Disclosure: I was loaned this vehicle in exchange for my social influence and honest review. The opinions in this review belong to me and are not indicative of the companies or brands mentioned.
A few weeks ago when I wrote my review of the 2014 Kia Optima SX, I told you that I would be reviewing the Kia Cadenza next whilst in Atlanta for the Mom 2.0 Summit conference. Unfortunately the car wasn’t available for my Atlanta trip, but I was still able to get around in style with the 2014 Kia Soul+. Attending a conference doesn’t give you a lot of time to cruise the streets and whatnot, but myself and my bloggy friends made sure to set aside some drive time. We were given a Latte Brown Kia Soul with all of the bells and whistles so we could really get a feel for the car and its design.
The Kia Soul+ is known for being a fun and sporty “urban hatchback” automobile that pushes the limits on traditional design. Upon first use of the car, I noticed that a lot went into the design and usability of the car. For instance, there are USB charging sockets not in the center console of the car (which can make for ratty cords and such) and is now in the front console for easy use. There are also USB sockets in the backseat for passengers to use. Many of the controls for the radio and media are also located on the steering wheel so you can keep your eyes on the road with everything within your fingertips.
As with other Kia models, the Kia Soul+ comes with the UVO eServices Infotainment System which controls the media aspects of the vehicle including radio, Sirius, GPS navigation and more. You can also utilize your smartphone with the use of Bluetooth allowing for handsfree use. Up to 5 devices can be synced with the Bluetooth, but only one device can be used at one time.
While the Kia Optima SX is a sedan that is on another level of moderate luxury, the Kia Soul+ is fun and quirky. As a mom of 2, I can easily see us tooling around the city in the Kia Soul+. It is perfect for a small family, or even a young adult or teen driver who doesn’t want a traditional car.
Cruising with @swaraiblog & @TheCubicleChick #drivekia #kiasoul #mom2summit pic.twitter.com/0zrY8pJrQP
— Janice Person (@JPlovesCOTTON) May 4, 2014
Keep in mind, the Kia Soul+ doesn’t have a lot of trunk space, as we found out when we tried to put all of our luggage in. The backseat does fold down, but there were three of us, so we needed the backseat space. This could prove difficult for a family of 3 or more.
Here are some additional things of interest in the 2014 Kia Soul+:
- Panoramic Sunroof with Power Sunshade
- Rear camera display
- Speaker lights (that glow to the music or the mood, you can set it on the option you want)
- Voice command navigation
- Remote keyless entry
- Heated and cooled seats
- Infinity Audio
The 2014 Kia Soul+ is around $18,400 MSRP and gets about 23 city miles and 31 highway miles. You can get more information on the Kia Soul by visiting their website.
Our car was the talk of the valet staff at the Buckhead Ritz Carlton where the conference was being held. The staff really liked the car and joked that they didn’t need our ticket—we were the only ones with a car this color. We love standing out, of course.
Driving the 2014 Kia Soul+ was a fun experience. For those who don’t want to be status-quo, the Kia Soul+ is the automobile for you. This is not your mother’s hatchback.
Big thanks to Kia, Jim, Josh, and the crew at STI for the loaner wheels. You guys rock!
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