Should I buy a Kia Soul?
August 2, 2013 11:33 AM Subscribe
I'm on the lookout for an inexpensive hatchback-type car to buy, and have become quite enamored with the Kia Soul based purely on its looks (I know, I know). Is this a good car to buy?
In this review, U.S. News and World Report ranked the Soul 8th in its class of 41 Affordable Small Cars, but said that other cars in the class are more fun to drive. What does this mean? If I do buy the Soul, I will get the most basic model they have. Any thoughts you have would be much appreciated.
In this review, U.S. News and World Report ranked the Soul 8th in its class of 41 Affordable Small Cars, but said that other cars in the class are more fun to drive. What does this mean? If I do buy the Soul, I will get the most basic model they have. Any thoughts you have would be much appreciated.
Drive the Soul and other cars of its ilk to compare. A Scion Xb, Honda Fit or a Nissan Cube.
Compare them while driving. I like the way Hondas handle. You may like something else.
Like kissing, cars are pretty individual. You can read all you want, but to undersand what it's like, you need to get behind the wheel.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:40 AM on August 2, 2013
Compare them while driving. I like the way Hondas handle. You may like something else.
Like kissing, cars are pretty individual. You can read all you want, but to undersand what it's like, you need to get behind the wheel.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:40 AM on August 2, 2013
Things I like about my Soul:
-Really ridiculously small turn-radius. You will never have to worry about if you can make a u-turn.
-Easy to park it anywhere because of turn radius and size.
-Good gas mileage. I get 26-29mpg driving into and out of a city.
-Very comfortable inside, even for my enormously tall friends.
-Good amount of storage space, and the rear seats fold down easily.
-Top-rated safety. 8 airbags I think, and an IIHS top safety pick.
-Damned inexpensive.
Things they could improve:
-Not a ton of pick-up, and the 2010 model has a 4-speed automatic. I think they've added speeds and horsepower in the newer models, but it's never going to be a powerful car. I'm pretty sure this is what reviews are talking about when they say "not as much fun". Sometimes it feels like you really need to lean on it to get up to speed quickly.
-Kind of noisy on the road.
-This is minor, but the plastic on the doors is really cheap and gets scratched/scuffed by things like "letting go of a seatbelt" or "hitting it with a laptop bag".
I've had mine for a little more than three years now, and I still love it a lot. Definitely give it a test-drive to see if you like the interior and handling.
posted by specialagentwebb at 11:45 AM on August 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
-Really ridiculously small turn-radius. You will never have to worry about if you can make a u-turn.
-Easy to park it anywhere because of turn radius and size.
-Good gas mileage. I get 26-29mpg driving into and out of a city.
-Very comfortable inside, even for my enormously tall friends.
-Good amount of storage space, and the rear seats fold down easily.
-Top-rated safety. 8 airbags I think, and an IIHS top safety pick.
-Damned inexpensive.
Things they could improve:
-Not a ton of pick-up, and the 2010 model has a 4-speed automatic. I think they've added speeds and horsepower in the newer models, but it's never going to be a powerful car. I'm pretty sure this is what reviews are talking about when they say "not as much fun". Sometimes it feels like you really need to lean on it to get up to speed quickly.
-Kind of noisy on the road.
-This is minor, but the plastic on the doors is really cheap and gets scratched/scuffed by things like "letting go of a seatbelt" or "hitting it with a laptop bag".
I've had mine for a little more than three years now, and I still love it a lot. Definitely give it a test-drive to see if you like the interior and handling.
posted by specialagentwebb at 11:45 AM on August 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh, and I'd like to add that reliability-wise, I've had my car in for regular inspections, oil changes, tire rotations, etc. The only non-scheduled times it's been in the shop, it's been for manufacturer recalls; one for wiring on the light-up speakers on upgraded sound package, and one for a switch that can affect brake lights.
posted by specialagentwebb at 11:48 AM on August 2, 2013
posted by specialagentwebb at 11:48 AM on August 2, 2013
I have a 2012 Kia Soul!
- I went into the car-buying process looking for a wagon. I love having all the space in the back. I've flattened out the back seats and pretty much use it for hauling things (dogs, gear, groceries, work stuff, etc) and it works great. I don't think anyone has ever actually sat back there, so I can't speak to legroom or the backseat riding experience.
- Gas mileage is good, but not as good as advertised. Take a look at this. I get a reimbursement check each year I own it because the fuel economy is far below what was advertised.
- My boyfriend is 6'5" and he is perfectly comfortable in the passenger seat. Driver seat, not so much. I think the wheel sticks out a bit and the driver's seat won't move far enough back for him.
- I like sitting up higher on the road. I tried the Fit and a used Outback, but went with the Soul because I liked being able to see more around me. And it was cheaper than even a used Outback!
- If you drive with the back windows open, the wind unfortunately creates a horrible moaning sound if you go faster than about 40 mph. This was not a dealbreaker for me, but there are times in which I am hauling a wet or dirty dog and wish I could open up those windows on the highway.
- It's kind of crappy on gravel and dirt roads. Sometimes I think I feel every single rut and rock that I drive over, and that's kind of annoying.
