My Ugliest Car Award - Kia Soul 2011

[chrisj]

My sister is 10 years younger than me...44. She was in the market for a car that had more room than her Ford Focus, so she went car shopping and ended up with a white 2011 Kia Soul, complete with a red dash and those stupid speakers that have colored lights in them. Jeez.

For one thing, I think the car design looks like a 21st Century version of an AMC Gremlin, just slanted back all sporty-like. I used to call that car the Tennis Shoe. Also, that dash! I don't think I could look at a red and black dash without throwing up, much less be able to stand the glare from the sun. Also, I am sure that it will fade out like nobody's business. I had a red Tacoma that proved that point...well, a pink Tacoma in the end! :wink:

My wife noticed on a list of the stupidest ideas for cars, and those speakers topped the list. I mean, the car was obviously designed for kids, but even if I were 16 I wouldn't want speakers that lighted up with colors as I drove down the road. My god.

My sister is old enough to know better, but she has 2 teenage kids. I am certain she bought that stupid car because THEY liked it. Thing is, she is going to be the one stuck driving it, at least for awhile, because both her teens are still way too young to drive.

I don't know what the designers were smoking when they came up with that one.

http://static.taume.com/image/2010-Kia-Soul-Dashboard-Details.jpg

[vwtech]

I dont think its as ugly as the cube though.

[PumpkinSteve]

IMO the Kia Soul is one of the most interesting looking cars, modern and retro at the same time.

http://www.kia-world.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/kia-soul-1.jpg

[jpmck03]

I think this sums up my opinion on the Kia Soul:

:barf:

[landrym28]

IMO, it's actually not that bad looking of a car...could be alot worse.

If I HAD to drive a KIA though..it'd be the Forte.

[thebarber]

note: OP has big chrome rims on a yaris

[chrisj]

Oh god there it is again! The 2011 Gremlin! LOL! The Forte looks like loads of other cars out there, but the Soul is just...out there.

Okay, I would drive this Kia!

http://images.paultan.org/images/Kia_Kee_1_Large.jpg

[why?]

IMO, it's actually not that bad looking of a car...could be alot worse.

If I HAD to drive a KIA though..it'd be the Forte.

If I had to drive a kia I would blow my brains out.

[vwtech]

If I had to drive a kia I would blow my brains out.


stuck on that kia name badge are we?

[kimona]

I think it looks okay, and I don't have a problem with the black and red dash. IMHO, the Hyundai/Kia line-up looks pretty darn good.

[cali yaris]

1. I like it just fine, looks fresh to me, not boring like most of the offerings these days.
2. What's wrong with the light-up speakers? I'm 52 and still doing tuner cars. I admit I'm over my lighting phase, though.
3. You can go with this, or you can go with that.

What's Toyota got that's fresh? They are slowly disintegrating the Yaris' unique look and Scion is self-destructing as a unique design shop. Maybe the iQ, but I don't know.

[firemachine69]

Look at your Yaris.

I mean, take a long, good look at it.

It ain't all that attractive with its recessed front wheels, amongst other things.

The soul is something refreshing in the market, seeing as how Toyota is so paranoid of designing something with, well... soul!

[Thirty-Nine]

I like the Kia Soul. But then again, we all have different taste.

[chrisj]

Well, hopefully Kia got those pesky fires under control. But, as far as resale or trade-in value, there's a more narrow margin of people who will want that shoe over the Yaris. It's true, it's true.

[MadMax]

There was a recall for wiring on 35,185 2010 Kia Souls (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/09/kia-soul-recall-for-wiring-trouble-follows-steering-probe/1)...and it has to do with those stupid speakers that have colored lights in them!

I read about it in this article: The Strangest Car Features (http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1529/The-Strangest-Car-Features)

But I guess if you're a hip-hop gerbil, they're cool! :barf:

http://adland.tv/adland_video/150255/51043/thumb.jpg

Hopefully it was resolved on your sister's 2011.

Cheers! M2

[severous01]

i am completely unhappy with toyota. if i wasnt a mechanic my car would be falling apart.

the only thing i've done to mine aftermarket is an AFE intake...and i took it off because on first serious rain my MAF got wet and it's been acting up bad. so...as soon as i can, i'll trade it in and get something else...chevy, subaru, hell even a ford over toyota.

[JBougie]

^ I have owned 2 Yaris' so far, and had 0 problem with either one. Sorry you've had bad luck.

I like the way the Soul looks. I wouldn't buy one. Ever. But, that's because it's a KIA. I would walk barefoot through 10 miles of gravel everyday to and from work if the alternative was to buy a KIA. :)

[tomato]

Look at your Yaris.

