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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency Services, Feb. 24 Man critically burned in trailer fire Medford, Ashland districts fall short of anti-bullying standards Pot growers could raise electricity rates in Ashland, official says Medford's second-hand law gets a second look Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, Feb. 24 Man critically burned in trailer fire Medford neighbors take up arms against a sea of graffiti Emergency Services, Feb. 23 Car crashes into new south Medford home Politics and Elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Education Medford, Ashland districts fall short of anti-bullying standards Grace to assume school governance AHS principal up for national award Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines A question of punishment Environment Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Coho salmon road trip Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow State News Brown says she'll preserve Oregon death penalty moratorium Tentative deal reached in West Coast port labor dispute State Senate votes to dissolve Cover Oregon Psychic gets 8 years for con of timber heir Economists project 'kicker' rebates Nation - World Obituaries Harvey Franklin Bauers Lois Gunsolus Wilson Donald Max Long Betty E. Schmidt Anne Brown Stewart Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories LOCAL EVENTS Playoffs could use overhaul A-Rod back, but avoids PED specifics Raiders host Yotes in quarterfinal round Beavers a win away from outright Pac-12 title Varsity 541 College Sports Raiders host Yotes in quarterfinal round Beavers a win away from outright Pac-12 title Comeback in Corvallis Bubble Breaker? 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Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Our View: Independent Party of Oregon faces obstacles Letters to the Editor Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Feb. 22: Letters to the editor Feb. 20: Letters to the editor Feb. 19: Letters to the editor Letters to the editor, Feb. 18 Columns Parker: Cable news twists the 'war on Islam' Independent Party focuses on the public interest Milbank: Walker's cowardice on view in NY Will: Tweet this: Digital dialogue won't work 'Big' government is not so big after all Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Lifestyle Latest stories Day Trippin': Mill Creek Falls easy to miss Blog: HAIKU MONDAY: On Sunscreen Steelhead and Flat Earthers Ride & Drive: 2015 VW Golf R Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining Food Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Fire and Smoke Tammy Kelly: Comfort food makes cold weather better Home and Garden Home Help: Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Dear Monty: Nine downsizing tips for seniors Carol Link: Prime time for pruning blueberries approaches Health Community blog: And if I Die Before I Wake Dr. Murray Feingold: Does a sedentary lifestyle make you prone to disease? Dr. Jeff Hersh: Breathe easy - all about lung function Health Watch: Health improvements you can make today that will pay off for a lifetime Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Live Music in Local Clubs OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Third Fridays showcases local artists Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'The Glass Menagerie' is polished and professional OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' Music Professor Gall plays Oberon's Tavern Live Music in Local Clubs The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Man critically burned in trailer fire ... Medford, Ashland districts fall short of anti-bullying standards ... Medford's second-hand law gets a second look ... Man critically burned in trailer fire ... Medford, Ashland districts fall short of anti-bullying standards ... Medford's second-hand law gets a second look ... Silvio Calabi: Kia Soul mixes practicality with personality Comment By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Feb. 23, 2015 at 6:54 AM By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Feb. 23, 2015 at 6:54 AM » Social News When Kia’s eye-catching urban shoebox, the Soul, arrived back in 2009, the maker’s slogan was “The Power to Surprise.” Seven years on, no one should be surprised any more by anything Kia does. The company now sells two midsize sedans and a luxury car, four sport-utes and minivans, five compact cars and two hybrid/electrics, at prices from $14,000 to $60,000. Kia and its Korean cousin, Hyundai, are pressuring Japan’s automakers exactly the way those brands did Detroit and Europe, and the Soul is just one way they’re doing it. Soul prices start at $15,000 and change, and top out at about $22,000 (except for the new Soul EV, Electric Vehicle, which is now on sale in California for more than 30 grand). But despite its outlet-store price, there’s nothing cheap about it. At $17,610, our mid-range Soul must be the least-expensive car to come with a heated steering wheel. That’s on top of heated seats and wing mirrors, and a long list of other amenities: pushbutton entry and ignition, adjustable steering, an AM/FM/MP3 stereo with Sirius XM and Bluetooth (and audio controls in the steering wheel — which both tilts and telescopes), a USB plug, cruise control, auto-off headlights, child-seat anchors, tire-pressure monitoring and a new UVO eServices telematics package that links to a smartphone. There’s also an alphabet’s worth of passive safety systems, from ABS and BAS to TCS, VSM, ESC and HAC — Hill-start Assist Control — plus six airbags. (Other available options include leather, a panoramic roof, satnav and a rear-view camera.) Just as surprising is that the interior looks and feels so satisfyingly upscale. The Soul is a prime example of the sort of value-for-money that gave Kia such a leg up during the Great Recession. The Soul’s only weakness, literally, is a lack of power. Plus and Exclaim models come with a small (2.0-liter) 164-horsepower four-cylinder engine tuned for 164 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. The Soul Base has an even smaller (1.6-liter) Four good for just 130 HP and 118 torques. The mid- and top-end Souls get six-speed automatic transmissions; the Base, a six-speed manual gearbox, with the automatic available as an option. All drivetrains deliver about the same 24 to 30 mpg. Since even an optioned-up Soul weighs less than 3,000 pounds, both engines are at least sufficient, if not thrilling. The 1.6-liter in our Soul automatic seemed to be punching above its class, but it didn’t sound or feel strained. It’s still only Valentine’s Day, and up here in the Frozen North we’ve had about 5 feet of snow in February alone. So you can guess what option we’d like to see on the Kia Soul: Yep, all-wheel drive. As a front-wheeler the Soul does pretty well — and would do even better with true snow tires — but a switchable, on-demand 4×4 system, like Nissan puts in its Juke or Jeep in the new Cherokee, would add all-weather soul to the Soul. But then it would be heavier and need more motor, which might demand bigger brakes and different tires, a suspension recalibration, maybe new crash tests and fuel-economy ratings . . . . OK, never mind. But the name: Soul is wrong. There’s nothing melancholy, ethereal or even heavenly about this five-door wagonlet. No, it’s practical and competent, and almost fun. Somehow it catches the eye and the approval of everyone from urban yout’ to rural pickup drivers, along with retirees, soccer moms on a budget and young families. Big inside (for four adults plus groceries) and small outside, the Soul looks positively cheerful. With an SUV-like driving position and a tall, airy cabin, the Soul easily negotiates city congestion, and the slab sides and vertical corners make it especially easy to maneuver and park. On the highway it’s not a long-legged cruiser, but the Soul feels settled at about 70 to 75 mph. Thanks to good seats and tight construction, it’s surprisingly comfortable and quiet, too. This Kia has some of the playful character of a Mini Clubman without the European price, plus the boxy efficiency of the late Scion xB without the silly looks. Hey, maybe it does have soul. Likes - Pleasing to drive - Quality cabin - Small but space-efficient and roomy - Great value Dislikes - 130 HP should deliver 40 mpg Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is a member of the International Motor Press Association whose automotive reviews date back to the Reagan administration. He is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at [email protected]. By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Feb. 23, 2015 at 6:54 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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