Birchwood Kia Blog

Kia Soul Given ‘2010 Automotive Excellence Award’
By Popular Mechanics

Already a recipient of numerous accolades including a “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, being named to the “Coolest New Cars Under $18,000″ list by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com and “Interior of the Year” list by Ward’s AutoWorld, the all-new 2010 Kia Soul has yet again been honored and given a “2010 Automotive Excellence Award” by Popular Mechanics.  Recognized for its appealing style, fuel efficiency, handling and overall value, Soul is one of only 10 vehicles to be acknowledged on the esteemed list.

“Soul has been a game changer for the Kia brand, bringing new consumers to showrooms with its style, value and personalization options as well as paving the way for vehicles like the Forte, Forte Koup and the all-new Sorento CUV,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA). “Popular Mechanics is a well-respected publication and to achieve this accolade from them is both a testament to the Kia brand and the all-new Soul urban passenger vehicle.”

To compile the annual list, Popular Mechanics’ automotive department editors test drove, evaluated and rated new cars and trucks to determine which vehicles and technologies were the most significant, singling out the top 10 in the industry.

With a starting price below $14,000(1), Soul is available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport.  Kia Motors’ newest five-door offers consumers an immense amount of style and value, equipped with such driver-friendly standard convenience features as an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities and three months complimentary service(2), and USB and auxiliary input jacks in the center console with full iPod®(3) and MP3 controllability via the audio head unit and steering wheel controls (achieved with an optional accessory iPod cable). Soul also offers an optional Audio Upgrade Package that includes a center speaker, subwoofer, external amplifier and speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music to truly enhance the personal lounge atmosphere.

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America (KMA) is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 650 dealers throughout the United States. For 2008, KMA recorded its 14th consecutive year of increased U.S. market share. Kia Motors subscribes to a philosophy of building high value, high quality, safe and dynamic vehicles. Kia Motors prides itself on producing vehicles that are exciting and enabling and evoke the Kia tagline “The Power to Surprise.”

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Soul awarded 2010 ‘Top Safety Pick’
by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the U.S.

• Kia urban passenger vehicle wins second consecutive honor from Institute
• Soul recognized for superior safety ratings in all impact crash safety tests
• Five-passenger vehicle presents consumers with an attractive, quality and safety feature-laden vehicle

Further exemplifying its exceptional quality and safety, the 2010 Kia Soul has yet again been recognized by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the U.S. and been given a 2010 ‘Top Safety Pick’ award for the second consecutive time this year in the Small Car category.  On the heels of being given a ‘2010 Automotive Excellence Award’ by Popular Mechanics, named to TIME.com’s ‘Most Exciting Cars of 2010’ list and being named one of ‘10 Great and Safe Rides for Teens’ by AutoWeek magazine, the youthful Kia five-door was one of only five small cars to earn the organization’s top honor for earning ‘Good’ ratings – the highest achievable – in frontal, side, rear and rollover impact crash safety tests. “Since its launch in March, Soul has lived up to its tagline of being Kia Motors’ affordable halo vehicle by winning numerous awards and consistently being a media and consumer favorite,” said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of Kia Motors America (KMA).  “Soul being honored with a ‘Top Safety Pick’ for a second time solidifies it as a top contender in its segment as a vehicle that offers consumers the entire package.”

Ratings from the Institute are based on results from frontal, side and rear impact crash tests and, for the first time, a good performance in a roof strength test to measure protection in a rollover also was required to win.  Each vehicle’s overall evaluation was based on various measurements specific to each crash angle and overall impact on crash test dummies inside the vehicle at the time of collision.  All vehicles must have electronic stability control available to be eligible.

Available in four trims, Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport, Kia Motors’ funky five-door is a perfect embodiment of the brand’s current design-led transformation with its unique design.  In addition to immense style and value, all four Soul models also offer consumers the same high level of standard safety equipment as all Kia vehicles, including front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags, an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).  Front and rear crumple zones, side-impact door beams, an impact-absorbing steering column and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system also come standard.