The boxy subcompact car segment is one that is on the rise in the USA, with the redesigned 2014 Kia Soul and the all-new Fiat 500L being the latest members. It is not every model that has done well in this category in the past, with the likes of the Honda Element and the Scion xB counted among the failures. Sales of both models were brisk at the outset, but Honda eventually discontinued the Element in 2011, while the xB saw sales drop off dramatically, to about a third of initial numbers, by the end of 2013. The Kia Soul started to dominate the segment shortly after it was released in 2009, and it hasn’t looked back since. Great value and a ton of street cred propelled the Soul to 118,000 units sold in 2013, making it one of Kia’s most popular models in the United States. Kia Soul Compared To Fiat 500L In The Latest LA Times New Vehicle Road Test The second-generation Soul model took to the streets last year. The new version retains the iconic look of the original, but there were some subtle changes made to the dimensions, as well as having a new front wheel drive chassis to ride on. The Fiat 500L, on the other hand, is the newest model in the boxy subcompact segment. Think of this model as an extension of the super-popular Fiat 500. This is a 5-door hatchback model that Fiat believes will help expand the reach of their brand in the United States. They are somewhat following the lead set by Mini Cooper, who started out with a single model and now has 7 variants in the line-up. The 500L is obviously looking to knock the Kia Soul off of its perch, but does it have what it takes to steal the crown? The US-renowned LA Times took a look at both of them, with the final answer perhaps coming as a surprise to many!! “One of these cars is the best in the category, while the other is one that probably shouldn’t even have seen the light of day.” Fiat 500L Rather than building the suspense, let’s just say that this car is one of the worst new releases in quite some time. Every single aspect of the car, from drivetrain to overall design, is a total disaster. In fairness, this observation did come as quite a surprise, especially since the 500L looked great on paper. It sports the same 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is found in the hot Fiat 500 Abarth, which in this model delivers 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The model that LA Times tested came with a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission, a $1,350 option. It was actually this combination that took all of the fun out of driving the car. Turbo lag made it impossible to get any kind of acceleration from a stop. Getting the engine up to a decentpower level meant having to deal with an incredible amount of noise. The transmission shuddered through every change, taking away any chance of a smooth shift. Ergonomically speaking, the inside of the 500L is awful. There is literally no comfort or support to be found in the seats. The climate controls are positioned so low as to be virtually invisible, and the construction materials used feel cheap. Fuel economy: On the plus side, the 500L delivers slightly better fuel efficiency numbers than the Soul. A 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highways, which compares to the 23/31 of the Kia model. Kia Soul Every single thing that Fiat did wrong was done right by Kia! The fun begins with the drivetrain. All but the base model come with a 2.0-liter direct-injected, 4-cyliner engine that delivers 164-horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s a combination that delivers a smooth, quiet ride, with a lot of power to spare. Ride & handling: The new Soul’s lighter and stiffer chassis makes it much easier to handle than the 500L, which had a leaning issue when taking turns. The seats are comfortable and positioned to give a great view of the road ahead. Interior: The Soul comes in 4 inches shorter than the 500L, but you would never know it from the interior. There is plenty of space for passengers and cargo. Rather than going for the hip factor, Kia created a dashboard that is intuitive and very well laid out. All buttons were well within reach and right where you would expect them, while the touchscreen navigation system was incredibly easy to use. The minor complaints about the interior of the Kia Soul seem particularly trivial when you remember the hot mess that is the 500L. The button that controls the panoramic roof is trickier than it has to be, while the colored rims around the speakers are a distraction, albeit one that can be switched off. Pricing: The Kia Soul that we tested came fully-loaded, which meant heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, the massive panoramic sunroof, touch-screen navigation system, backup camera, HID headlights, leather seats, etc. The total price after all those additions came in at $26,195. While that is more than the $24,445 Fiat 500L sticker price, there were no heated seats, heated steering wheel, or panoramic roof included in the Fiat. Add those into the mix and you take the total price to about $1,000 more than the 2014 Kia Soul. You can get the base models of each for less than $20,000. Review: New Soul Proves To Be The Best Vehicle In The Boxy Car Segment What we believed would be a closely fought battle ended up being a mauling, with the Soul showing why it is such a beloved little car. Fiat, however, are in the process of re-introducing their brand to the US, may have hurt themselves a bit by producing the 500L as part of that strategy. Find more details about the LA Times comparison here. - See more at: http://www.kia-world.net/2014-soul-fiat-500l-compared-review/#sthash.3pOI0Fef.dpuf
