Used 2010 Kia Soul Consumer Reviews
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I love it!
I had set my heart on a CR-V and then happened to see this car which was sort of similar to it but for about $7 thousand less. I researched its specs then read all the reviews I could find on Edmunds.com & other websites then took it for a test drive. It came out with flying colors- compatible with the CR-V as far as safety, performance, reliability, warranty, fuel economy, the SUV-like seating,and the even better interior & exterior features than the CR-V. The only real difference was the 4X4 drive. I've had it for almost 3 weeks and love it. It rides a bit rough on hard roads because of the big 18" wheels and not-so-good suspension (as the Editors' reviews explained). otherwise, it's perfect for me
LOVE, love this car!
Awesome dependability. Great both in the city with a tight turning radius and on the highway with its peppy acceleration. Great in the crappy weather. The only issue I have ever had is that the paint chips easily. Have had the car for over 6 years, 130,000 miles.... Have spent less than $3000 maintenance. And that's including tires, brakes, oil changes, timing belt and transmission flush.
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best car I've owned
I bought my car with 5 miles on it and I've owned it for 3.5 years now...42,000 miles on it now and I've never had one thing wrong with it. Best car I've owned and I truly don't have one complaint. Just do regular maintenance you're good to go!!
AWESOME!
I love my Soul Plus. It's a blast to drive. It's comfortable. Great sound system and I'm getting between 39 and 41mpg.
They should have named it Kia Steal
In terms of what you get for the money, this car is a steal. We wanted to spend around $15K and were resigned to buying a used car until we decided to test-drive the Soul. While initially skeptical of the Kia brand from a quality standpoint, the test-drive completely won us over. Sure, it doesn't ride like a luxury car and some of the materials may not be top-of-the-line, and it's certainly no sports car, but we nevertheless found it to be fun and peppy and reasonably comfortable to drive. It's got plenty of room even for taller drivers (I'm 6'4") and the seats are nice and supportive. The features are amazing at this price point (satellite radio, Bluetooth, mp3 jack and a killer sound system)
Great Car for Me!
I've had my Kia Soul for over a decade now and have 140,000 miles on it and it's been a great car! It's definitely gotten a little creaky and has some radio/electric issues but no major, expensive repairs in 10 years. I've driven this car all over the country and lived in extreme heat, extreme cold, and now live in Colorado where it's gone up to the mountains several times with no issues. I went from a single, young businesswoman barely scraping by to a married mom of two and this car has adapted along the way. The only reason we're giving it to a family member is because it's just gotten too small to hold our entire family and we need AWD. Definitely glad I'll still get to keep it in the family and visit it every once and a while!
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In Love with the Soul
I can't say enough good things about this car! By far the best I've ever owned. I've always preferred small cars, but this is the best because it's roomy on the inside, which is important since I have 2 kids to drive around. Getting a car seat in and out is no problem, it sips gas, I can commute all over town and save way more $$ than I did with my suv! I have previously owned an Optima, and then a Rio, both were good cars, but this one is the best, and I would buy another!
Luvin my hamster ride!
I did a lot of research before I decided on the Kia Soul. I am LOVING IT! I've had it six weeks and already have a little over 3800 miles on it. It's fun to drive. My picky husband even likes to drive it. We are in our late 40's and we see more people our age driving the Soul. Not just for the 20 somethings.
Solis car
We bough a 7 year old 100K and are truly surprised: great interior space, compared to smallsuv like Ford Edge .
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Kia/Hyundai in, Honda and Toyota out
Incredible value! If you're looking for a car in this category, this car is a must see. There are several other good cars that compete with the Soul sport but, when you factor in price, features, and warranty the Kia always comes out on top. Several months into ownership and not one problem at all. If money is not an issue then the Mini Clubman would be my 1st pick solely based on the vehicle itself. Honda and Toyota did not seem to have the "total" package for under $18k. Chevy HHR was same price but didn't like the way it drives nor the interior. My wife has had a Kia sedona for 5 yrs without any problems (buying a new one next week) so I am impressed with reliability.
