Kia is known for producing inexpensive cars with long warranties. That has been the basis of their success in the United States for 15 years. Producing exciting cars has not. Until now. Enter the 2010 Kia Soul, a fun, four-door boxy hatchback that is clearly designed to compete with the slightly larger Scion xB.

Taking a complete 180 from its traditional boring style, Kia makes the funky new Soul in wacky colors such as Java, Molten and Alien. Interiors are available in two-tone, houndstooth and even glow-in-the-dark upholstery. The interior space is quite impressive, given the Soul’s overall small size. High-mounted seats and a tall roofline offer even tall passengers sufficient head and legroom. Cargo room is significantly less than its Japanese competitors, but the Soul’s boxy shape can still haul reasonably large items.

The 2010 Kia Soul is available in four ridiculously named trim levels – Base, +, ! and Sport. The base model comes decently equipped with 15-inch steel wheels, rear drum brakes, air-conditioning, full power accessories, tilt steering, a 60/40-split rear seat and a four-speaker stereo with CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, USB and auxiliary audio jacks. The Soul + has a larger engine, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear disc brakes, cruise control, keyless entry, tinted rear windows, a height-adjustable driver seat, Bluetooth, and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. The Soul ! adds 18-inch wheels and two-tone upholstery. The top level Soul Sport has an upgraded audio system, a sport-tuned suspension, red-black two-tone interior and special exterior trim. A sunroof is optional on the ! and the Sport. Standard safety equipment includes antilock brakes, stability control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags.

The quirky Soul is equally fun to drive, staying reasonably tight and planted in the corners. The ride is comfortable at “tooling around town” speeds, but can get a bit choppy on the highway. The based Soul offers a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 122 horsepower and 115 pound-feet of torque. The +, ! and Sport trim levels get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 142 hp and 137 lb-ft of torque. The base model is available only in a five-speed manual, but the upgraded trims offer a four-speed automatic. The 5-speed manual Soul Sport reportedly goes from zero to 60 mph in 8.8 seconds. Not too shabby for a lunch box on wheels.

(Photo courtesy of Kia Motors.)

Fort Mill, SC–Women’s Automotive Solutions, a national automotive consulting firm and car buying service, opened their new corporate headquarters in the vibrant, residential-commercial community of Baxter Village in Fort Mill, SC.

Owners and “car chicks”, Michelle Lundy and LeeAnn Shattuck, moved from Charlotte, NC to Fort Mill, SC for its charm and lower tax rates.  This tax savings helps Women’s Automotive Solutions offer low-cost automotive consulting services to their clients and licensees nationwide. 

Women’s Automotive Solutions is a totally unique car buying service.  It helps women find and buy the car they want while saving hundreds to thousands of dollars.  The company saves women valuable time and takes the hassle out of buying both new and used cars.  Interesting, half of their clients are men!

The company’s new address is 1701 First Baxter Xing., Suite 201, Fort Mill, SC 29708.  The telephone number, 704-248-8706, and website http://www.WomensAutomotiveSolutions remain the same.

Is it an SUV or a wagon?  Yes… sort of.  The new Toyota Venza is a new breed of vehicle - a true crossover between an SUV and a wagon.  (On Toyota’s website, it is classified as a car.)  The brand new, five passenger Venza falls somewhere between the Camry and the Highlander in size and shares mechanical components from both.  The Venza is based on the Camry platform, but it is nearly 6 inches taller than the sedan and boasts slightly more interior room.   The Venza shares the width and ride height of the Highlander, but lacks the third row seating and extensive cargo capacity of the SUV.  

The Venza also shares the Highlander’s 2.7 liter 4 cylinder and 3.5 liter V6 engines, although with slightly less horsepower (182 hp for the 4 cylinder and 268 hp for the V6.)  Both engines are married to a six-speed automatic transmission, and front- and all-wheel drive models are available.  Fuel economy falls nicely between the Camry and the Highlander at 21/29 mpg for the smaller engine and 19/26 mpg for the V6.  (All-wheel drive yields 1 mpg less on both.)

The 2009 Venza is available in just two trim levels, which correspond to the two engine sizes.  The four cylinder Venza starts at $26,695 and features standard 19 inch alloy wheels, auto on/off headlights, dual-zone climate control, rear privacy glass, a power driver seat, a 60/40 split rear seat (that reclines!), a universal garage door opener, cruise control with trip computer, and a six-speaker stereo system with six CD changer and auxiliary audio jack.  The V6 Venza starts at $28,520 and adds 20 inch alloy wheels.  A fully loaded, all-wheel drive model will set you back about 40 grand.

Most options on the Venza are grouped into packages and vary slightly by region.  Premium Package 1 includes the “Smart Key” system with push button start, a power closing rear door, chrome-accented door handles, HID headlights with automatic high beam, leather trimmed seats, shift knob and steering wheel, mahogany wood grain-style interior trim, 4-way power front passenger seat with lumbar support, anti-theft alarm, engine immobilizer and a rear backup camera.  Premium Package 2 adds multi-level heated front seats, heated power exterior mirrors and a windshield de-icer.  Other options include a panoramic sunroof, JBL premium stereo system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, DVD-based navigation and a rear entertainment system.

The best thing about the new Venza is its interior design and upgraded materials.  The ergonomic center console features a high-mounted shifter, which frees up space for a series of nifty storage bins designed to hold everything from Big Gulps to Blackberries.  The rear cargo space can hold up to 70 cubic feet of stuff with the rear seats folded down (nearly 35 with them up).   The Venza’s driving experience is far from sporty, but it is quite comfortable and responsive.  And, for a vehicle its size, the Venza is relatively easy to maneuver through a grocery store parking lot.  Families looking for a stylish, versatile alternative to the tired old SUV, Minivan or wagon may find a perfect fit with the new Venza.