Overall, I love it. I have driven over 35,000 miles since I bought it in October of 2011, and it has given me no trouble (other than that stupid moaning window problem). I drive it in very cold winter weather and it always starts right up, but it is definitely NOT a snow vehicle. No plowing through snowbanks with the Soul! I think it's too light and doesn't have enough muscle to power through anything deep. The only non-routine maintenance I've had to do was to replace one tire, but that was because I drove over a piece of sharp metal and it ripped it right open.
posted by Elly Vortex at 11:59 AM on August 2, 2013
- I went into the car-buying process looking for a wagon. I love having all the space in the back. I've flattened out the back seats and pretty much use it for hauling things (dogs, gear, groceries, work stuff, etc) and it works great. I don't think anyone has ever actually sat back there, so I can't speak to legroom or the backseat riding experience.
- Gas mileage is good, but not as good as advertised. Take a look at this. I get a reimbursement check each year I own it because the fuel economy is far below what was advertised.
- My boyfriend is 6'5" and he is perfectly comfortable in the passenger seat. Driver seat, not so much. I think the wheel sticks out a bit and the driver's seat won't move far enough back for him.
- I like sitting up higher on the road. I tried the Fit and a used Outback, but went with the Soul because I liked being able to see more around me. And it was cheaper than even a used Outback!
- If you drive with the back windows open, the wind unfortunately creates a horrible moaning sound if you go faster than about 40 mph. This was not a dealbreaker for me, but there are times in which I am hauling a wet or dirty dog and wish I could open up those windows on the highway.
- It's kind of crappy on gravel and dirt roads. Sometimes I think I feel every single rut and rock that I drive over, and that's kind of annoying.
Overall, I love it. I have driven over 35,000 miles since I bought it in October of 2011, and it has given me no trouble (other than that stupid moaning window problem). I drive it in very cold winter weather and it always starts right up, but it is definitely NOT a snow vehicle. No plowing through snowbanks with the Soul! I think it's too light and doesn't have enough muscle to power through anything deep. The only non-routine maintenance I've had to do was to replace one tire, but that was because I drove over a piece of sharp metal and it ripped it right open.
posted by Elly Vortex at 11:59 AM on August 2, 2013
Do you drive a stick or automatic? I have a Hyundai Accent (also a small hatchback, same parent co) and there is a HUGE difference between the standard and automatic transmissions. The standard is a really fun car to drive, while the automatic just doesn't have the pickup.
posted by pie ninja at 12:00 PM on August 2, 2013
posted by pie ninja at 12:00 PM on August 2, 2013
I test-drove one recently, and while I liked sitting higher on the road, I ended up giving it a pass because I felt that there was too much of a blind spot created by the frame between the back window and the side back window for me to be comfortable with driving it. (I find the Nissan Cube ugly, but that wraparound window looks like it would solve that problem. Although we're probably just going to get a Forte.)
My husband's barber has a Soul and loves it.
posted by telophase at 12:07 PM on August 2, 2013
My husband's barber has a Soul and loves it.
posted by telophase at 12:07 PM on August 2, 2013
For more research, here is Edmunds' review of the 2013 Kia Soul.
posted by Young Kullervo at 12:34 PM on August 2, 2013
posted by Young Kullervo at 12:34 PM on August 2, 2013
We rented a Soul for a weekend trip and it held four people, 2 of them quite tall, and a weekend's worth of clothes and such, and we had a great time driving it. What specialagentwebb says about turning radius is spot on.
posted by gauche at 12:36 PM on August 2, 2013
posted by gauche at 12:36 PM on August 2, 2013
Big blind spot. No wheeled towing capacity, but you can put a class one hitch on it for a trailer shelf or bike rack.
Consider adding on the backup camera.
posted by tilde at 12:56 PM on August 2, 2013
Consider adding on the backup camera.
posted by tilde at 12:56 PM on August 2, 2013
I test drove a Soul a few years ago (I ended up with a Fit). I loved most everything about (especially the price!), but (huge BUT) there was an enormous blind spot on the right rear for me - I'm short, so I sometimes have troubles with blind spots others don't, but this was deal-killer for me.
So test drive - and look around.
The Fit has been a dream - typical Honda, doesn't need much in the way of maintenance, and just goes.
posted by dbmcd at 1:29 PM on August 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
So test drive - and look around.
The Fit has been a dream - typical Honda, doesn't need much in the way of maintenance, and just goes.
posted by dbmcd at 1:29 PM on August 2, 2013 [1 favorite]
In that category of small and relatively inexpensive, we have a Fit and love it.