Catch one if you can
Much better car then i expected.
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500 miles and DEAD NEW CAR
I bought a KIA Soul on 7/27/09. I had it about a week. At 11:00pm on 8/02/09 with less than 500 miles on it it had to be towed to the dealership with an engine light and oil warning light. The motor knocked and it was apparent it was holding low oil pressure. A total internal failure and yes - the dipstick said it was full of oil. I've asked for a new vehicle and not a repair. I'm getting grief and expect this thing to be a series of problems now the vehicle engine is screwed as no dealership I've seen has the ability to put a motor back in and get it to factory specifications. It's junk that does not live up to the mileage claims as well. Look for something else.
I lOvE mY nEw CaR
This car is amazing the minute i saw it and drove it i fell in love with it. I couldnt be more happier with This Kia Soul it is fun to drive and its small enough for just me and a couple of friends and family members.
2010 KIA 2.0 Plus
Bought for 8,000 dollars a few a months ago. 86,0000 miles and 4th owner. Was not thrilled about giving up my 2001 Outback (196,000). this car sits more like a SUV. It's the first year made. Like the fact it is easy to get into. My dog carrier is a good size. I am 5'2 and it very easy to load and unload items. Wonder if the new ones are more comfortable? Downfall, I feel like I'm filling it up every time I turn around. Guess it has a smaller gas tank. Over all, not a bad car.
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Kia Kelly!
I just bought my Kia Soul a few days ago. Love it! My teens love it, too. It has easy to use controls, lots of features, and fun to drive!! So far it seems to do well on gas mileage, but haven't had to fill it up yet. I love the car, but the interior quality isn't great. I would still buy it though. It is a great car for the money. It has lots of room for my tall teenage boys. We love the ipod connector and the lighted speakers. Fun, fun, fun
The Ghost...
My husband & I chose this car on a whim We first noticed the leather seats & color, later found out it was a special edition "Ghost". After learning about the 100 mile/10 yr warranty & Kia reputation plus safety record we said lets do it & bought it. My hubby drives it & all his buddies are impressed with how much room it has and the look. He carries his tools, golf clubs very comfortably. We like the features its fully loaded, bluetooth, sunroof, awesome stereo, etc. Drives great, he uses for work & has to drive often to sites for work, gas has been pretty good, it's smaller tank than our Equinox, but mileage is fair. The ride is smooth & it's a fun car for us 40+ folks.
Soul family
Great little car. I'm a big guy I have a ton of room.
It's Hip, Funky and Fun ...
Test driven the Soul 4u Burner(CDA spec) aka Sport, loved it and got it. The exterior styling is hip and good looking compared to the scion xB and nissan cube. The interior is also nice as well. Performance is pretty good. It's pretty speedy once your off accel. The engine noise is LOUD when you are up accelerating to the 1st and 2nd gear (gear ratios are high). When in cruising speed is pretty quiet compared to other economy cars. The manual transmission was pretty fun but is not that great. When you shift you don't feel that you're at that gear yet. So i might suggest automatic. Finally Kia has brightened their lineup with this. Really impressed.
Happy HamsterMobile
Bought the first Denim Soul in our area in 2009. Odd when it came out, obviously super popular now, turned out to be the most rugged, dependable all-arounder I have owned.
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kia------>>> killed in action..
bought a used 2010 kia soul, had major engine troubles. high revving jerking.. had back to the dealership ,changed tsc units, still had trouble.. called kias consumer affairs ..may i say ,the worst consumer affairs out there!1 eight phone calls to them, never returned one terrible!!..
