Youth Market Cars Are Accessories To A New Transportation Ethic

Carmakers are hot for the fresh-faced demo.

Noisy, reckless and dangerous hot rods and muscle cars hold less appeal for young buyers, who like their cars like their smart phones – cool, intuitive and functional.

This next gen ethic is big in the 2014 Kia Soul, a significantly updated second edition after 4 years. Along with its dancing Hamster mascots, the Soul has become trimmer outside and more refined throughout.

Though the $15,500 base 1.6-liter engine is 30 mpg pokey, an optional 2.0-liter four-cylinder produces 164 horsepower of punchy low RPM gusto. And now there’s even a new Soul EV electric.

The Kia is spacious with a standard equipment list that includes rear privacy glass, full power accessories, air-conditioning, tilt-telescoping steering wheel with finger-tip audio controls, Bluetooth connectivity, and a  6-speaker CD and satellite radio sound system, with an auxiliary audio jack and iPod/USB audio interface.

In the Soul + (plus) edition topping out at $24,000, style and substance comes in two-tone leather, nicely executed faux metallic finishes, an 8” Nav and Audio screen, Panoramic sunroof, 17 inch alloy wheels and a color morphing ambient light show in the passenger compartment.

This George Polgar of GT Marketing for KYW News Radio.