Last week, I shared my experience with the Kia Rio on a recent road trip to the Florida Keys {If you haven’t seen it, it’s a cute car with some incredible gas mileage}. As sad as I was to see the car go, I had an awesome surprise waiting for me when it was time to do the handover — an additional week to test out another Kia!
This time is was a 2012 Kia Soul … in Alien Green!
Before I even stepped foot in the SUV, I knew it would be the coolest vehicle I would ever drive. The Kia Soul has a personality, and you can’t help but notice it!
I didn’t have any road trips planned or events to attend for the week, so it was going to be used as my primary vehicle to tote my family around – both my husband and daughter were as excited to drive/ride in it as I was.
Immediately, I felt very comfortable in the Kia Soul. The size is smaller than my current SUV, but I still had the height that you get as a driver (versus sitting lower in a car). This model, the Kia Soul ! — yes, the model is the exclamation point – has all the bells & whistles that you could want in a vehicle, including the can’t-live-without In-dash Navigation System with SiriusXM, Rear-Camera Display, and Push Start Button with Smart Key. Plus, it had leather seats and a sunroof — which my daughter went nuts over!
One of the coolest features of the Kia Soul is the mood lighting around the speakers that change color as you listen to music. This is just one of the little details that make the Soul different from other vehicles – and quite frankly, it put a smile on our faces 😉
Cue dancing hamsters to “Party Rock” — you know you’ve seen that commercial!
The size of the Kia Soul turned out to be perfect for my family of three. At this stage in my life, I’m looking to downsize because we really don’t have a need for a lot of “stuffâ€, and I would like to cut back on expenses. The Kia Soul has all the features you want in a SUV, without the extra bulk. Plus, the gas mileage is impressive at 34 MPG Highway and 26 MPG City – which would save money at the gas tank. The Kia Soul ! — fully loaded — comes in at under $23,000, with the base model starting at only $14,400.
What Makes the Kia Soul So Cool?
1. All of the convenience you want/need in an SUV in a compact design that drives wellÂ
2. Option of Alien Green exterior paint – the color is beautiful in person, and it’s the one I would get!
3. Speakers with Mood Lighting that change color when you drive
4. All of the safety feature you expect in a Kia – including:Â Dual front and side airbags, full lenght side curtain airbag, 4-wheel disc brakes, and stability control
5. 60/40 Split Rear Seats – for trips to IKEA 😉
6. Â USB Ports
7. Optional Navigation System with SiriusXM and Rear Camera Display – a MUST-HAVE!
8. Remote Keyless Entry
9. Active Eco System – alerts you when you reach optimal fuel efficiency
10. 34 MPG Highway – an SUV you can afford to drive
And if you needed another reason: The Kia Soul was named 2012 IIHS Top Safery Pick for the 2013 Soul and the “Highest Ranked Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle in Initial Quality” by J.D. Power and Associates for 2012.
Special thanks to Kia Motors for letting me test drive a 2012 Kia Soul ! for a week. All opinions are my own.