2014 Soul Blows Away Fiat 500L In The LA Times Comparison Test!
The boxy subcompact car segment is one that is on the rise in the USA, with the redesigned 2014 Kia Soul and the all-new Fiat 500L being the latest members. It is not every model that has done well in this category in the past, with the likes of the Honda Element and the Scion xB counted among the failures. Sales of both models were brisk at the outset, but Honda eventually discontinued the Element in 2011, while the xB saw sales drop off dramatically, to about a third of initial numbers, by the end of 2013. The Kia Soul started to dominate the segment shortly after it was released in 2009, and it hasn’t looked back since. Great value and a ton of street cred propelled the Soul to 118,000 units sold in 2013, making it one of Kia’s most popular models in the United States. Kia Soul Compared To Fiat 500L In The Latest LA Times New Vehicle Road Test The second-generation Soul model took to the streets last year. The new version retains the iconic look of the original, but there were some subtle changes made to the dimensions, as well as having a new front wheel drive chassis to ride on. The Fiat 500L, on the other hand, is the newest model in the boxy subcompact segment. Think of this model as an extension of the super-popular Fiat 500. This is a 5-door hatchback model that Fiat believes will help expand the reach of their brand in the United States. They are somewhat following the lead set by Mini Cooper, who started out with a single model and now has 7 variants in the line-up. The 500L is obviously looking to knock the Kia Soul off of its perch, but does it have what it takes to steal the crown? The US-renowned LA Times took a look at both of them, with the final answer perhaps coming as a surprise to many!! “One of these cars is the best in the category, while the other is one that probably shouldn’t even have seen the light of day.” Fiat 500L Rather than building the suspense, let’s just say that this car is one of the worst new releases in quite some time. Every single aspect of the car, from drivetrain to overall design, is a total disaster. In fairness, this observation did come as quite a surprise, especially since the 500L looked great on paper. It sports the same 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is found in the hot Fiat 500 Abarth, which in this model delivers 160 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The model that LA Times tested came with a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission, a $1,350 option. It was actually this combination that took all of the fun out of driving the car. Turbo lag made it impossible to get any kind of acceleration from a stop. Getting the engine up to a decentpower level meant having to deal with an incredible amount of noise. The transmission shuddered through every change, taking away any chance of a smooth shift. Ergonomically speaking, the inside of the 500L is awful. There is literally no comfort or support to be found in the seats. The climate controls are positioned so low as to be virtually invisible, and the construction materials used feel cheap. Fuel economy: On the plus side, the 500L delivers slightly better fuel efficiency numbers than the Soul. A 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highways, which compares to the 23/31 of the Kia model. Kia Soul Every single thing that Fiat did wrong was done right by Kia! The fun begins with the drivetrain. All but the base model come with a 2.0-liter direct-injected, 4-cyliner engine that delivers 164-horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s a combination that delivers a smooth, quiet ride, with a lot of power to spare. Ride & handling: The new Soul’s lighter and stiffer chassis makes it much easier to handle than the 500L, which had a leaning issue when taking turns. The seats are comfortable and positioned to give a great view of the road ahead. Interior: The Soul comes in 4 inches shorter than the 500L, but you would never know it from the interior. There is plenty of space for passengers and cargo. Rather than going for the hip factor, Kia created a dashboard that is intuitive and very well laid out. All buttons were well within reach and right where you would expect them, while the touchscreen navigation system was incredibly easy to use. The minor complaints about the interior