Hitting the market in March of 2009, the 2010 Kia Soul, the newest vehicle from Korean automaker Kia, has already begun garnering awards. Ward's AutoWorld named the Soul as having the "Grooviest Interior" and Kelley Blue Book's website listed it among the Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 for 2009. Clearly the box-shaped, five-passenger subcompact with its unique window treatment (it slants big to small above the rising beltline), spacious interior, pulsing speaker lighting and excellent mileage has captured the imagination of the auto industry, much like Toyota's Scion and Chrysler's PT Cruiser before it.

It helps that it's fun to drive and has some interior panache with various options for colors, fabrics and audio packages. Soul started with four trims – Soul, Soul+(plus), (our test-drive), Soul! (exclaim) and Soul sport. Engine choices are 1.6-liter with manual transmission for the base Soul or 2.0-liter with manual or automatic transmission for the other trims. And Kia has added a special-edition Denim Kia Soul with a bold offset white racing stripe, denim exterior color with white color cues and an upgraded audio system with iPod connector. It is based on the Soul Plus.

First time car owners will be attracted to Soul for its roomy interior with 60/40 split fold down rear seats that greatly enhances cargo space (more than 53 cubic feet). There are 14 storage areas, including a covered dashboard tray. The six-speaker audio system carries sounds well (our tester had a $400 option upgrade that added a seventh center speaker, subwoofer, external amplifier and speaker lamps). Standard features include full iPod and MP3 capability along with Bluetooth and three free months of SIRIUS satellite radio. Comfortable cloth seats employ Soul logo inserts on seat backs. Entry front and back come easily with tall doors and ample interior head and legroom. Safety features are strong with Soul getting top federal crash scores for front seat passengers in frontal and side crashes.

Four stars (one shy of the five star top score) are given for rear side and rollover crashes. The ride is quiet and sub-frame front and back suspension systems absorb bumps well. The automatic transmission shifts well but a manual would provide a quicker response for power. Outside, Soul has a rising beltline, angled windshield, flared fenders and a chrome-rimmed grille above a large black front fender guard, sitting on five-spoke, 16-inch wheels.