2010 Kia Soul Named to the Ward's AutoWorld 'Interior of the Year' List - MULTI VIDEO ENHANCED

All-New Urban Passenger Vehicle's Funky and Fun Interior Impresses Editors

Newest addition to the Kia lineup earns "Grooviest Interior" recognition from prestigious automotive publication

Vehicles evaluated based on design, quality, comfort and safety

IRVINE, CA - April 7, 2009: Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the all-new 2010 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle has been named as the "Grooviest Interior" on the Ward's AutoWorld "Interior of the Year" list. Recently launched in Miami and on sale now in dealerships nationwide, Soul was one of only 11 vehicles honored for offering great looks and great value along with extensive safety features, comfort and convenience features.

"We are extremely pleased with Ward's recognition of the Soul as a youthful, aesthetically pleasing vehicle that offers consumers tremendous value," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing of KMA. "As we continue to focus heavily on design, both with the Soul and our upcoming 2010 Kia Forte, we are confident that consumers will recognize our continued commitment to providing stylish vehicles with an emphasis on value, safety and quality."

Click PLAY to watch the first of two KIA Soul videos

Ward's AutoWorld editors evaluated a field of 35 vehicles that are either all-new or have significantly upgraded interiors for the 2009 or 2010 model years. The vehicles were divided into six car and truck segments based on price, with one winner being named for each of the six categories, plus special-achievement honorees are selected in five other areas. Having both types of awards allows vehicles to compete with others in their segment, as well as with the entire field, regardless of price, resulting in all 11 awards carrying equal weight. Vehicles were awarded points for design, material selection, fit-and-finish, ergonomics, driver information, safety, value and comfort.

Available in four trims (Soul, Soul+, Soul! and Soul sport) and with a base price of $13,300, Soul offers consumers a highly personalizable vehicle with an equally "groovy" yet user-friendly and practical interior space. With design elements influenced by the car's audio system, Soul offers an uncluttered dashboard with a three-dial instrument cluster, LCD illumination and floating center stack design that provides access to the AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system outfitted with SIRIUS Satellite Radio capabilities and three months complimentary service(1). Standard USB and auxiliary input jacks also are in the center console with full iPod(R) and MP3 controllability via the audio head unit and steering wheel controls achieved with an optional accessory iPod cable.

Passengers also will be treated to unique patterns and style regardless of trim. The Soul+ trim offers funky black cloth seats with "glowing" Soul logo inserts while the Soul! trim comes with a distinctive sand-black interior with houndstooth-patterned inserts. The Soul sport presents a bold red-black interior trim with red-trimmed cloth seats and metal-finish interior accents. Further enhancing the personal lounge feel, an Audio Upgrade Package (optional for Soul+, standard for Soul! and Soul sport) offers speaker lights that pulse to the beat of the music or simply add mood lighting to the interior cabin.

Click PLAY to watch the second KIA Soul Video

Kia Motors Product Line
Kia Motors America offers a dynamic and diverse product line of 12 vehicles to meet the needs of all lifestyles. The vehicle line features the functional Rondo CUV and award-winning Sedona minivan along with a wide variety of popular passenger cars, including the refined Amanti full-size sedan, purposeful Optima midsize sedan, versatile and compact Spectra and Spectra5, and sporty yet fuel-efficient Rio and Rio5 subcompacts. The vehicle line also features the affordably luxurious Borrego, rugged Sorento and value-packed Sportage SUVs. The 2010 Soul further complements the lineup as it arrives in dealerships, as will the 2010 Forte sedan.