4 Me? Yes, 4u
The 2013 Kia Soul has personality. Ever since we first met a few years ago, I remember it having a certain pizzazz about it that made me like it. A cute, box-like urbanite vehicle that seats five and has some funky features, the Kia Soul's got spunk. There's also 546 litres of cargo space behind the second row to fit whatever miscellaneous items you carry with you.
Getting u around
With a 2.0L, 4-cylinder engine, the 2013 Kia Soul produces 164 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. It's then paired up with the optional 6-speed automatic transmission (the only option available on the 4u and 4u Luxury models). The standard transmission is a 6-speed manual, offer on the 1.6L and 2.0L 2u models. Estimated fuel economy comes in at 8.8L/100km in the city and 7.1L/100km on the highway. With the bulk of my driving done in the city, I averaged 7.8L/100km.
City slicker
The ease at which the 2013 Kia Soul 4u moves around town is one of its strong suits, that's why I like it best in this setting. Don't get me wrong, its capabilities on the open road are nothing to scoff at, but its compact size really makes urban life a little more convenient.
That said, it's not a sloppy ride in the 2013 Kia Soul 4u. With a sport-tuned suspension, it still has some kick when it comes to cornering. Mind you, it's no Forte Coupe in that department, but it can still perform the task.
They don't call it Luxury for nothing
It might seem like an oxymoron to put the words "luxury" and "Kia" together, but it's not such a stretch. With good-looking interiors, more upscale materials used, and a host of creature comforts, it's not hard to feel well taken care of behind the wheel of a Kia. Speaking of wheels, my 2013 Kia Soul 4u has a set of 18" alloys that match its Molten Red exterior paint job smashingly.
Heated leather seats help keep front passenger bottoms nice and toasty, especially on the chillier days of spring. Venturing into uncharted territory is also not a problem with the Soul. Its navigation system is easy to work with and effortlessly displayed on the touchscreen that's the focal point of the centre stack.
Add into the mix a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a leather-wrapped shift knob, a power tilt and sliding sunroof and more, and things look pretty good from the driver's seat of the 2013 Kia Soul 4u.
My only qualm with the interior of this model is that there's a lot of black. It's fairly dark and could use a splash of colour. That said, opening the sunroof and letting the daylight in helped brighten things up.
Light bright
Inside, there's an Infinity premium stereo that has a unique flair. You're actually able to change the coloured lights that surround the speakers thanks to the Soul Speaker Mood Lamp. How could you do such a thing? Simple: There's a dial on the left-hand side of the steering column that gives you the ability to choose between various settings like Mood or Music. You can completely shut the feature off if you're mooded out.
Whether cycling through different hues to the beat of the music through the speakers, or just cycling through light for a colourful montage, it's quite a cool feature. Of course, the green, red, purple, and more are best seen at night. You know, to help get you in the mood... to drive, that is.
Places for stuff
Have you ever been in a vehicle where there is little available cubby space to put your personal items? I can think of a few. For example, the Pontiac Solstice (may it rest in peace). If you had a passenger along for the topless ride, you had nowhere to put your phone, a beverage, a receipt or whatever. OK, I'll rephrase that statement: You had nowhere in reach to put your stuff.
A lot of cars are like this. If the cupholder is full, you're out of luck. There are the door pockets, but I end up forgetting stuff in there all the time (I hope whoever found my Ace of Base CD is enjoying it).
My point is, the 2013 Kia Soul does not have this issue. Under the centre stack is a perfect place to put stuff. Furthermore, it accommodates my MP3 player, which is both in reach and able to charge up via a USB cable -- ingenious.
Pricing
Turns out, you can put a price tag on a Soul (insert witty pun here) and it has an MSRP of $25,595 (excluding destination charges). The 4u Luxury is the top-of-the-line model, so if you'd like to pay less for a Soul, that can be arranged. They have a starting MSRP of $16,795.
This 2013 kia Soul 4U Luxury review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.