Sucked the Soul out of me
Worst car I have ever owned. I purchased this car brand new with 3 miles on it. 113,000 miles, 3 transmissions, 1 fuel pump, 3 headlight replacements, and some electrical problems later, I will never own another KIA. I purchased this car as a commuter vehicle and meticulously maintained the car and was still faced with these problems. The dealership hasn't been able to help find the cause of my most current problem...the engine cuts out while driving without warning and won't restart for several minutes. This is not too fun when you're driving on a major freeway with multiple lanes of traffic. KIA Corporate doesn't know what is wrong after reviewing the diagnostics
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MY KIA
We left ride away for a long trip with our new Kia Soul. Drove to Alaska. Round trip more than 12,000 miles. Fuel was amazing. Even loaded we done better mileage than suppose too. Not once we got out of the car because it was uncomfortable. After hours of driving always felt rested. We had NO problem at all. During the trip, we done 3 oil change. That was all we needed to do. Alaska was my longest driving trip. So glad we done it with such a comfortable reliable and economic car. Love it
SIMPLY WOW
I had my heart set on a Mini, and let me just say this car completely surpassed my expectation. It's a Mini on Steroids... I drive 100 miles a day back and forth to work, everyday I find something new about the car that wows me. I was at a light and a Scion xB stopped at the light next to me, the driver looked at the Soul, put his car in reverse to backed up to see what kind of car I was driving. Every where I go, people stop me to ask what kind of car it is and ask what they call the color (Alien). This car is an amazing buy... it is amazing what is in it for the money. Love it, Love it, Love it...
no power
stay away from the 1.6 liter engine, the power is similar to a 10 speed bicycle and the mileage is terrible for such a small engine. The 2.0 isn't much better, only barely adequate power, and the mileage is even worse. What's with the all black interiors? HOT as a pizza oven in the warm weather, and sorta claustrophic. A more nuetral color would be nice. And the rear visibility STINKS. Hard to change lanes and parallel park BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE!!!
3 years later
Initially, was overwhelmed by style and appearance at first thinking this vehicle had everything I wanted, 18" rims, two tone interior, great audio, and even pretty good MPG. Was hoping it would turn my nightmarish 100 mile commute into something fun. Now, I dislike the Soul quite a bit. It's too big for me, 18" are too wide for superior snow, wet, and mud traction, ride too rough, road noise too loud, MPG is not up to par, seats are uncomfortable, the interior is cheaply made, not enough power, 4 speed auto transmission is horrible, and even the dealership was shady.
Simple Quality with a little style
I was shocked that I bought a Kia, but a friend said to test drive one and I was done shopping. Fit and Finish equal or better than Toyota. Price thousands less for more car. I own a restaurant and needed more space to haul catering orders than my MINI could fit.
Mostly Lovin' It
As soon as I saw this car, I wanted it. I love driving it. but interior is strange. Can't be cleaned. I opened the door in the rain and it stained the inside of the door. I've tried several products to clean it, but it comes back. Don't know what else to use. Interior also scratches really easy. At first, fuel was really good - about 320 miles to a full tank. But recently, it's gone down to about 250 miles or so to a full tank. This is not stop and go traffic either.At lower speeds, about 15-20 mph, car lurches when given gas. Does not like going slowly. Brakes are super sensitive. Bumps are hard. People say bluetooth is not clear. But I still love it!
Soul in need of Divine intervention!!!!
This car rides like an empty gravel truck!!! Roughest ride I've ever had - - totally unexpected and unacceptable!!! I even lowered the tire pressure to see if I could soften the ride --no appreciable differance. I'll be trying to palm it off as soon as I can find a sucker to buy it. It is loud, thirsty, and uncomfortable. I've put 4xxx miles on it in the first month, so I have enough seat time to make an accurate evaluation. Lots of hard surfaces in interior - nothing is padded or even a little soft. When the seat belt retracts, it mars the hard plastic door panel. Biggest mistake I've ever made in buying a vehicle. Test drive over rough road before buying!!!