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:00 PM on August 2, 2013
posted by BlahLaLa at 2:00 PM on August 2, 2013
I have a Yaris and love it. Nearly 40 miles to the gallon, incredibly fun to drive and pretty roomy. The 4-door hatchback version is neat.
posted by shew at 2:09 PM on August 2, 2013
posted by shew at 2:09 PM on August 2, 2013
Rented one a couple of years ago. Was so noisy on the highway that I couldn't use the bluetooth hands-free with my phone. It was nice for driving in downtown Boston though.
posted by Wild_Eep at 2:29 PM on August 2, 2013
posted by Wild_Eep at 2:29 PM on August 2, 2013
My wife and I bought one. She drives it. Main complaints are that the seats are really uncomfortable, especially the lumbar support. We add a little pillow for the lower spine but it doesn't seem to really help much.
posted by gregjunior at 3:18 PM on August 2, 2013
posted by gregjunior at 3:18 PM on August 2, 2013
I rented one once, and really enjoyed it. If you're into the kind of gratuitously fun but not very practical thing -- extremely bright colors (I love the red), a really great stereo (like, seriously, AMAZING for its price class), a very distinctive shape (albeit shared with a couple of other small box cars), it's great. And the price is really good. Also, excellent forward visibility. I've been thinking of buying one myself.
HOWEVER:
- it kind of handles like shit, at least in my experience. I felt like I couldn't keep control of it very well on the LA freeways. There's one pothole right where I would always get on the freeway, and every time I drove over it, I felt the car lurch around like it was about to go into the wall... really freaked me out. (For comparison, right now I drive one of those wonderful immortal old mid-90's honda civics that handles like a car twice as expensive, so I may just be spoiled.)
- contrary to what some other commentators have said, I wasn't impressed with the gas mileage. Maybe it's my driving style.
- not a lot of pep.
So, what I'm saying is: do you care about looks or about performance?
posted by paultopia at 4:20 PM on August 2, 2013
HOWEVER:
- it kind of handles like shit, at least in my experience. I felt like I couldn't keep control of it very well on the LA freeways. There's one pothole right where I would always get on the freeway, and every time I drove over it, I felt the car lurch around like it was about to go into the wall... really freaked me out. (For comparison, right now I drive one of those wonderful immortal old mid-90's honda civics that handles like a car twice as expensive, so I may just be spoiled.)
- contrary to what some other commentators have said, I wasn't impressed with the gas mileage. Maybe it's my driving style.
- not a lot of pep.
So, what I'm saying is: do you care about looks or about performance?
posted by paultopia at 4:20 PM on August 2, 2013
My wife and I are biiiiiiiiiiig fans of our Yaris. It's not as visually fun as a Soul (and if she'd had her way, we'd have bought a Cube!), but the mileage is great and it's a pretty decent drive.
posted by Shepherd at 5:26 PM on August 2, 2013
posted by Shepherd at 5:26 PM on August 2, 2013
My parents have a 2013 model year Soul. My mom, the primary driver, loves being higher up and she's pretty happy with its acceleration and steering (the car she was driving previously was an Infiniti G-class so she was used to lots of horses).
Her two major dislikes are ones already mentioned: 1) the restated gas mileage (she's getting numbers significantly lower than even the restated mileage, but she's getting a check for the difference in mileage. You, buying now, would not get a check because the problem has already come to light. That's keeping me from buying a Hyundai or Kia) and 2) the incredibly bad blindspot in the rearview (she has a backup camera but is not in the habit of using it instead of simply looking over her shoulder).
One note: my parents bought the most expensive model. I have driven that car as well as the base model (see below), so can offer impressions on both.
I've rented a 2013 Soul (base model) and found myself mostly agreeing with my mom's assessment. The height is tons of fun, as a short person, but the rear view blind spot is truly hard to adjust to. I drove the car all over Houston freeways and streets, which are full of potholes and badly maintained (worse than LA! I didn't think that was possible!), and didn't have a problem with the handling. I do think the interiors are terribly plastic--and I drive a Corolla so I know from cheap--and prone to getting marks on them. If possible, don't get the two-toned interior as it doesn't age well.
Overall, though my parents are fairly happy with their car, I will say that as someone in the market myself for a new car and looking at hatchbacks I will not be buying a Soul and cannot really recommend one. I'm looking at others on that US News list.
posted by librarylis at 12:23 AM on August 4, 2013
Her two major dislikes are ones already mentioned: 1) the restated gas mileage (she's getting numbers significantly lower than even the restated mileage, but she's getting a check for the difference in mileage. You, buying now, would not get a check because the problem has already come to light. That's keeping me from buying a Hyundai or Kia) and 2) the incredibly bad blindspot in the rearview (she has a backup camera but is not in the habit of using it instead of simply looking over her shoulder).
One note: my parents bought the most expensive model. I have driven that car as well as the base model (see below), so can offer impressions on both.
I've rented a 2013 Soul (base model) and found myself mostly agreeing with my mom's assessment. The height is tons of fun, as a short person, but the rear view blind spot is truly hard to adjust to. I drove the car all over Houston freeways and streets, which are full of potholes and badly maintained (worse than LA! I didn't think that was possible!), and didn't have a problem with the handling. I do think the interiors are terribly plastic--and I drive a Corolla so I know from cheap--and prone to getting marks on them. If possible, don't get the two-toned interior as it doesn't age well.
Overall, though my parents are fairly happy with their car, I will say that as someone in the market myself for a new car and looking at hatchbacks I will not be buying a Soul and cannot really recommend one. I'm looking at others on that US News list.
posted by librarylis at 12:23 AM on August 4, 2013
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