I mean, take a long, good look at it.

It ain't all that attractive with its recessed front wheels, amongst other things.

The soul is something refreshing in the market, seeing as how Toyota is so paranoid of designing something with, well... soul!


To me the Yaris is probably in the top 10 best looking cars in recent years. Style was a huge consideration when I purchased my car. Otherwise, I would have gone with the FIT. :iono: (no offense meant to FIT owners, in fact I like the newer FIT's looks, but I thought the 2007 FIT looked hideous .02 of course :smile:).

[tomato]

i am completely unhappy with toyota. if i wasnt a mechanic my car would be falling apart.

the only thing i've done to mine aftermarket is an AFE intake...and i took it off because on first serious rain my MAF got wet and it's been acting up bad. so...as soon as i can, i'll trade it in and get something else...chevy, subaru, hell even a ford over toyota.

???? :confused: o_O that's really unusual IMO.

[vwtech]

To me the Yaris is probably in the top 10 best looking cars in recent years. Style was a huge consideration when I purchased my car. Otherwise, I would have gone with the FIT. :iono: (no offense meant to FIT owners, in fact I like the newer FIT's looks, but I thought the 2007 FIT looked hideous .02 of course :smile:).


Top ten best looking economy cars maybe....

[chrisj]

Well, only that 1.6L model really could be considered "economy" with the gas mileage the other models get. The other Soul models have larger engines, and are up there with the FJ Cruiser and such. At least in 2011 they do.

I checked them out in reviews and other than the 1.6L the mileage ain't that great really.

[fnkngrv]

I was stuck with a Kia Forte back in Feb from a rental car place while in NC for a week. To be honest I was pretty surprised. It ran pretty good, the interior really wasn't that bad for the price point and the audio worked pretty well. Would I buy a Kia? Nope, a week's worth of driving doesn't sell a car to me. Am I disappointed with the aesthetic offerings of Toyota right now? Yup, but hey, their drive was to become the number one automaker and really for the most part it is tough to get there when you have cars all over the map. They created a formula that all other companies are copy-catting and evolving. Shrugs...I will still buy my Toyota's. As for a Kia or Hyundai...yes they have come a long way however not long enough for me. As for the Soul....yup....straight up silly IMHO. It will wear on people pretty quick. Oh, and BTW...they seem to suck for gas mileage. If I am going to get the type of mileage that I got with that Forte, then I had best be driving a pretty powerful V6. Not sure how big the tank was, but a full tank only got me around 210 miles! Yikes...not good at all...even if it was mostly city driving.

[chrisj]

^ Yeah, I am totally surprised at how even the Yaris style hasn't changed much in several years. The 2011 looks like my 2009.

[why?]

stuck on that kia name badge are we?

na, i just don't like them. Now the list of what I would do if I had to drive a vw, well that starts off with taking a bath in hydrochloric acid and goes from there.

[tomato]

Top ten best looking economy cars maybe....

Well sure!

[pspeezy]

i'd rather drive a yaris :burnrubber:

[firemachine69]

There was a recall for wiring on 35,185 2010 Kia Souls (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/09/kia-soul-recall-for-wiring-trouble-follows-steering-probe/1)...and it has to do with those stupid speakers that have colored lights in them!

I read about it in this article: The Strangest Car Features (http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1529/The-Strangest-Car-Features)

But I guess if you're a hip-hop gerbil, they're cool! :barf:

http://adland.tv/adland_video/150255/51043/thumb.jpg

Hopefully it was resolved on your sister's 2011.

Cheers! M2



Oh camman, that's half the reason to purchase a Soul right there! :laugh::biggrin::w00t::headbang::bow:



And no. Maybe from certain aingles our Yaris' are okay... But all-around sharp-looking, hands-down, it's the Soul. The Honda Fit looks a whole lot better since they got rid of the bug eyes...

[Darb]

Aw, I like the Soul. I also like the Forte Koup.

[FSANE]

Soul is smooth. Cube is crap.

[chrisj]

I just saw what looked like a new Scion xB with the back window wrapping around on the rear right side? Is that what I saw? The left rear looked normal. Oh god, I'm sorry but I must have some sort of symmetry. :)

[STC]

I just saw what looked like a new Scion xB with the back window wrapping around on the rear right side? Is that what I saw? The left rear looked normal. Oh god, I'm sorry but I must have some sort of symmetry. :)

LOL! What you saw was a Nissan Cube! HIDEOUS... :barf:

Cheers!

[STC]

The Cube rear view...

[chrisj]

^ Oh god, there it is again! :/ LOL!

