The new Kia Soul begs one big question: Is this thing cool?
The Soul is a five-door hatch about a half-foot shorter than a Scion xB, one of the youth-market vehicles that likely inspired Kia to enter this niche (the Honda Element is another; ditto the Nissan Cube, the all-new version of which will arrive here next spring as a 2009 model). The Soul began life as a very cool concept car in 2006, but the powerful, big-haunch look and a lot of the trick, appealing aspects have been finessed out in the obligatory production compromise.
Looks are the whole ballgame here, because beneath the radically angled window line and the buff fender bulges and the seat fabric that glows in the dark with the word “soul” is basically a good-sized but unspectacular economy box.
See also:
Ignition switch
Ignition switch and anti-theft
steering column lock
Ignition switch position
LOCK
The steering wheel locks to protect
against theft. The ignition key can be
removed only in the LOCK position.
...
A safer drive thanks to new 'active' and 'passive' technology
Kia invests heavily in R&D programmes directed at enhancing both the active
and passive safety of its vehicles to deliver the highest levels of occupant
protection.
To ensure that owning and ...
Fuel requirements
Gasoline engine (unleaded)
Your new Kia vehicle is designed to use
only unleaded fuel with a minimum
Octane Rating of 87 Anti-Knock Index
(AKI).
NOTICE
NEVER USE LEADED FUEL. The use
of leaded ...