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A week in the 2010 Kia Soul: Day 1 (introduction)

May 26, 8:46 PMDC Car ExaminerBrady Holt
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The 2010 Kia Soul Sport is a distinctively styled subcompact hatchback. See more photos of the Soul below the article in 
today's slideshow.

Many car reviewers are accustomed to getting a week in each new car that comes to market. Some get even more time than that in manufacturer-owned cars from an automaker's press fleet. 

In this space, you mostly see reviews based on shorter test drives from local dealerships. Kia has offered more: a week in its new subcompact hatchback, the Soul. 

The Soul slots into the same market segment as Kia's existing Rio5, but it's taller and chunkier, styled to be noticed rather than forgotten, aimed specifically at the youth market rather than just general bargain seekers. 

With its unique styling, reasonable pricing, and high level of practicality, the Soul seems to pick up where Toyota left off with the original boxy Scion xB. It has a week to make that impression stick. 

In this space over the next week, you'll see impressions of what it's like to live with this car. It will answer questions about what the Soul is like when driving it in rain and sunshine, at day and night, on empty highways, on city streets, along curvy back roads, and in rush hour congestion. Check back for daily updates on the basics of its driving dynamics and comfort, and for more nuanced details that emerge over extended use.

And I invite you all to leave any questions you'd like me to be on special lookout for in the comments section below, or by e-mail at dc.car.examiner@gmail.com.

Day 1:  Introduction
Day 2:  Seats, cargo, interior details, visibility
Day 4:  City driving
Day 5:  Ride, acceleration, handling
Day 6:  Driving the base model

Vehicle tested: 2010 Kia Soul
Vehicle base price (MSRP): $13,300
Version tested: Sport
Vehicle price as tested (MSRP): $18,345
Odometer at beginning of test: 3,266 miles
Odometer as of this writing: 3,381 miles
Test vehicle provided byKia Motors America
2010 Kia Soul Sport
Photos by Brady Holt
More About: Reviews · Cars · 2010 Kia Soul

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