[DebbyM46227]

I love the looks of the Kia Soul - those speakers sounds neat and I'm 57 years old! In fact, the Kia Soul was on my short list the day I went looking for a new car back in June. However, Toyota was my first stop that day and I went home with a Yaris instead.

Even though Kia and Hyundai have 10 year warranties, I have a problem with someone that builds my car eating dogs and cats for dinner.

[DebbyM46227]

The Cube rear view...

That would be great for the blind spot area. :wink:

[chrisj]

That would be great for the blind spot area. :wink:

True! :eyebulge:

[Shroomster]

^^^above two posts:

It would be good for blindspots, if the structural integrity of the vehicle didn't depend on four corner pillars.

There is a pillar at that corner the glass is just for show...

[vwtech]

na, i just don't like them. Now the list of what I would do if I had to drive a vw, well that starts off with taking a bath in hydrochloric acid and goes from there.

Get a grip man you drive a YARIS its an economy car that looks like it had sex with a crossover.

[KCALB SIRAY]

I'm still undecided if I like it or not. I can see the Gremlin reference but also see why younger gen's would like it. Throw into the mix a GREAT marketing campaign and it looks atractive to the younger market. Just waiting for that ah ha moment of if I like or hate it.

[Kal-El]

Yeah, KIA's are pretty embarrassing. :rolleyes:

http://www.wheel-o-sophy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/kia-cadenza-5.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_J3_liDBfbvs/Sw07kRCHYQI/AAAAAAAAQrI/2HBkuW0Om1E/s1600/2010-Kia-Cadenza-Picture.jpg

http://www.autocardesign.org/wp-content/uploads/KIA-Optima-2011_1-587x396.jpg

[djct_watt]

I love the looks of the Kia Soul - those speakers sounds neat and I'm 57 years old! In fact, the Kia Soul was on my short list the day I went looking for a new car back in June. However, Toyota was my first stop that day and I went home with a Yaris instead.

Even though Kia and Hyundai have 10 year warranties, I have a problem with someone that builds my car eating dogs and cats for dinner.

South Korea, not North. . . It's like saying that Columbia is the same as America, because it's South America. Many parts for American cars are made in Mexico, and guess what, some of them eat dogs and cats too. . . and many parts for Toyota are sourced from Thailand and the Philippines. . .and in some random remote parts of those countries. . . yeah.

[chrisj]

^ Okay. The Cadenza isn't embarrassing. Where do they get these names? Sounds like a piece of furniture. Oh wait, that's CREDENZA.

[brg88tx]

I dont think its as ugly as the cube though.

i agree, the nissan cube is disgusting.

[why?]

Get a grip man you drive a YARIS its an economy car that looks like it had sex with a crossover.

that girls kinda go crazy over. Don't ask me why, but they seem to like them.

Oh, and I drive a toyota. you know, the car company that actually thinks quality is a good thing. The one that actually solves the issues their cars have, not let them linger for a decade.

[chrisj]

^ WTF is this pseudo-wannabe flamer even doing here?

[alch3miss]

Everytime I see that car-- I get visions of little hamsters and gerbils

[Yar Is Word]

crittertique

[kimona]

^ WTF is this pseudo-wannabe flamer even doing here?

Hmmm... Kinda what I'm thinking each time I read his posts.

[Kal-El]

Wasn't toyota in the spotlight this year for endless recalls?

Based on non-existent problems. Car companies, especially the biggest ones, are forced to be proactive with safety related things even when a problem isn't proven. In Toyota's unintended acceleration cases, a mechanical problem still hasn't been proven or identified. Anyone who knows anything about cars, knows it was driver error. "Black boxes" have already indicated that the gas pedals were mashed before accidents, rather than the brake that the drivers claimed. And Toyota could not point the finger at customers for obvious reasons. The recalls and meaningless repairs were an unfortunate requirement to maintain public relations.

[Lucas13]

i am completely unhappy with toyota. if i wasnt a mechanic my car would be falling apart.

the only thing i've done to mine aftermarket is an AFE intake...and i took it off because on first serious rain my MAF got wet and it's been acting up bad. so...as soon as i can, i'll trade it in and get something else...chevy, subaru, hell even a ford over toyota.

I agree with you, if I wasn't on top of everything in my Yaris it would be crap by now!

I have an endless list of things going bad like my tranny, at this point I prefer not worry much about looks and more about dependability even if the car depreciates quicker than the Yaris, for me my time is more important than taking this thing for 278 days for just repairs, that’s the time the car its been out of service, tomorrow the warranty may replace my right control arm so the count still going.

