
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