Road and Driver

Jumping into the funky Kia Soul, I was first struck by how incredibly red everything was. (One editor said it was like someone had sat in the front seat, closed their eyes, and told the interior designers, “everything I touch should be red.” And then had a seizure.) But once I was past the color, I realized how incredibly well-executed the cabin is. It’s a great example of hard plastics done right. There are lots of varied textures and shapes, and the result is an interior that doesn’t feel cheap despite the dearth of softer materials. Rap on the dashboard or center console and you hear and feel a solidity, too, not the hollowness associated with most vehicles in this price range.

It would be too easy to dismiss the Soul as more marketing than anything—every boxy car since the first Scion xB has been hyped as the choice for people who are so damn awesome that it physically hurts; of course, most boxes are bought by really, really old people—but this Kia is genuinely good. Beyond the cabin, I also was impressed with its manners on our driving loop. The brakes offer good feel, the steering was accurate, and body roll is pretty minimal considering the high center of gravity. My biggest complaint: the boomy resonance and harsh buzziness in the engine compartment when you near redline. Otherwise, I dig.

Our 10Best winners will be announced in our January 2010 issue. Please check for it on newsstands on December 5.

Related posts:

1. 10Best Test Notes: 2010 Kia Forte / Kia Forte Koup – Cheaper Can be Better
2. 2010 Kia Soul Sport – Short Take Road Test
3. 10Best Test Notes: 2010 Kia Forte

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+ The clouds have parted and the sun is shining as our editors hit the loop for day three in search of the 10Best Cars for 2010. Follow along with the editors’ notes from the field. [Car and Driver]

+ Subaru releases a “new proposal for the future of grand touring cars” with the gullwinged Hybrid Tourer concept. [Car and Driver]

+ Mazda will use the Kiyora concept to debut its SKY-G and SKY-D engines and SKY Drive transmission at the Tokyo auto show. [Car and Driver]

+ Bentley insiders reveal that a ragtop version of the company’s Continental Supersports is being considered for production. [Car and Driver]

+ Toyota will recall 3.8 million vehicles as early as next week.  The recall is in response to complaints of sudden acceleration caused by the accelerator pedal snagging on the floor mat.  [AutoWeek]

+ Hyundai, whose prices regularly undercut their direct competitors by large sums, has come out with a sedan that starts at $113,000.  The Hyundai Equus Limousine is far and away the most expensive sedan to come out of Korea, and it has the long wheel base versions of the Mercedes-Benz S-class and BMW 7-series squarely in it’s sights.  [Leftlane News]

+ Earlier this year we compared reaction times of drunk driving and texting while driving, and found that texting is much worse than drunk driving (which is not to say that drunk driving is a good idea).  The market researchers Penn, Schoen, & Berland have found that 93 percent of drivers polled favor a nationwide ban on texting while driving. [Autoblog]

+ It looks as if 2009 will be Kimi Räikkönen’s final season driving for Ferrari on the Formula 1 circuit.  It has been announced that Ferrari has signed Fernando Alonso as Räikkönen’s replacement, and that Alonso will start driving at the beginning of the 2010 season.  [USA Today]

+ After sales were spurred forward in August by Cash for Clunkers, they’ve plummeted in September.  Forecasters are expecting a record seasonal-adjusted low of 8.8 million vehicles.  The last time sales were that poor was in 1981. [Automotive News]

Related posts:

1. Daily Downshift: September 9, 2009
2. Daily Downshift: September 14, 2009
3. Daily Downshift: September 15, 2009

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That the Corvette has landed on past 10Best lists is something of an anomaly. It’s loud, rough, and rude in any trim, a far cry from the polished posies we usually pick as our favorites. But it has made the cut because it offers a revelatory level of performance for the money. Even in base trim, this car offers enough to make it intimidating on a public road, particularly those like the ones we orbit during 10Best: as smooth as a highball of Everclear, twistier than a Dan Brown plotline, and—oh yeah—lined with trees. Old, fat trees. Scary trees.

If the base car isn’t necessarily friendly, the Z06—from the moment you fire it up—is downright frightening, the drill sergeant that puts a deadly weapon in your hands and barks that today you become a man. Your hands will shake and your knees tremble, but when the Z06 is done with you, you’ll know what you’re made of. Nobody is chummy with their drill sergeants, but everyone reveres them.

Our 10Best winners will be announced in our January 2010 issue. Please check for it on newsstands on December 5.

Related posts:

1. 2009 Chevrolet Corvette Z51 / Z06 / ZR1
2. 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport – First Drive Review
3. 10Best Test Notes: 2010 Porsche Cayman

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If you would you like to save yourself $11,000, read on. For 2010, Jaguar introduced a new 5.0-liter V-8 engine in three different variations. Along with the previous naturally aspirated 300-hp 4.2-liter, the new additions bring the total V-8 offerings in the XF to four. Yes, four V-8 flavors in five different trim levels seems a bit excessive, but I’m here to tell you that the new naturally aspirated 5.0-liter is, in fact, the cat’s meow (yep, I just said that). Pushing 385 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, the NA 5.0-liter sits toward the bottom of the range behind the 470-hp XF Supercharged and the 510-hp supercharged XFR, but in front of the aforementioned 4.2-liter base motor.

With so many options, we don’t blame you for being confused. But after driving the 5.0-liter today during 10Best, I have to say it is a very wise choice. The engine is very responsive with a lengthy power curve and scores bonus points for a snarly exhaust note. The XF already has a fantastic, quick-acting six-speed automatic transmission and it and the motor make one dynamic combo. Steering is quite communicative and the chassis makes the Jag feel light on its feet. It was truly a pleasure to drive and after my loop was complete, I couldn’t see myself justifying another $11K for the XF Supercharged.

Our 10Best winners will be announced in our January 2010 issue. Please check for it on newsstands on December 5.

Related posts:

1. 10Best Test Notes: 2010 Audi S4
2. 10Best Test Notes: 2010 BMW 328i
3. 10Best Test Notes: 2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

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IndyCar team owner and dealer magnate Roger Penske will not buy Saturn and the brand will be shuttered, General Motors said Wednesday.
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Luxury Wagon Showdown: 2009 Audi A4 Avant, 2009 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

Despite our love for wagons, these versatile haulers have fallen out of favor with the American public.

Despite our love for wagons, these versatile haulers have fallen out of favor with the American public. They’ve actually been out for favor for several decades, so we’re hoping they’ve been uncool long enough to make a trendy comeback. With fuel economy regulations tightening, but no apparent end in sight for Americans’ desire for the ability to haul lots of stuff, the wagon could become more relevant.

Photo Gallery: Luxury Wagon Showdown - 2009 Audi A4 Avant, 2009 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Comparison - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Luxury Wagon Showdown - 2009 Audi A4 Avant, 2009 BMW 328i xDrive Sports Wagon, 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Comparison - Automobile Magazine

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Interactive editor Dale Jewett chats with Corvette expert Mike Yager of Mid America Motorworks. With host Tom Berg.
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By scrounging up some of its best performance hardware, Chevrolet managed to cobble up a new car that just might be cool enough to warrant resurrection of the storied Grand Sport moniker….
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The Middle East will gain another presence in major-league U.S. motorsports if the King from North Carolina and a prince from Saudi Arabia complete a commercial pairing.
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Toyota plans to recall as early as next week 3.8 million U.S. Toyota and Lexus models–its largest ever–to fix floor mats that may snag gas pedals and cause vehicles to accelerate at high speeds.
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