Parked next to my daughter-in-law's jaguar, I have to say the looks of my Optima are much better. I've gotten up to 43 mpg on the highway and the handling of the car has saved my life at least once. Running 70 mph on a dark highway, I had a deer jump out in front of me. I jerked the wheel to the left and the car lurched smoothly in that direction. Heading to the left guard rail I snatched it will back to the right, the car reacted instantly. Shifting the wheel back to the right lane the car responded smoothly and quickly. This is the most impressive car I've ever driven.
I'm a big fan of the Kia Soul. It's fun to drive, economical, reliable, enormously cute, the back seats fold down flat creating a very usable cargo space, and you can find it in a parking lot. That being said, there are a few things about my Soul that are not so great: The microfiber upholstery shows everything and stains easily, the ride is not as smooth and quiet as many other automobiles, and there is a blind spot toward the rear (but you can learn to compensate for that). I have looked at a 2015 Soul and been astonished at the changes in the model from prior years. Some of the bells and whistles available on the new models are downright luxurious - leather upholstery, heated AND cooled seats, full ceiling sun roofs, GPS, etc.
I have had my Soul for about 4 months now. I have really enjoyed it. It met my qualifications of sitting higher, cargo space for yard supplies, back seats that fold down flat, rear wiper, and arm rest. I got all these and more without the higher cost of an SUV.
This price does not include tax, title, and tags. Additional fees may also apply depending on the state of purchase.