I always feel a little odd driving a vehicle that is targeted at the youth market because I’ve added enough years to become a grandmother and I really do not want to relive my teens or twenties! I vividly remember the odd looks I got from young males a few years ago when my mission was to keep my son’s Volkswagen Corrado up and running while he was away at college. The youngsters loved the bright red car, but I just didn’t fit the driver image.

When the Molten Red 2010 Kia Soul came to me for a test drive, I definitely had a flashback to driving my son’s sports car even though the color and expected driver were the only similarities. The Soul is an all-new four-door hatchback wagon with styling and features perfect for carrying friends and cargo.

The boxy shape of the Kia Soul is similar to the Honda Element and Scion xB, but the Kia has geometric styling with more rounded edges that feature angled window lines and blacked-out A-pillars. Kia calls the Soul “an urban passenger vehicle” and with its high doors and high seating position, it is extremely appealing to driver and passengers. The headroom is remarkable as is the spacious rear seat.

A three-dial instrument cluster is easy to read and very well lit. Other lighting features definitely are worth checking out at the Kia dealerships. Glow-in-the-dark upholsteries are also available.

The 2010 Kia Soul is available in four trim levels: Soul, Soul+, Soul!, and Soul Sport.

I drove the top of the line Sport, which included 16 inch wheels, an upgraded stereo, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, sport-tuned suspension, satellite radio and a red and black interior with red sport seat inserts. Price as tested with an optional sunroof was $18,345.

The Kia Soul is front wheel drive and is powered by a four cylinder engine available as a 1.6-liter offering 122 horsepower or a 2.0-liter offering 142 horsepower. The smaller engine is offered with a five speed manual gearbox and the larger engine is available with an optional four-speed automatic.

The Kia Soul is a fun-to-drive small car with enough power to climb steep hills and negotiate traffic safely. The suspension offers a comfortable feel but the larger wheels make the ride at highway speeds less than perfect.

Kia has definitely created a funky hatchback with soul – and it’s also not a bad thing to be put in the driver’s seat of a vehicle targeted at a much younger audience!

Sally Hanson is a freelance journalist who has resided in Kirkland for 30 years. She and her husband own Juanita Bay Pharmacy.