2017 Kia Soul + 2.0 GDi from North America
Summary:
Nice, cheap, useful car that's easy on maintenance
Faults:
Interior scuffs and dirties easily. Front is rock chip magnet, and has multiple marks from touch-up paint.
General Comments:
I got the car on a decent deal. I often get comments about how the car is bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. If you would look at the maintenance schedule, it is also incredibly lenient -- by the way, the turbo model requires more maintenance, so if you're concerned about that, there it is.
It being an economy car, you can see places where they have cheaped out. Areas where surfaces are hidden from the scrutiny of onlookers are often devoid of clear coat, which was not overlooked by the outgoing Corolla. Plastic and carpet also feel cheaper, and are harder to clean out the scuffs, if not outright impossible. The latter probably will not affect the reliability in any way, but it just will not age well. The former may affect the reliability in the form of paint degradation and/or rusting, but we will see. But it IS an eyesore every time I open the trunk.
Design is good. Ride is true and excellent, although the steering is a little numb. The 2.0L engine makes 160 horsepower and it's a good match for the car. Gas mileage is honestly not great, but it's also a very boxy car that doesn't know the meaning of aerodynamics. Road and wind noise is on par with others in the segment. Radio is great, but AM/FM reception is lacking. Seats are nice, but you won't get heated seats as they aren't standard. They also lack lumbar support -- keep that in mind if your back is bad.
All in all, a good car so far. Hope it stays that way.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 28th January, 2018