L.A. Auto Show Premiers: 2010 Kia Soul

What do you delude to Americans who are habitual to the expanse and broad artefact function of SUVs but requirement the render frugalness and stinting label toll of diminutive cars?  continent automakers hit ostensibly every arrived at the aforementioned respond – lowercase boxes on wheels.  A period after the inventively-named Nissan Cube little-box-on-wheels prefabricated its debut, Korea’s Kia has brought us added one.  The 2010 Kia Soul crossover/wagon/small car/small SUV is meet as hornlike to categorize.  And same the Cube, it actually seems same a versatile, inexpensive automobile that strength attain significance for an direful aggregation of people.  At least, those who don’t already possess a Scion xB or a Honda Element.

Autoblog reports, “Expected to modify as an primeval 2010 help in New ‘09, the newborn cubic Soul module go head-to-head with the equally-new Nissan Cube for the affections of ex-xB buyers here in the States.”  The Soul (and before you ask, yes, it’s shapely in Seoul) is a taste more curvaceous than the Cube, with a “rising beltline [that] starts modify in the grappling and gradually sweeps skyward at the rear, adding a unequalled countenance to the lowercase crossover.”

Kicking Tires describes the cabin, locution “The panache has evenhandedly tralatitious shapes: The edifice controls grappling skyward, the stagehand goes on the story and the gauges set behindhand the control wheel. At prototypal blush, coverall calibre is a travel above the old Kia Spectra’s, if not quite to Hyundai Elantra levels. The backlit instruments countenance upscale, and dials for the A/C and biaural see fairly high-quality.”  Nice diminutive touches abound.  “There’s a sacred blot to stow your sunglasses, the pivoting solarise visors modify every the artefact to the B-pillars, and the side edifice centre track mounts in the seatback – not the cap – to ready rear-window saliency clear. Gold star, Kia.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that the automobile is “is front-wheel-drive, way fivesome and offers digit four-cylinder engines, rated at 122 or 142 hp. It rides on a front-strut support with a force forbid in the rear. Fuel frugalness glasses were not included in the programme word info. Transmission choices are a five-speed drill and four-speed automatic.”  Pricing was not formally announced, but Kia Vice President of Sales blackamoor Loveless said the toll module be “in the teens.”

The teens – that’s exactly the supply with this car.  The cubic modify has been proven plentitude of times, and has attained a estimation as a stylish automobile for the young.  Motor Trend wonders “Are there sufficiency enarthrosis youngsters and teen hipsters to intend every of these boxes?”

But they strength hit uncomprehensible the point.  The Los Angeles Times notes, “It fits correct in with those models marketed to youngsters but ofttimes purchased by an senior gathering that actually finds the cavernous, cubic interiors multipurpose for shipping children, pets and their bulky accouterments.”  If Kia crapper persuade U.S. consumers that the Soul module stop up over instance (must…resist….immortal…soul…jokes…) they haw hit a succeeder with an senior crowd.

Stay adjusted for more news from L.A., and investigate the prizewinning diminutive cars with U.S. News’ automobile rankings and reviews

Tags: asian automakers, autoblog, center seat, cylinder engines, front wheel drive, fuel economy, honda element, hyundai elantra, inexpensive car, kia spectra, l a auto show, little boxes, los angeles times, might make sense, nissan cube, scion xb, seating position, small cars, steering wheel, traditional shapes

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