The 2013 Kia Soul has personality. Ever since we first met a few years ago, I remember it having a certain pizzazz about it that made me like it. A cute, box-like urbanite vehicle that seats five and has some funky features, the Kia Soul's got spunk. There's also 546 litres of cargo space behind the second row to fit whatever miscellaneous items you carry with you.
Getting u around
With a 2.0L, 4-cylinder engine, the 2013 Kia Soul produces 164 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque. It's then paired up with the optional 6-speed automatic transmission (the only option available on the 4u and 4u Luxury models). The standard transmission is a 6-speed manual, offer on the 1.6L and 2.0L 2u models. Estimated fuel economy comes in at 8.8L/100km in the city and 7.1L/100km on the highway. With the bulk of my driving done in the city, I averaged 7.8L/100km.
City slicker
The ease at which the 2013 Kia Soul 4u moves around town is one of its strong suits, that's why I like it best in this setting. Don't get me wrong, its capabilities on the open road are nothing to scoff at, but its compact size really makes urban life a little more convenient.
That said, it's not a sloppy ride in the 2013 Kia Soul 4u. With a sport-tuned suspension, it still has some kick when it comes to cornering. Mind you, it's no Forte Coupe in that department, but it can still perform the task.
They don't call it Luxury for nothing
It might seem like an oxymoron to put the words "luxury" and "Kia" together, but it's not such a stretch. With good-looking interiors, more upscale materials used, and a host of creature comforts, it's not hard to feel well taken care of behind the wheel of a Kia. Speaking of wheels, my 2013 Kia Soul 4u has a set of 18" alloys that match its Molten Red exterior paint job smashingly.
Heated leather seats help keep front passenger bottoms nice and toasty, especially on the chillier days of spring. Venturing into uncharted territory is also not a problem with the Soul. Its navigation system is easy to work with and effortlessly displayed on the touchscreen that's the focal point of the centre stack.
Add into the mix a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a leather-wrapped shift knob, a power tilt and sliding sunroof and more, and things look pretty good from the driver's seat of the 2013 Kia Soul 4u.
My only qualm with the interior of this model is that there's a lot of black. It's fairly dark and could use a splash of colour. That said, opening the sunroof and letting the daylight in helped brighten things up.
Light bright
Inside, there's an Infinity premium stereo that has a unique flair. You're actually able to change the coloured lights that surround the speakers thanks to the Soul Speaker Mood Lamp. How could you do such a thing? Simple: There's a dial on the left-hand side of the steering column that gives you the ability to choose between various settings like Mood or Music. You can completely shut the feature off if you're mooded out.
Whether cycling through different hues to the beat of the music through the speakers, or just cycling through light for a colourful montage, it's quite a cool feature. Of course, the green, red, purple, and more are best seen at night. You know, to help get you in the mood... to drive, that is.
Places for stuff
Have you ever been in a vehicle where there is little available cubby space to put your personal items? I can think of a few. For example, the Pontiac Solstice (may it rest in peace). If you had a passenger along for the topless ride, you had nowhere to put your phone, a beverage, a receipt or whatever. OK, I'll rephrase that statement: You had nowhere in reach to put your stuff.
A lot of cars are like this. If the cupholder is full, you're out of luck. There are the door pockets, but I end up forgetting stuff in there all the time (I hope whoever found my Ace of Base CD is enjoying it).
My point is, the 2013 Kia Soul does not have this issue. Under the centre stack is a perfect place to put stuff. Furthermore, it accommodates my MP3 player, which is both in reach and able to charge up via a USB cable -- ingenious.
Pricing
Turns out, you can put a price tag on a Soul (insert witty pun here) and it has an MSRP of $25,595 (excluding destination charges). The 4u Luxury is the top-of-the-line model, so if you'd like to pay less for a Soul, that can be arranged. They have a starting MSRP of $16,795.
This 2013 kia Soul 4U Luxury review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.
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