Love my Soul
I bought the KIA Soul almost three weeks ago, and am truly enjoying it. I drove a Jeep Grand Cherokee for many years and needed to finally replace it. My brother suggested looking at a KIA, and went with me to the dealership. He was really impressed with the Soul over the Sportage - I liked both equally, but took his advice on the Soul, and don't regret it for one second! Living in AZ, the tinted windows are a huge plus. It is much smaller than the Jeep, but feel just as comfortable. Maybe it's just my Soul, but must say it's a QUIET ride. Feels solid, handles great. For what you get with the price-it's definitely a bargain. No regrets!
Last Kia I will own
I bought the Kia Soul 2U based on size vs the advertised MPG. The local dealer had it rated 41 hwy and 36 hwy. I use this car for sales and average 35000kms per year. I average arround 24 mpg. Pathetic. I talked to the same dealer who sold me on the great MPG and was told that those numbers were not real world mpg. There is an annoying rattle in the drivers side windsheild post that no one can seem to fix. Never again, next car will be a honda.
Practical, good styling, great gas mileage, awesome base features
I've had my base model 2010 Kia Soul in White for about a week and a half now. This isn't really the best time to be writing a review so I'll keep it brief. Thus far the car has been a commuter for me with about 20 miles round trip daily driving to work. I just love this car! I have all the features I wanted (most of them) at the base model. I picked mine up in white with a manual for $10,999 at a Fiat dealership. Great warranty on this vehicle. Some down sides are that the engine noise inside the cabin can be a bit loud at low RPM, and also I'm not too fond of the back seats not being able to go a fully flat position. Also the interior plastics are a bit on the cheap side.
Not what we expected
We purchased our Soul ! used from a dealer with 33,000 miles. We bought this car because of the reviews in regards to gas mileage. This Soul is terrible in regards to mpg. I have written to Kia and I am waiting for a reply before I proceed further. I drive 60 miles a day (highway) to work, set my cruise on 70 (posted speed limit) and the best gas mileage I have gotten is 25.9 mpg. The advertised gas mileage is the main reason we bought our Soul. While it is very fun to drive, the gas mileage and the exterior quality (lack of) will not keep us a Kia customer. Paint chips very easily. Very sad because this is a fun car to drive and is very roomy.
"One Smiling Soul"
A car you can not help but have fun driving! I wanted a car as fun as my old mazda p5 who recently met her demise. The new mazda 3 looks like one of the "killer Clowns from outer space " one ugly vehicle. I checked out other 5 doors but $ always reared its head. So no brainer on features the Kia won. After the test drive I was hooked. It drives like a little sports car but with room for 3 golfers and their gear. The molten red Sport is a head turner. Every morning now I can not wait to drive with a smile and little more Soul.
A new way to roll
I trade in a Mazda 3 for my Kia Soul. I was a little worried at first that I was going to lose the zoom-zoom, but I'm very happy with my car. I have had the car about six weeks and I have 1800 miles on it, still solid and squeak free. My friends call it the monster truck because of the 18" wheels.
Soul Love
Just traded in my cobalt for a Soul and I love every minute of driving it. It is a big small car. Looking at it from the outside you would never think there could be so much space. I have the audio upgrade and auto dimming rear view mirror I highly recommend both. It is everything you could want a car to be. If she treats me right I may be loyal to Kia for life. I get a lot of compliments on it. Get the ipod cable it's worth it.
Fun, but lacking
My Sport is a fun vehicle to drive , but is gutless in the engine. The shifter is tricky at best. It is nice that it is fully loaded with options, but lacking in functional necessities. Under the hood, the engine cover is not there along with an insulation blanket on the hood and hood struts. Did they want the engine to be noisy on purpose? There is only a hold-open rod for the hood, mounted on the hood. The mood lighting in the speakers is a fun novelty, when they work. It seems that buyers in Canada get much more options for the buck that are not available on U.S. models, as well as different names for the variants.