of the Kia Soul seem particularly trivial when you remember the hot mess that is the 500L. The button that controls the panoramic roof is trickier than it has to be, while the colored rims around the speakers are a distraction, albeit one that can be switched off. Pricing: The Kia Soul that we tested came fully-loaded, which meant heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, the massive panoramic sunroof, touch-screen navigation system, backup camera, HID headlights, leather seats, etc. The total price after all those additions came in at $26,195. While that is more than the $24,445 Fiat 500L sticker price, there were no heated seats, heated steering wheel, or panoramic roof included in the Fiat. Add those into the mix and you take the total price to about $1,000 more than the 2014 Kia Soul. You can get the base models of each for less than $20,000. Review: New Soul Proves To Be The Best Vehicle In The Boxy Car Segment What we believed would be a closely fought battle ended up being a mauling, with the Soul showing why it is such a beloved little car. Fiat, however, are in the process of re-introducing their brand to the US, may have hurt themselves a bit by producing the 500L as part of that strategy. Find more details about the LA Times comparison here. - See more at: http://www.kia-world.net/2014-soul-fiat-500l-compared-review/#sthash.3pOI0Fef.dpuf
20 Year Warranty
Lou Fusz Kia is the exclusive St Louis Kia Dealer to offer the 20 year 200,000 warranty.
For more details go to The List: Car Enthusiasts' Fantasies
It’s inevitable that while you’re watching your favorite television show, you see one (or more) car commercials with drivers conquering dangerously sloped roads, driving like a daredevil through muddy waters, or even a car being dropped from a helicopter on to a mountaintop. Another big element to those commercials is the disclaimer saying “Professional Driver on a Closed Course. Do not attempt.” While I don’t want to experience the death defying odds of being dropped from a helicopter on to a mountain, I do appreciate a good, but safe-ish, adrenaline rush. No matter the type of vehicle you drive, there are probably a few crazy stunts you’d love to try or even some not as crazy driving activities and events you’d love to attend.
Many people have a bucket list – a list of things you’d like to accomplish in your lifetime. Sure, everyone has different items on their list, but some of us car enthusiasts have a separate list for our automobile fantasies. In fact, AOL’s car site, autoblog.com, has a list and an accompanying web series and Speed Network TV show called “The List: 1,001 Car Things To Do Before You Die”. The hosts have done things like complete the Rubicon Trail, bought a car for European delivery, even worked as professional stunt drivers. My personal list was largely inspired by theirs, but a few of the items on my Car/Driving Bucket List have been a dream of mine for years. So, what’s on my list, you ask?
• Participate in the Gumball 3000: Never heard of this? It’s ok, I’ll catch you up to speed (no pun intended). The Gumball 3000 is an annual British road rally that takes place on public roads and is 3,000 miles long. The route changes every year and typically includes about 120 cars, most of which are exotic, expensive, and speedy sports cars. The Gumball 3000 isn’t a race, however, and there are now awards for being fastest or the first to complete the 3,000 mile circuit. The rally is more of a road trip for those that participate. I’d love to be a passenger in one of these flashy cars and experience the speed, as well as the sights and sounds of the adventure.
• Attend SEMA Show: Surely you’ve heard of or seen pictures from SEMA in Las Vegas, but SEMA actually stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association. This huge conglomeration of aftermarket manufacturers, car dealers, retailers, media, restoration specialists and more consists of over 6,300 companies worldwide. The industry surrounding SEMA makes an annual $27 billion and covers everything from SUV’s, luxury vehicles, classics, sports compacts…you name it. SEMA Show is annually held the first week of November in Las Vegas but is only open to media, manufacturers, buyers and exhibitors. In 2012, Kia showed off their superhero line of cars inspired by various DC Comics superstars like Superman and Flash.
