2014 Kia Soul Review

        Now, I consider myself to be quite the well rounded chick with a passion for quite a few hobbies and activities.  I have always been into cars for one.  Studying to be an engineer for over a decade, I've learned quite a bit about and know my way around a vehicle.  So once the opportunity came up to start reviewing and test driving cars came up, I knew I could combine my past passion with my new one!

        I was sent over a 2014 Kia Soul - The "Urban Hatchback Car" to review this time around with the timing perfectly planned around my mini road trip to a blogging event in Ohio!  Being that we were headed out of town to go camping, I knew this would be perfect to haul all of our supplies and make the trip that much more comfortable!

        I have to start off by saying this is definitely a car that has it all for next to nothing!  The 2014 Kia Soul comes with things like Power-Folding Outside Mirrors in case you park in a parking structure or tight places like my husband does downtown.  I love the Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers which automatically detect debris or rain, helping keep your eyes on the road where they belong!

        Because we are such a rocker family, the 6 Speakers with A-Pillar-Mounted Tweeters with the Speaker Lights made for a much more entertaining drive down to Ohio!  I love how they changed colors with the sound of the music and had such a relaxing vibe.  Our model had the 8" Display Navigation System with HD Radio and Sirius Traffic which is a feature that gives you real-time highway conditions.  Kevin thought this was a very nice feature to have as he works in downtown Detroit where he frequently runs into issues with heavy traffic, accidents, and road work.

        Also included in our model was both heated and ventilated front seats.  Living in Michigan you almost need both as our winters are so frigid, hopping into a cold leather car seat you feel as though you could end up with instant front bite on your butt!!  The weather here is so unpredictable that in the week we had this vehicle, we were able to use both the heat and cooling on the seats!

        Other included features in our model are a Rear Camera Display and Backup Warning System, so you can keep an eye out as you back up for more than just moving objects (children, grocery carts) but possible bikes parked behind you or even trees or barriers.  You gotta also love the BLUETOOTH® Wireless Connectivity too so you can pair multiple devices and talk through your vehicles speaker system!

        Definitely one of the coolest things for me though, was the Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column and the FlexSteer™.  First of all, I am short and there is nothing more aggravating than trying to adjust a seat so I can reach the pedals yet not be stuck on top of the steering wheel.  This way I get the best of both worlds!

        Second, I used to street race cars in college and although I obviously do NOT do this anymore, it is nice to see a feature where I can adjust the way my steering wheel and car handles depending on the weather conditions, driving preferences during that time of day, and who is driving the actual car.  You can set this to Normal, Comfort, or Sport modes

        All of the safety features come standard which is comforting to know Kia has you and your families safety in mind.  Included in these safety features are Front and rear 3-Point Seat Belts, 4 Wheel ABS, and reinforced steel beams in every door for side impact precaution. The Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), and Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) help control your vehicle in case of an accident applying brake pressure to specific areas and keeping you heading in the right direction.

        There are airbags throughout (front advanced, front side, and full length side curtain) as well as Front and Rear Crumple Zones to protect you in case of an accident.  And for the families with small children, "Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) is a universal child seat attachment system that allows for quick, easy and secure installation and removal of LATCH equipped child seats."

        I have to say overall of course the security and safety of the vehicle is fantastic.  Anyone driving this car will have the peace of mind you or your family are protected.  I could honestly go on and on about the features in this vehicle as it seems to have just about all of them.  I do, however, want to say that I wish they would redesign this vehicle to look better in some way.  My husband and daughter called it the toaster oven car throughout the week and I swear I have never gotten so many strange and dirty looks than while driving this car.  It felt as if I was driving a car once inside but from the outside looked kind of like a sport SUV.

Available to Purchase/Cost: Starting at $14,900 
Recommendation:  This is a vehicle I would recommend to a couple or single trying to save some money!  The safety features are there and the pricing of the vehicle is amazingly low with all the included features and extras.  Although there is room for a family is can get a bit tight when trying to cart all the kids AND stuff around so a couple or family with only one might be more ideal.
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