A week in the 2010 Kia Soul: Day 4 (city driving)

This isn't city driving, but the Wicomico Grain Elevator in southern Charles County, Md., is a more interesting backdrop for
a photo of the 2010 Kia Soul Sport than Arizona Avenue street parking. Check out the two past articles for more photos of 
the Soul.

A subcompact hatchback is a practical choice for a city car. Inexpensive, fuel-efficient, and practical, without a big footprint. The 2010 Kia Soul that's with me for the week has given me close to 31 miles per gallon and is under 162 inches long -- that's a foot and a half shorter than a Honda Civic, useful in parallel parking. 

However, another thing that would be useful in city driving -- especially in Washington -- would be a smooth ride. The Soul, especially with its Sport suspension, doesn't excel on cratered streets or bumpy elevated freeways. The ride quality is at its worst over a series of bumps, and too many city streets are nothing more than a series of bumps. 

Also, the 2.0-liter Soul loves to rev in first gear with its standard manual transmission, which makes for snappy acceleration but not for the smoothest stop-and-go. 

But with its tight turning radius, mostly good visibility, and compact dimensions, you could do worse than the Soul for in-town driving, and its distinctive styling may let it pass for a fashion statement rather than just a budget-priced economy car. (Maybe.)

Check back for more information on the 2010 Kia Soul over the coming days, and please ask any questions you have about the car in the comments section below or by sending an e-mail to dc.car.examiner@gmail.com. And for more pictures of the Soul, check out its photo slideshows in the previous two articles.

Day 1:  Introduction
Day 2:  Seats, cargo, interior details, visibility
Day 4:  City driving