Isn’t it cool to be one of the coolest cars around? Ask Kia’s 2010 Soul. Kelly Blue Book’s kbb.com just named the Soul urban passenger vehicle as one of the “Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000″.

Kelly Blue Book’s kbb.com is a popular and respected site for the information it gives out on new cars and used cars in the market. Kia Motors America (KMA) recognizes the significance of kbb.com’s citation. Michael Sprague, KMA’s vice president of marketing said,  “It’s reassuring to know one of the largest and most credible automotive consumer sites recognizes Soul for all it has to offer to a wide array of consumers, including design, practicality, technology features, fuel economy and the Kia brand’s core, standard value package.”

The Soul has caught people’s attention for its fun and funky design. It has personality, versatility, and techno-savvy, as it is affordable. Mr. Sprague also said, “Soul continues to draw more customers into Kia showrooms because of its cool factor and overall value package.”

The criteria to be included in the list of Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 are the same things that people look for when purchasing a car. These are safety, interior size, comfort, fuel economy, technology, and the X-factor, something that cannot quite be quantified but sets a car apart from the rest.

The 2010 Kia Soul has all of the above, according to the editors of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com who did the selection.

The X-factor, or specifically for this list let’s call it the “cool factor”, is what makes a car fun to drive and fun to own. It’s just that feeling of pride and satisfaction that a car owner gets after purchasing a cool car.

During the selection, the editors used Kelley Blue Book’s “New Car Blue Book Values”, which are values that show actual transaction prices in the market. These are more practical and useful data for comparison than the manufacturers suggested retail price (MSRP).

Based on data gathered about the Soul, the editors of Kelly Blue Book’s kbb.com were quoted saying, “The 2010 Kia Soul combines the versatility of a sub-compact cargo van, the confident style of a fashion model and tech-friendliness rivaling the Geek Squad’s® … It’s one modern mix of cool, with a standard equipment list that includes Bluetooth® wireless phone connectivity, an auxiliary audio input and iPod® integration.”

A standout in its class and truly a high-achieving vehicle, the Kia Soul has also received the following accolades: “Best Hatchback of 2010″ by Cars.com; “Best Family Cars for 2010″ by Edmunds.com and Parents Magazine; and “2010 Top Cars for Families” by Motherproof.com.

For a truly satisfying joyride, the 2010 Kia Soul features an Audio Upgrade Package that includes pulsating speaker lights, funky black cloth seats with a “glowing” Soul logo (for Soul+ ), a stunning sand-black interior (for Soul!), and a dashing red-black interior trim with red cloth seats and metal finished interior (for Soul sport).

Kia recently unveiled a special edition, the Soul Ghost, which features a moon-roof, fog lights, sport trim spoiler, black 18-inch alloy wheels, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

Source: [Kia World]