2010 Kia Soul vs 2010 Kia Forte Sx
South Korean automaker Kia has so many bold, expressive and surprisingly well built cars on the market now that not only is it competing with the big names but it is also competing with itself at the same time. Case in point? The near identically priced 2010 Kia Soul Sport and 2010 Kia Forte Sedan SX—both of which have four doors, ample cargo space, peppy four-cylinder engines and room for five passengers.
But that is where the similarity ends. The Forte SX sedan has more horsepower (173) than the more sedate Soul (140) and also manages to get better freeway mileage thanks to its extra sixth gear on manual transmission equipped models. The Forte SX has a smoother and sturdier feel to its manual transmission, as well, that adds a greater heft and quality to its driving experience.
The 2010 Kia Soul, however, is such a design delight that it could be powered by star-shine and moonbeams and it would still be a blast to drive. The Soul shares its platform with the Rio subcompact so it works best as an urban runabout—the kind of car that is probably helping to move friends every weekend thanks to the 53.4 cubic feet of cargo volume. The Forte SX, on the other hand, really is the model that shows the world how well Kia has learned the art of on-the limit chassis and steering rack tuning.
While the steering could use a touch more feel, the 2010 Forte SX is the first Kia that really eggs you on to go faster during spirited driving. Last generation’s Kia Spectra compact sedan had a front end that would just plow wide and the tires howled violently if you ever got too squirrelly. In general, the Kia Spectra handled with the laziness and back talk you would expect from an American tourist on vacation.
To put it in real terms, the Kia Forte SX drives, sounds and feels quite a bit like an economy version of the last generation Acura TSX. Perhaps it is the revvy and willing 173 horsepower 2.4 liter 4-cylinder that comes as standard on the SX that reminds me most of the silky four cylinder perfection found under the hood of the TSX.
Exterior styling is where the Soul claws back points in my eyes. Its blocky shape made it hip to be square again yet still manages to have a Mini-like hipster cool about it. That is a very tough mix to get right. Too far and you end up with a Scion Xb or not far enough and you end up with the VW new Beetle. Also, in comparison to the svelte and tautly raked angles of the Forte Koup, I find the Forte sedan very boring to look at so that actually puts it in third for Kia exterior styling.
Although the red interior of the Sport model 2010 Kia Soul is redder than anything this side of Mars, Kia does dress up the knobs and switches with carefully placed chrome rockers to give it all an upscale look. It looks like Kia has been studying from the VW interior design rulebook. One request Kia—start offering one model line that doesn’t have red, groovy 70’s check marks with taupe accenting, or giant “SOUL”-logo cloth upholstery. You will get more mainstream buyers that way. Not everyone can pull of red, or taupe for that matter.
The head of Kia design is Andrew Schreyer and he came directly from VW/Audi. His tasteful hand has given a design language to a car company that had none and that in itself is the true miracle of Kia’s recent success. These cars don’t need that 10 year warranty any more although I do think people would freak out if they tried to stop offering it.
So, if driving pleasure is your number one priority I would have to choose the Kia Forte SX but personally I would pick it in Koup form. I am just selfish that way, I guess. Otherwise I would be perfectly happy with a 2010 Soul in a less gregarious interior hue. Either way, though, with Kia you always win.
Kia Soul Sport (five-speed manual):$17,195
Kia Forte SX (six-speed manual): $17,495
Soul Sport: (Engine): 2.0 Liter 140 horsepower 4-cylinder
Economy: 24 city/30 highway)
Forte SX: (Engine): 2.4 Liter 173 horsepower 4-cylinder
Economy: 22 city/32 highway