I’m am very disappointed with Toyota’s quality :thumbdown:

[.Kevin.]

You're the 54 year old with gaudy chrome rims on a yaris using words like dope....

Says the guy with the Jetta HAHAHA.

[chrisj]

^^ I don't think my chrome rims are gaudy! They're "dope"! :laugh:

[MadMax]

You're the 54 year old with gaudy chrome rims on a yaris using words like dope....

What kind of loser joins a forum for a car he doesn't even own?!? :iono:

If he's not even smart enough to know that he should be on VWVortex.com, and not here; then he shouldn't even be allowed on the Internet! :hitcomputer:
The guy's a definite troll, and needs to be banned. http://santafemods.com/images/Smileys/ban.gif

[hazzy]

For me its probably the Nissan Micra.
Not being sexist or anything, but i doubt I see any males driving those unless otherwise, its the only thing they can afford...

[djct_watt]

Not a fan of the Micra interior. . . in the Thai market it's called a Nissan March, and imagine a Nissan Sentra (aka Sunny) with an EVEN CHEAPER interior. Yuck.

[chrisj]

Not to be bashing VW ;) (where is VWTech when you need him!) but I always thought of the new Beetle as a girl's car. I have never seen a guy driving those. Ever.

The Micra looks awfully similar to the VW as well.

[kimona]

You don't like the Nissan March? I think it's a neat little car!

[Kal-El]

^^^…:barf:

[wooverstone8]

I do like the styling of the Kia Soul, most cars in production now seem to all look alike. The only problem I can see with owning a Soul is the resale value after a couple of years.

[firemachine69]

I do like the styling of the Kia Soul, most cars in production now seem to all look alike. The only problem I can see with owning a Soul is the resale value after a couple of years.




Based on the intial MSRP, the resale value, percentage-wise, should exceed all other Kia's.



And hell, I never get tired of that hamster commercial! :biggrin:

[chrisj]

That little Nissan above in kimona's post looks like a new Beetle and a Mini Cooper had a kid, and it was that! LOL!

The thing takes on a whole new look with that drop in the lower pic too. :)

[TRDMarty]

I just purchased a Kia Soul for my mom 3 weeks ago (Alien Green color) and so far its been a really great car. As far as looks go, I like it. :biggrin:

[SailDesign]

Sorry, but the Ugliest Car Ever Award is STILL in the hands of Pontiac - for the Ass-tek.
Blech!

[chrisj]

If we're going for ugliest ever, I would have to go with most AMC products, such as the Pacer, Gremlin, and especially the Matador! Whoa... What were these designers smokin'?

I did like the Javelin a lot though. I really wanted one of those.

http://www.zabiclassics.com/uploads/68_1.JPG

[sickpuppy1]

As a group, your right,AMC specialized in ugly. But for all the nastiness, the one thing I liked and wish more MFG would have done.....Did you know, on a Pacer, the passenger door was 4" longer than the drivers door? Reason being, Most back seat passengers get in on the pasenger side so it made it much easier for them to get in! Brilliant in its simplicity. Why do they not do that today?

[chrisj]

I liked the Pacer for a short while when "Wayne's World" came out! ;)

[Sabina74]

The Cube rear view...

oh god...it looks like a microwave oven....:barf:

[BluYrs]

I like the Soul. Then again, I like anything that breaks from the percieved small econo-car mold. Lately there have been a few cars in this class (or just about the same size), which are a bit different, a few of them below. I think it's great that there's a fair share of choice in this category now- it used to be pretty boring with the typical Polo-Fiesta-Micra-Corsa range.

Nissan Jukehttp://img339.imageshack.us/img339/3623/nissanjuke16.jpg Kia Soulhttp://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2134/211088853440.jpg
Toyota Urban Cruiser / isthttp://img180.imageshack.us/img180/613/20015.jpg Citroen C3 Picassohttp://img835.imageshack.us/img835/2492/19818.jpg

[chrisj]

I saw a commercial for that Nissan Juke last night, and it said the car started out at over $18,000.00. Hopefully there's economy in the gas mileage because there sure isn't in the selling price.

[Sabina74]

i think the best one is the materia:

http://home-and-car-repair.com/car/uploads/daihatsu-materia-5589.jpg

or the xB:

http://www.niot.net/niot_570/scion_xb_niot.net.jpg

[chrisj]

That Chevy HHR is one ugly dog too. I cringe every time I see one, and I see TONS of them here in South Jesus where I live. :/

http://2010chevy.org/images/2010_chevy_hrr.jpg

[SailDesign]

That Chevy HHR is one ugly dog too. I cringe every time I see one, and I see TONS of them here in South Jesus where I live. :/

http://2010chevy.org/images/2010_chevy_hrr.jpg

+1000 HHR for Horribly Horrendously Rong!