GREAT CAR, BUT______
Have had my Kia for a year now. Still enjoy it quite a bit. Good looks, milegat (26+), no problem of any type. Now, my main problem is the ride. With the large tires, the Soul rides like a truck over rough or unevern roads. Further, there is no cushioning on the center storage bin or window ledges or arm rest. But, still overall a great small car!!
Not so happy Kia owner
Purchased the Soul after getting info about high gas mileage - but never got over 25 mpg at any time which was a huge disappointment. My Ford which was 9 years old gave 28 mpg and I never intended to give up mpg. The road noise is heavy - although I paid extra for some kind of noise reduction something. Also been in the dealership a few times for an unknown noise - if I park with hand brakes up, when I am reversing, I get a knocking sound. No one at the dealership could tell me anything about the noise - except to not use the hand brakes. I seriously thought the car had hand brakes so it could be used - my mistake. The car is cute and all but Kia again- I really don't think so.
Not Expected
I've had mine for just about 3 weeks now. I LOVE this car. Has about as much room as my Jeep Liberty does in the interior (seating wise). Comfortable seats and driving position. Handles nicely on the interstate and has a little 'punch' to it when needed. The standard features on this model are fantastic. From the 315 watt stereo w/bluetooth to the sunroof and then 18" rims, my Molten (red) Soul garners a lot of attention and keeps them asking questions while at the pump. I haven't gotten this much attention in a car since my Crossfire.
My jaw hit the floor
I was not in the market for a car. I drove by the lot that was changing to Kia, so, they only had one model of each car. Perched high on a lift was an engine orange Kia sport! I turned around, test drove the car, went home and researched/went back and bought it. I've only owned hondas! This is my grand new car owner moment. I start each day in a good mood, because the car is amazingly fun to drive! I live by Disney, tourist drenched, &I've been stopped 2 dozen times, with people asking endless questions! I do agree on the easily scratched plastic interior! USA assembly perfection. Gorgeous angles. Perfect comfort. Fingertip controls. Hidden trunk grocery stow. Solar Windows. Made for Young, but proud 47 year man
146 miles and already in the shop
I bought the Soul on June 23 after researching many car options. I choose the Soul based on the warranty and owner reviews. When I bought the car it had 20 miles on it. I drove it for 3 days and then the check engine light came on. It has been in the shop over 24 hours and they have no idea what is wrong other than the p0301 cyl. 1 misfire code. When I called the dealer who sold me the car about the fact that I had the car for 3 days and it was in the shop their response was "These are new cars so we don't work on them much so when they break down it takes us longer to fix." Really? After 3 days your cars breakdown?
Kia Soul!
I purchased my Soul! about a week ago and it has been nothing but fun. Already have 517 miles on it! The car is fun to drive, I am getting 26.5 MPG. I would say that is with 75% city driving and 25% highway. I live in South Florida, the A/C is always freezing. Plenty of space for hauling plans for work. Great car for the money! People need to understand it is a $16,000 car, not $40,000. Expect a little road noise and imperfections. I used to have a Nissan Armada with all of the bells and whistles, but I would trade that for this car any day. Much more fun to drive! Will post another review in a month to see if I feel the same way!
Get the 5-speed
We've had our Kia Sport, 5 speed manual, with sunroof for about a week. I also have a Civic and Cube so I qualified for the $1,000 "competitive bonus". I paid $16,700 for this car and have to say so far it looks like it's a steal. The transmission is high-revving and take off is quick. Handling in traffic is a breeze, and it looks very cool. We got it in white, due to limited availability of manual transmissions. My wife and I are 47 and we both love driving this. It reminds me of my 1986 Honda CRX Si, but with a back seat. If you want something cheap and lots of fun, this is the car. Our car came with blue tooth and a year of Sat Radio how did I ever live without those? Stereo!
