Think of the 2011 Kia Soul as a delicious appetizer, if you will, that prepares you for the main course. In this case, that delicious entree will be the 2012 model. That’s not to gloss over the 2011 Soul. Candidly, if I were in the market for a new car, I’d find the 2011 model tough to resist. Why wouldn’t you want to just surrender to it, anyway?
The 2011 Kia Soul is so fun to drive, fuel-efficient and boasts such top-notch technology that Cars.com put it in its recent “Top 10 Urban Cars” list.
Let’s be honest, even if you live in the ‘burbs and only venture into the District occasionally, you really should have an agile, practically sized car, unless you enjoy paying $20 and up for a few hours of parking — if you can find it.
I’m more than a few years (OK, decades) beyond the young urban professional moniker, but this five-door, fuel-frugal, stylish cutie is just what I’ve recommended to my twenty- and thirtysomething friends.
But don’t let your age influence your decision. With a tight turning radius, incredible visibility and a sticker price starting at just over $13,000, the 2011 Kia Soul really is a one-car-fits-all-ages urban wonder complete with air conditioning, satellite radio capability, MP3 connectivity, Bluetooth, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and more.
So why, one might rightfully ask, is the 2012 supposed to be such a standout?
Well, of course, we haven’t tested the 2012 yet, but the information that filtered out from the New York International Auto Show promises an even more high-tech, powerful and fuel-miserly Soul. Some of the highlights are said to include a new six-speed transmission and direct injection that translates into fuel efficiency up to 34 mpg (versus the current 24 to 30 mpg), subtle design changes including new projector head lamps with light-emitting diode daytime running lights, keyless remote entry, hands-free Bluetooth connectivity, rear and hatch privacy glass — and that’s just for starters.
Again, I haven’t tested this new car but the fog lamps, LED tail lamps and power sunroof seem to really jazz up this already trendy car.
Inside, the car that Ward’s AutoWorld deemed the model with the “grooviest interior” retains its ultramodern look with plenty of comfort including 40.2 inches of headroom in the front, 39.6 in the rear, and 42.1 inches of legroom in the front and 39 inches in the rear.
Safety, power, smooth braking and a smooth ride — thanks to the independent front suspension with MacPherson struts, coil springs, rear monotube gas shock absorbers and stabilizer bar — are just more of what makes the Soul a standout.
I could go on but you get the idea — the Soul is one sweet ride.
