Keep Your Pants On: Kia Denim Soul on its way

Kia Denim Soul – Click above for high-res image gallery
We're clearly fans of the Kia Soul, in case you couldn't tell after reading our recent reviews of the Korean brand's new urban road warrior. One of our few gripes is that we can't order a Soul with as many cool features and accessories as you can in Europe. That may soon change as our recent trip to Seattle to drive the new Forte sedan (review coming soon) revealed.
Quietly on display was this special edition Soul, which we have confirmed will be called the Denim Soul and arrive at a dealer near you soon. We have no other details because Kia isn't talking, but you can tell from our gallery that this aesthetic package will certainly set your Soul apart. From its white wheels to the split stripe, this Soul has a little something extra. And while we didn't see the interior, we're almost certain it's called the Denim Soul because that's what Kia named this shade of blue, not because the seat upholstery is made of hard-wearing Levis like a certain AMC we remember. We'll let you know more and soon as Kia opens up with official info.
Gallery: Kia Denim Soul
Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Bob-omb 8:15PM (6/12/2009)
Wow. The white wheels look....great. How weird. I wonder how durable the finish is.
I saw a red Soul in a parking lot yesterday that had a "Robot In Disguise" sticker in the back window......and a weird Decepticon outline on the hood. Surprisingly, it wasn't as tacky as it sounds!
Reply
Nateb123 8:23PM (6/12/2009)
These really are "express yourself" cars it seems. Myself? I love the stripe that makes me think of an ACR. Is it tacky to put one on your Soul in the same way that putting racing stripes on a cavalier is? Maybe, but somehow it just seems to pull it off.
ConceptVBS 9:12PM (6/12/2009)
Here is that car you were talking about:
http://www.kiasoulforums.com/showthread.php?t=1042
ack154 9:16PM (6/12/2009)
I don't mind the big decal... but the Decepticon logos and text on the rear kind of kills it.
Bob-omb 12:40AM (6/13/2009)
Yeah, that's the car! Ha! Small world.
I pulled up next to it in the parking lot to get a good look. Soul+ in red w/ moonroof....awesome.
3seriesisking 8:17PM (6/12/2009)
"The economy car that wears the pants."..........Classic.
Reply
Dem pants 6:44PM (6/18/2009)
Hahaha Right on, i'm there. Love the soul.
Reply
Javier Padilla 8:34PM (6/12/2009)
The colors is nice, but from what I've read in all the car magazines the big knock on this car is the engine isn't very powerful. If I'm correct when compared to the Scion xB and the Nissan Cube the Soul had the smallest engine. One article even said the engine was the deal breaker on this suv over the other two. Any word on this little suv getting a more powerful engine?
Reply
neuroticfish 10:06PM (6/12/2009)
"If I'm correct when compared to the Scion xB and the Nissan Cube the Soul had the smallest engine."
Incorrect - the Cube has the smallest of the three, then the Soul, and Scion leads the engine size. However, even with a bigger engine and more horsepower, the Soul is only .2 and .3 seconds behind in 0-60mph and the 1/4 mile respectively.
Bart 8:39PM (6/12/2009)
Kia is doing it just right. Decent looking cars with personality, yet still very affordable. I see a bright future. Couple years ago I wouldn't even want to be caught dead in one. Here in Europe we're not buying that much into all the green hype, we just look at value for money. That's where Kia is hitting its mark.
Reply
tuxchown 9:02PM (6/12/2009)
Still.
Ug.
Ly.
Reply
ConceptVBS 9:19PM (6/12/2009)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYmChMkLi7k
J Smith 10:02PM (6/12/2009)
Agreed. I saw one of these on the street the other day. The backside and rear 3/4 view is atrocious. Not sure why the auto press considers it such a looker. But as I recall, it took the press a while to point out the hideousness of the Aztek as well. If this were a GM or a Chrysler, I hypothesize we'd be hearing a lot about how aesthetically challenged the poor soul is.
tuxchown 10:06PM (6/12/2009)
If it were a GM or Chrysler product, they would be 180 degrees south from the praise.
tump 2:04PM (6/13/2009)
If this were a GM car, it wouldn't EXIST. GM has had friggin' years and years to get this car made and they never have so stop with the stupid "if this were GM" crap. It's not GM and GM is paying the price for it not being GM.
tuxchown 2:09PM (6/13/2009)
Of course if it were a GM car it wouldn't exist because even a company as dumb as GM knows better after making the Aztek, to make an ugly piece of crap like this.
ack154 9:15PM (6/12/2009)
So are they going to be taking a page from Scion and offering their version of Release Series vehicles? Hard to say yet I guess, but if they start with this one and go from here... maybe.
I'd be curious to see the full rundown on this though...
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 9:21PM (6/12/2009)
Freakin' awesome. It's amazing it took this many years for another company to use this idea.
Reply
atlbravesfan3 9:54PM (6/12/2009)
Would someone please explain the appeal of this car to me? 'Cause It just baffles my mind that someone would go into a car dealership and actually spend money on something that looks like it was designed on an Etch-A-Sketch.
Reply
LoneWolf 11:11AM (6/13/2009)
+1
Especially the rear is just plain ugly and way too fat for such a small car.