Top 10 Back-to-School Cars: 2010 Kia Soul

On the heels of earning a "Top Safety Pick" by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety -IIHS, the 2010 Kia Soul crossover has been named to the "Top 10 Back-to-School Cars" list by kbb.com.

Kia's funky five-door urban cruiser has been recognized for its exceptional value, great fuel economy, warranty, unique styling and reliability.

The 2010 Kia Soul is an attractive option for students headed back to school.
A well-known automotive resource site has also recongized the Soul for its impressive interior space and enjoyable creature comforts.

In addition to immense style and value, Soul also offers consumers the same high level of standard safety equipment as all Kia vehicles, including front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags, an Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Front and rear crumple zones, side-impact door beams, an impact-absorbing steering column and Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system also come standard.

The list, compiled by editors at kbb.com, represents vehicles that offer reliability, safety features, affordability, practicality, good handling and attractive styling, effectively appealing to both parents and students. Also taken into consideration is value, with all new vehicles posting starting prices below $18,000, with Soul easily complying with a base starting MSRP of $13,300.

"The 2010 Kia Soul is the perfect back-to-school vehicle, providing style and options that will appeal to students, as well as safety features, fuel economy and reliability that will give any parent piece of mind,'" said Vice President, Marketing at Kia Motors America (KMA). [Source: Kia Motors Korea]

Kia Soul commercial

Hamsters play the main role in Kia's Soul commercial

Kia Motors America has launched a very cool video commercial at the beginning of April. To promote it's stylish new Soul crossover the company has teamed up with David & Golliat advertising agency and they together launched an add that showcases Kia Soul crossover and a bunch of giant hamsters riding down the street. Giant hamsters driving a car? That's right, giant hamsters play the main role in the latest Kia video commercial.

The latest Kia Soul commercial ad depicts a computer-generated Levitton populated by hamsters. As the rodents spin in place on their hamster wheels, waiting for the traffic light to change, the drudgery of their gridlocked exercise is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a red Kia Soul. When the car pulls up to the intersection, the passenger-side window rolls down to reveal a posse of three giant hamsters while listening to the cool music and moving their heads with the beats coming out of front door speakers. Obviously the giant hamsters are clearly enjoying their ride.

The Kia Soul commercial has been aired to the US consumers through different media such as cinemas, cable tvs. The ad is specially targeting younger people, so the carmaker has also lined up a major integrated sponsorship, buying time on the MTV Movie Awards, Discovery Channel and Comedy Central.

There have been five essentially the same Kia Soul commercials aired through various networks so far, but each of them has featured a different artist and played a different song. All of the songs proved to be very popular among targeted audience - Y-gen consumers. Songs that can be heard in the Kia Soul commercials are performed by popular artists including MARZ ft. Pack and Mumiez, The Potbelleez, Goldfish, Calvin Harris and MSTRKRFT feat. N.O.R.E.