Not without its compromises
My wife really wanted a Kia Soul, so after a few days of research, we headed down to the Kia dealership. My other car is a MkV Volkswagen GTI, so my standards for the Soul were pretty high. The exterior styling is great, only complaint being the fake fender vents. The interior is attractive, roomy, and extremely well screwed together, but the materials are hard and cheap plastic. Handles well, but straight line acceleration is just acceptable. Not spirited but it keeps up with traffic well enough. The thermostat got stuck open at 700 miles, tripping the check engine light. Car was fixed same-day under warranty, which is all I could ask. Fun to drive despite lack of power.
Great Car
I was always weary of Kia, but I found myself needing a cheap-ish car ASAP and decided to take a chance. Bought a 2010 Soul 4u (which I think is the ! trim in the US?) from a Kia dealer on an “as-is” sale in January 2021 with 154,000 km (~96,000 mi) on the odometer. Put a bit of work into it like brakes, control arms, and a serpentine belt and it has treated me like gold ever since. I also put a new set of tires on it. I drove 1500 km from Ontario to Nova Scotia (and then back again) with absolutely no problems. It handles well and has enough pep to make city commutes a breeze. Passing power on the highway is a little less than ideal, but it is a 12 year old car with a 2.0 engine. Fuel economy is not the best, thanks to its tall/boxy shape and 4 speed auto transmission (wonder if the 5 speed manual would make any difference). Holds a ton of stuff with the seats folded down. Body is not perfect, but has held up surprisingly well for spending 12 years in a climate with cold winters and salty roads - better than a lot of other cars in the same age bracket I’ve seen. Bottom line, if you can find one of these for a good deal that has been maintained, I say go for it. Cheap to insure, cheap to fix. Would probably make a great first car.
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It's even better used!
I've had my vehicle for a 11/2 years. Love it, especially the big windows, I gotta say it handles much better than the past 2 Hyundai's I had. I had a new Hyundai and I got caught delivering Chinese food and my insurance would not pay for any damages, see I got rear-ended by a non- insured driver. Anyway, I love my Kia just looking to upgrade to a 2016 or 2017. And I love white. I drive like a bat out of hell so my gas mileage isn't that great, I'm working on it.
New SOUL Mate
In my estimation the Kia Soul is a smart well designed all around versitile fun to drive car. It's Molten Red and it's an eye catcher. I really love the machine. Absolutely no complaints,it's built well inside and out. Once you drive it you are hooked. My dealer was awesome in helping me with every aspect of buying the Soul. The sound system will blow your socks off. I'm getting great mileage 31.5 mpg so far cost to fill at $22.00 It's more value than one would think. Check this puppy out you won't be sorry
Soul Lover but Blue Tooth Problems
Got in some very hard rain/wind & car handled better than any car I have ever owned. Exterior is cute, inside fits my 5" 7" size & my husband's 6" 1". The car handles very well, very responsive to stops and turns. No problems getting up to speed or merging on highways. Fun to drive for this 54 year old. Head rest pushes head forward. To much engine noise at higher speeds/rougher highways. Bluetooth-I can hear people perfect unless driving at faster speed or on rougher paved highway-then the engine noise takes over-the volume wont go loud enough. People on other end of blue tooth often say my voice to soft/not loud enough or they hear static/ or their voice echos back to them.
36000 miles
Best econo-box on the road. Love everything except: front seats too narrow and firm. Bad blind spot at rear small window. Almost got two accidents. And I'm a great driver. VERY disappointing gas mileage. This was a surprise. Still best bang for the buck.
Fun to Own
This is my first "foreign car"; I've been waiting three years for Chevrolet or someone to make a fun car that I wanted to buy and they didn't build one so when I saw the Soul I decided to buy. I have the molten sport with 18" wheels and I really like it. I get as many comments on the Soul as I get when I drive my Mustang Convertable. It is roomy and comfortable. Really like the Bluetooth and steering wheel controls. I've had it about a month and haven't filled the tank yet so can't comment on the fuel economy. I really like this car in every way and recommend it without reservation.