I have a mixed review of the 2012 Kia Soul.
The positive points are that the car was inexpensive to buy, very space efficient and produces excellent fuel economy.
I have a handicapped girlfriend and the seat is the right height for her to slide out of her scooter and into the seat.
I can also fold the scooter and fit it into the back.
This is good.
The fuel economy guide tells me that the car is rated at 27/35 mpg.
I only use this car for commuting 20-miles each way.
My fuel economy average has always between 32 and 34 mpg in normal urban driving.
This too is good.
The negatives are that the car has really annoying characteristics.
The key fob is too big to fit into my pants pocket without leaving a bulge.
I tried to find a normal key just to open the door but goofy Kia changed the size of the key blank (for 2012).
I canÂ’t find a locksmith with the right size anyway.
The car also turns off the radio and then yells at me to coordinate my cell phone with its Bluetooth system.
My phone is too old to for bluetooth so I get yelled at twice a week forever?
The car probably learned to yell from Kia Customer Service people; they yell too.
The car has no spare tire but it does have an emergency inflator.
I live at the end of civilization in Idaho and there is often no cell phone service when I go fishing/hunting.
I canÂ’t be sure that I can get roadside assistance if the car has a flat outside the cell phone service area.
And I have to carry a cell phone?
I would think that adding a spare tire is cheaper than paying the crabby customer service people.
Overall, the car is very good at what it does; efficiently moving people at low cost.
It is just so annoying in operation that I will not buy a Kia again.
IÂ’ll buy another new full-sized pickup and pay the extra fuel costs with the money I save from the truckÂ’s lower purchase cost and lower insurance cost
Kuna Dave
Favorite Features
Fuel economy and space utilization
Suggested Improvements
Get a normal key, fix the bluetooth so it doesn't yell, fix the customer service people so they don't yell, add a rreal spare tire
Hello KunaDave, I'm assuming that by your screen name that you live outside of the Kuna area.
I used to live in Nampa.
Now currently living in Ohio, hoping to move back to my home state someday. . . :(
Anyway, I too am not a huge fan of the emergency "repair" kit, but at least it will be easier for my wife to use.
I would say repair the tire, then drive to a place where you have signal, and make the call.
Speaking of cell phones, if you haven't corrected it already, follow the owner's manual or you can do like I do and just surf the radio options, but you can shut the car's bluetooth option off.
You press the "audio" knob, and scroll it to turn until you see the "Phone" option, and you'll find your bluetooth settings in there. However you might also want to take it to a dealer for a firmware update check or something, because I use bluetooth headseats as I travel in a company car for work.
Only my wife syncs her phone with the Kia radio, and it never gives me any hastle or says anything when I don't sync up for the occasional times I drive it.
Otherwise good luck.
Being from Idaho, i have to say, as much as I love my Kia, I would have a truck on hand anyway.
Too many places to go and enjoy life w/o one.
:-)
Hope this sorta helps.
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on 04/15/12 04:47 AM (PDT)
Hello KunaDave, I'm assuming that by your screen name that you live outside of the Kuna area. I used to live in Nampa. Now currently living in Ohio, hoping to move back to my home state someday. . . :( Anyway, I too am not a huge fan of the emergency "repair" kit, but at least it will be easier for my wife to use. I would say repair the tire, then drive to a place where you have signal, and make the call. Speaking of cell phones, if you haven't corrected it already, follow the owner's manual or you can do like I do and just surf the radio options, but you can shut the car's bluetooth option off. You press the "audio" knob, and scroll it to turn until you see the "Phone" option, and you'll find your bluetooth settings in there. However you might also want to take it to a dealer for a firmware update check or something, because I use bluetooth headseats as I travel in a company car for work. Only my wife syncs her phone with the Kia radio, and it never gives me any hastle or says anything when I don't sync up for the occasional times I drive it. Otherwise good luck. Being from Idaho, i have to say, as much as I love my Kia, I would have a truck on hand anyway. Too many places to go and enjoy life w/o one. :-) Hope this sorta helps.
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