CONCLUSION

My favorite Soul was the “!” trim, only available in cream white, navy blue, silver, or black. Its two-tone beige and black dash may not suit everyone’s tastes, nor will its houndstooth-patterned seats. After posting an image of the seats on Facebook, a friend commented on why Kia would use “leftover 80’s fabric.” I hadn’t the heart to say it had made a comeback…three years ago.

That’s the sort of discussion Kia hopes to generate with the Soul. Unless you sew your own seats, there’s no way to find a Toyota Matrix with such an eclectic interior. Compact cars are a more common sight on our roads, and the Soul seemed in my short drive to generate at least some positive attention from passing motorists.

A lady in her 50s even took the time to roll down her window and say the car was, “So cool.”

She was just about the age to appreciate mood lighting, too.

    See also:

    In case of an emergency while driving
    If the engine stalls at a crossroad or crossing If the engine stalls at a crossroad or crossing, set the shift lever in the N (Neutral) position and then push the vehicle to a safe place. If you ...

    Vehicle weight
    This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle and/or trailer, to keep your loaded vehicle weight within its design rating capability, with or without a trailer. Properly loadin ...

    Driving tips
    Fuel requirements Emission control system Before driving Suggestions for economical operation Special driving conditions Using four-wheel drive Weight of the vehicle Trailer towing Overloading ...