Auto marketers cringe when their trend-setting, versatile vehicle could be labeled an old-person's car, but function and comfort have no age limit. Young people will be comfortable in the Soul, and old people will like being seen in a young-person's car.

Soul is not the rolling pop-art canvas that is the Cube and not the hose-it-out hauler that Element was intended to be. Soul is fresh, creative and different in a way that won't put off mainstream motorists.

Soul is sold in four trim levels: Soul, Soul+, Soul! (exclaim) and Soul Sport, with pricing that ranges from $13,995 to $17,645.

The base model comes with a 122-horsepower, 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine, a five-speed manual transmission and 15-inch tires. Fuel economy ratings are 26 mpg city and 31 highway.

The entry model is basic, but not stripped. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, four-wheel-disc brakes, power locks and windows, a dual-level glove box, a 12-volt power outlet, a rear-window defroster, a cargo light and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat.

Also standard is a four-speaker audio system that has USB and auxiliary input jacks in the center console and iPod/MP3 controls through the audio unit and steering-wheel buttons.

Moving up to the Soul+ and other trim levels adds a 142-horsepower, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with a five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic. Fuel economy from 87 octane with either transmission is 24 mpg city and 30 highway.

Uplevel models add such extras as remote locking, a height-adjustable driver's seat, carpeted floor mats and six-speaker audio. Soul+ gets 16-inch alloy wheels; Soul! and Soul Sport have 18-inch wheels.

The Sport also comes with a rear spoiler, metal-like interior accents, metal-trimmed clutch and brake pedals and red-and-black trimmed interior. There's also a cool red dash cover that will work with all paint colors available to Sport, which does NOT include Alien Green.

The attention to detail and the high quality of materials show how far this company has progressed since its 1994 launch of the Sephia sedan in the United States. With its misaligned doors and paint drips, the Sephia — officially pronounced SEFF-eeyuh — was promoted as a slam-bang pizza-delivery vehicle. Ride it hard and throw it away when the warranty expired.

It would be wrong to do that to a new Soul. Even the base model is better equipped than a Cube or xB.

The bigger motor has plenty of punch, and the five-speed manual is as easy as its gets. The Cube is better balanced, while the Soul has more understeer or front-end push and squawking tires in sporty cornering — but it's all forgivable.

It's a hip environment inside but not gimmicky, at least to the young at heart. The doors open wide, and the seat height is comfortable for old folks. Headroom is spacious, even with a sunroof. Sightlines are clear, with over-shoulder views assisted by the quarter-panel window.

The square cabin space means broad occupant and cargo capacity. The back seat has a full bottom and comfortable angle to the seat back. The second-row floor is flat, legroom is generous at 39 inches, and there's foot room for clown shoes.

Appreciated details include a woven-fabric headliner (not the brushed cardboard of some competitors), grab handles above every door, large and sturdy visors (with a large, covered mirror), significant storage under the cargo floor and a center head restraint in the second row. Even the fabric seats appeared as neatly stitched as in cars costing twice as much.

If the front passenger seat would fold flat, Soul could be the next surf wagon. Otherwise, the board has to be strapped to the roof on the optional roof rails.

Soul went on sale in March, and the company announced in late June a Scion-like, special-edition model with a Mini Cooper flair. The 2010 Denim Soul, $17,995, builds on a Soul+ and adds denim-blue paint, white mirrors, white 18-inch alloy wheels, white front fender signal lights and a white racing stripe placed off center to the right. Other theme colors to come include flame-emulating Ignition and bright-white Ghost.

Soul's youthful expressiveness makes it a car for all age groups and both sexes. Its quality and style could become the new soul of the company.

SPECS BOX

Mark Maynard is driving in cyberspace at mark.Maynard@uniontrib.com.

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