 The SOUL is a decent vehicle given its price point, but it's not worthy of 4 and 5 stars many reviewers bestow upon it.  It's a reliable average commuter vehicle with weak gas mileage and underwhelming performance.  Improved interior appearances and better fabric help, but scrape those away and actual performance issues become apparent relatively soon. Automatic transmission is quirky to the point that it displays the slow responsiveness of early CVT transmissions. Normal acceleration begets transmission hesitation and lost power when shifting from 2nd to 3rd to 4th. With vehicle ratings of 164HP and 151 lb.ft. torque, acceleration is surprisingly strained (especially at highway speeds), indicating horsepower and torque numbers are inflated. Cruising on slightly undulating highways yields frequent transmission shifts.  Steering and braking are effective, but vague. At highway speeds, wind noise has become more excessive over time although it was originally reported as being "normal"; it's not.  After five years of ownership, the car displays less and less soul.  Noticeable cabin wind noise has drastically increased whenever driving above 40 MPH.  Minor dashboard rattles have surfaced.  Stereo sound quality has been disappointing.  Suspension grinding noises have slowly become more pronounced, similarly reported as normal.  The car is generally an average, reliable daily driver, but appears to suffer from poor engineering, with some lesser quality control and lesser quality components.  While appearances are good and options look very good on paper, actual performance is weak; when it comes to actual driving and function of those components long-term (e.g., weak climate control, and average steering, suspension, handling, and transmission), components display obvious weaknesses and are of generally lesser quality relative to their pricing.  If you're looking for a vehicle that is reliable and seats you higher while returning underwhelming power and efficiency, the soul has something to consider.