[firemachine69]

I saw a commercial for that Nissan Juke last night, and it said the car started out at over $18,000.00. Hopefully there's economy in the gas mileage because there sure isn't in the selling price.



Not sure about you US folks, but up here, to option out a Yaris to a Juke level, you're within a thousand spitting distance.

And Toyota is not particularly generous with Manufacturer's rebates lately (which is peculiar, because they still have boat-loads of Yarii sitting in port.)

[chrisj]

+1000 HHR for Horribly Horrendously Rong!

:thumbup:

[Kioshi]

the Japanese xB aka bB has neon blue rings around the speakers that light up and dim out. I thought that cool, not really distracting to me.

[Sabina74]

+1000 HHR for Horribly Horrendously Rong!

:bellyroll::bellyroll::bellyroll:

[Kal-El]

The crazy thing about the HHR is that GM hired the guy who designed Chrysler's PT Cruiser to design the HHR in a lame attempt to basically copy a piece of that success - 5 years too late. Pathetic.

:rolleyes:

[chrisj]

I had an ugly 1987 Toyo pickup once. I remember the day my 5-year-old son pulled off a huge piece of fender from the truck bed and I said, "Put that back!". It was pretty ugly. Of course that was back when the beds rotted out of every single one of those trucks made.

[Lucas13]

There are really ugly cars out there but this is a really ugly one :barf:

[chrisj]

^ There's that Azzzzzzzztek again. #1 ugliest car in the world. That's the one you could camp in, haul plywood in, and stuff like that, right?

[Lucas13]

^ There's that Azzzzzzzztek again. #1 ugliest car in the world. That's the one you could camp in, haul plywood in, and stuff like that, right?

I think the Aztek deserves a pile of shit on top and probably will look better, still a shame that Pontiac left because the last cars they made weren't that bad...

[djct_watt]

No car will ever be as ugly as the Aztek. It's simply not possible for any company to put something that ugly into production. As bad as it was, I think it's a mistake that won't be repeated (to the same degree). I honestly don't think any car even comes remotely close.

[detroiter]

Aztek is the most hideous vehicle that was EVER created. Sad thing is I see quite a few
of them around Detroit because everyone here is so brainwashed to "Buy American".

I guess when your closeminded and the pickins are slim, you don't have much choice of what to choose from :D

[Yar Is Word]

The Fiat Multipla

[chrisj]

^ OMG! Okay, I have a new winner. :)

[djct_watt]

Sorry, the Azztek is worse! The two separate top and bottom halves are not pretty but not vomit inducing. No matter how you look at an Azztek, it's full of day old second hand prostitute eaten dirty diarrhea vomit. There one modded Azztek on the interwebs that looks ok, but that's one example of all Azzteks ever made.

[Shroomster]

No car will ever be as ugly as the Aztek. It's simply not possible for any company to put something that ugly into production. As bad as it was, I think it's a mistake that won't be repeated (to the same degree). I honestly don't think any car even comes remotely close.

http://www.atozautolights.com/images/AutoPhotos/POVI0308.jpg


its redeemed only by the fact it's a matrix cousin......

[chrisj]

I saw a commercial for the Nissan Joke...er Juke last night. Appalling. And I saw something at the bottom that said $28,000?

[Yar Is Word]

Juke prices from Edmunds:

8 Styles match your selection

S SV S SV SV SL SL SL
2011 Nissan Juke Drivetrain Engine Trans. Fuel Econ. MSRP
2011 Nissan Juke SUV
S FWD 1.6L I4 T CVT N/A $18,960
SV FWD 1.6L I4 T Manual N/A $20,260
S AWD 1.6L I4 T CVT N/A $20,460
SV FWD 1.6L I4 T CVT N/A $20,760
SV AWD 1.6L I4 T CVT N/A $22,260
SL FWD 1.6L I4 T Manual N/A $22,550
SL FWD 1.6L I4 T CVT N/A $23,050
SL AWD 1.6L I4 T CVT N/A $24,550

Juke ok?

[chrisj]

^ Yeah. That was a type before.....:/...... I guess I saw $23,000, not $28,000. Still too much. Sorry, but I wouldn't wish a Nissan on my worst enemy (personal preference)....wait a minute...yes I would. One Bad Nissan Experience = I Hate Nissans.

[.Kevin.]

Nissan is MADE IN MEXICO only car I like is the 370z