• Drive on the German Autobahn: Many people have terrifying stories regarding the national motorway of Germany. Thanks to having no general speed limit, it’s almost every drivers dream to put the pedal to the metal and fly. The autobahn isn’t just one highway, though, it’s a large network of coordinated motorways. Also, don’t be fooled by the lack of speed limit; while there is no general speed limit, they do have an advisory speed limit of 81 MPH.
• Attend the Geneva Motor Show: Looks like I just missed my chance to head over to Switzerland for this year’s event, luckily it’s an annual show held in March, so I can start saving my pennies for next year (or five years from now). This international auto show hosts a plethora of the world’s automakers, which is ironic as Switzerland has no auto industry, and typically boasts many concept cars and is an event in which automakers reveal new styling and features on their standard cars. If you haven’t noticed, I love concept cars. This year’s Geneva Motor Show featured two Kia concept cars.
• Take a ride in a DeLorean: “The way I see it, if you’re gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?” If you haven’t ever seen the famous 1985 movie Back to the Future then stop right here, bookmark this blog, go watch, then come back and tell me how awesome you thought the DeLorean was (and how great the movie is). The Delorean was the only vehicle ever manufactured by John DeLorean’s DeLorean Motor Company. The sports car was produced for the American market in 1981 and is immediately recognizable by its “gull-wing” doors. I’m not sure that these things would drive like a dream, but it’d be so awesome to ride or drive in a “time machine” like Doc and Marty McFly.
My list isn’t the most glamorous, bold, or dangerously adrenaline fueled list, but doing these things in my lifetime would bring me much happiness and satisfaction. So, what’s on your list? Will you be the next famous drift star in a movie, build your own car, drive the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway – also on my list, just further down), drive over 200 MPH? Leave a comment and let me know what’s on your list!
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| Autoblog.com/Speed TV's show: The List Hosted by Jessi Combs and Patrick McIntyre |
• Participate in the Gumball 3000: Never heard of this? It’s ok, I’ll catch you up to speed (no pun intended). The Gumball 3000 is an annual British road rally that takes place on public roads and is 3,000 miles long. The route changes every year and typically includes about 120 cars, most of which are exotic, expensive, and speedy sports cars. The Gumball 3000 isn’t a race, however, and there are now awards for being fastest or the first to complete the 3,000 mile circuit. The rally is more of a road trip for those that participate. I’d love to be a passenger in one of these flashy cars and experience the speed, as well as the sights and sounds of the adventure.
 |
| Kia's DC Comics Justice League vehicles [photo via LAtimes.com] |
• Drive on the German Autobahn: Many people have terrifying stories regarding the national motorway of Germany. Thanks to having no general speed limit, it’s almost every drivers dream to put the pedal to the metal and fly. The autobahn isn’t just one highway, though, it’s a large network of coordinated motorways. Also, don’t be fooled by the lack of speed limit; while there is no general speed limit, they do have an advisory speed limit of 81 MPH.
• Attend the Geneva Motor Show: Looks like I just missed my chance to head over to Switzerland for this year’s event, luckily it’s an annual show held in March, so I can start saving my pennies for next year (or five years from now). This international auto show hosts a plethora of the world’s automakers, which is ironic as Switzerland has no auto industry, and typically boasts many concept cars and is an event in which automakers reveal new styling and features on their standard cars. If you haven’t noticed, I love concept cars. This year’s Geneva Motor Show featured two Kia concept cars.
 |
| Doc's "Time Machine" - The DeLorean [photo via fastcoexist.com] |
My list isn’t the most glamorous, bold, or dangerously adrenaline fueled list, but doing these things in my lifetime would bring me much happiness and satisfaction. So, what’s on your list? Will you be the next famous drift star in a movie, build your own car, drive the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway – also on my list, just further down), drive over 200 MPH? Leave a comment and let me know what’s on your list!
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