by "PanchoVilleneuve ST" (PanchoVilleneuve)
Published 04/08/2017 at 15:10
by "PanchoVilleneuve ST" (PanchoVilleneuve)
Published 04/08/2017 at 15:10
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STARS: 2
It’s a really nice car, inside and out. The engine (it’s got the 2.0 NA engine) pulls nicely and sounds great for a direct injected engine, the transmission works well for a slushbox, and it’s the first time I’ve used one of those buttons that change the steering settings that actually makes a noticable difference. Also, she got it in Caribbean Blue, which is a really great color.
My favorite thing about it, though, is what they did with the rear seat. My Scion had “fold-flat” seats that never really folded flat, since they’d be resting on the seatbelt buckle. Kia got around that by putting these little recessed areas in the bottom of the seat so they sit flush with the seatcushion and the seatback can fold flat.
It beats the hell out of trying to lift the seatbottoms in my Focus, that’s for sure.
"gin-san - shitpost specialist" (gin-san-)
04/08/2017 at 15:37, STARS: 1
I have a Forte5 SX but the 60/40 split seats never go totally flat - the 60 portion of the split still rises up a little bit, despite the small recess for the seatbelt buckle. Haven’t bothered to figure out what’s blocking it from laying flat.
Anyways, the Soul is a pretty decent car to be in and I like the weird boxy shape. I’ve have gone for the 1.6T engine which seems to be popping up in all the compact Hyundai/Kia cars lately.
"PanchoVilleneuve ST" (PanchoVilleneuve)
04/08/2017 at 15:53, STARS: 0
It’s a great engine, as is the DCT they pair it with, and she test-drove one, and while the Soul! is a better overall car than the Soul+, it’s not $3,000 dollars better. It is a really nice place to be, though, since it’s all open and airy without feeling empty, if that makes sense.
Despite all the work they did to “sport” it up, the changes aren’t like what they did with the Forte5 SX, which is a really great medium-hot hatch. It’s great enough that it would be a huge hit if Kia actually bothered to tell people that it exists, which they don’t for whatever reason.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
04/08/2017 at 16:39, STARS: 1
I have a FoST and my ex (still a friend) got a Soul+ in the same color last year (2016 model year version) when she asked for my advice on cars to check out. She loves it and I think it’s also a really great car for the money.
Great choice on your parts. Very practical car... The fact the Focus rear seats don’t fold fully flat even with the cushions up is one of my bigger peeves with it, too.
"PanchoVilleneuve ST" (PanchoVilleneuve)
04/08/2017 at 16:49, STARS: 0
What’s funny is the RS actually does have fold-flat seats, since the rear differential raised the floor of the trunk up enough to be flush with the seatbacks.
"gin-san - shitpost specialist" (gin-san-)
04/08/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 0
It’s good to hear the DCT works well. I have the ‘16 year SX and was debating whether I should hold off for the newer bodystyle with the 200hp engine and DCT. I couldn’t wait, but the autobox w/ paddles works much better than I thought it would. Not instant shifts by any means, but the delay is short enough that you can get used to it and work around it for regular roads.
I really, really wish they’d make a soul based on that Trackster concept. A bit lower, widebody, and give it some hot-stuff like a small turbo-four and better brakes/suspension/tires to deal with it all.
"PanchoVilleneuve ST" (PanchoVilleneuve)
04/08/2017 at 17:18, STARS: 1
It’s a lot like the paddles on the auto, just very fast, and it feels like a regular automatic when you put it in automatic mode, unlike the early VW units which were kinda jank when you let it handle the shifting for you.
"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
04/08/2017 at 17:45, STARS: 0
I think this is a Kia thing. The Optima has that too.