While Kia Motors has experienced an incredible amount of success during the last decade, one thing curiously missing from its product mix was a vehicle having any “soul.”
Well, this vehicle should do the trick. Starting in 2009, Kia will start selling the fuel-efficient yet stylish Soul hatchback, fitting into the part of the market currently occupied by vehicles like the Honda Fit and Scion Xb.
While the new Kia Soul will no doubt be cross-shopped against these rivals, for once this Korean entry doesn’t appear to have been saddled with generic Korean “me too” styling. It is truly a unique and cohesive design statement.
When Kia introduced the Soul in concept form on the auto show circuit, it showed off three distinct custom interior schemes. While we aren’t sure that Kia will offer a wide range of interior modifications a la Scion, it seems like that would be a wise move in order to appeal to a younger demographic.
Some of the interior designs were a bit much, however. What's up with the Scottish tartan design, for example. Ah, designers. You have to wonder what the head honchos in South Korea thought when they got a look at that one.
Regardless of interior color schemes and options, we think we see a huge hit for Kia in the new Soul. Not only will it surely sell in large numbers to the fuel-efficiency minded, it will also appeal to people who would never have considered a boring old Kia.
All it takes for a brand name to cross over into the realm of being “cool” is one hit model. Just ask Chrysler, who was cool again for about a year and a half after the 300C came out. Or Italian automaker Fiat who is on fire—sales wise, not the cars—what with the release of its “cooler than a Mini” 500 model.
One interesting factoid about the new Kia Soul is that it will be manufactured exclusively at a new Kia plant in mainland China. That would make the Soul one of the first, if not the first, Chinese made automobile on sale in North America.
Prices are expected to be slightly less than the Scion and Honda, with similar levels of standard equipment.
Our take? Stylish and historic. That new Kia sure has a whole lotta “soul.”