In the driveway: 2012 Kia Soul Exclaim

The 2010 Kia Soul was the first vehicle reviewed on Subcompact Culture, so it seems rather fitting that the first car reviewed in 2012 is, once again, a Kia Soul.

When I reviewed the '10 Soul in August of '09, I praised the vehicle for its fair price, admirable performance, and extroverted personality. The 2012 Soul Exclaim, the top trim level, retains all that stuff, but improves on it. This includes more power, more fuel economy, and more technology. It also means two more gears for the automatic transmission. There are a host of other changes to the '12s, which Mercedes talked about when she attended the Soul's launch this summer.

For me, the first thing that struck me was the power, up to 167 horses (25 more than the previous 2.0-liter mill). This thing—automatic transmission and all—moves out pretty well. The highway ride seems more composed than the '10, too. But that's all for now. Stay tuned.