Under $30K: 2013 Kia Soul ! (Exclaim)

When the 2013 Kia Soul !, pronounced Exclaim and the top of the model range, rolled in to get its turn at a review, I couldn’t help but laugh. It isn’t the car, but the advertisements that kept running through my head. I mean, I just keep thinking, “Party ROCK!”. To add to this, the song kept coming on the satellite radio while I was driving the car and taking in my impressions over a week of sound thumping, speaker flashing fun.

And fun the 2013 Kia Soul Exclaim is; the whole design and personality of the car has a fresh and young vibe to it. The Soul has been a constantly evolving vehicle in North America; while around since the 2009 model year in Asia and then 2010 in North America, there has been a constant stream of updates. In 2011, the Soul received pull door handles, then different engines in 2012 and for 2013 we have a new bulge hood, LED turn signal and parking or “positioning” lights, LED taillamps and upgrades in the interior like steering wheel controls.

What’s the upshot? The Kia Soul is looking sharp and continues to improve. What is even more interesting is this top-of-the-line Exclaim. The quick rundown is that you get some nice upgrades like 18” alloy wheels, two-tone sand and black interior and heated power-folding mirrors standard. Then you can add even more options like our test vehicle which had the Premium Package that includes navigation, leather trimmed seats, heated seats, automatic climate control and more. The whole package makes for one well equipped and comfortable car.

All of it sounds pretty good, but then you start to drive the Soul. The power coming from the upgraded 164-hp four-cylinder engine is good and it will sprint 0-60 in the low seven seconds. The trouble I had with the 2013 Kia Soul stems from the Electric Power Steering. This is a case where what we call the center feel, or the feeling you get when driving straight down the road, is numb with the seeming need to correct the wheel more frequently than competing vehicles. To put it plainly, the steering just feels off and it gives the Soul a clumsy feel when going around corners and trying to complete maneuver out on the highway.

On the plus side, the handling, and this time I mean how it holds the road, is actually pretty pleasing for a vehicle that looks top heavy. It also rides pretty good, but you will notice with the Exclaim that large potholes with rattle you a bit. The fuel efficiency is also okay, but if you compare it to the Beetle TDI (read more about the VW covered in this series) and it does fall a little short at 25-mpg combined as rated by the EPA. The detailed view is 23/28 mpg city/hwy. Not quite the 39 mpg highway of the Beetle TDI, but the VW doesn’t come with Hamsters and light up speakers.

At the end of the day, the 2013 Kia Soul is great value for the money, has lots of features like a rear back up camera, available navigation, heated seats and sunroof. Something the VW didn’t have going for it missing the camera, Nav., and sunroof. Moreover, at $23,575 as tested, the Kia is a few thousand less and that can buy a lot of fuel at the pump.