get something else. Got her a Mazdaspeed 3. Asked her about 15 times if the ride was too rough and the exhaust too loud. No. It's fine. After about a month with it...ride is too rough and it is kind of loud.

Women...

I personally wouldn't buy a Kia, but I see plenty of xBs on the road. The Kia looks to be a good competitor for the market but they are all so god awful ugly.

~ Derek

Another toaster oven with wheels......

Kia's are pretty damn good cars these days (since Hyundai bought them).

My 2006 Kia Rio5 has 150,000 miles on it with no problems.

quote Originally posted by frontal lobe: Man, I don't know what the deal was. Yes, it was a 4wd model, but 14 mpg city seemed low. And usually not any better than 19mpg hwy. Almost everyone was getting better mileage than that, but we just never did. So I'm jealous of you guys, and maybe she would have kept our Pilot if we had mpg like you guys are getting.

We've got a 4wd EX-L, which I assume is what you had. Not sure why the mileage difference, but probably production tolerances. They happen.

Growing up my folks had a vehicle that needed a new engine, it was replaced by the dealer and the new engine never got the same mileage and was noticeably slower than the one it replaced.

[This message has been edited by Rainman (edited 05-22-2009).]