KIA Drops Production Ready 48 MPG Soul Hybrid at the Shanghai Motor Show!!!!

Agreed the box may have been cool when once upon a time when scion did it but I think the party was over about a year ago.

Scion was cool?

Kia/Hyundai are simply very smart car makers.

Well, let's calculate: by driving a hybrid over 500.000km/340.000 miles (lifespan of its batteries [1]) you consume about 2200 gallons of crude oil less and emit 210 TONNES of CO2 less. Cars compared and data/numbers taken are for 2004 Toyota Prius II [2] and Volkswagen Jetta 1.9 TDI [3]. I gave the Jetta/Bora TDI diesel a favor by slightly inflating its certified fuel consumption since owners observe a bit more [4].

Don't forget that the 2004 Prius got excellent exhaust pollution rating: 8 out of 10 possible [2]. Meanwhile, the dirty and slow Jetta 1.9 TDI got horrid rating of ONE out of 10 [3].

That corresponds perfectly with ADAC EcoTest findings. 800+ cars tested. Diesels, even those with particulate filters, took most of the last 400 places [5].

Obviously, myth of hybrid environmental damage due to battery manufacturing (which is fully recycled by the way) has been debunked a long time ago [6].

But that's actually just the start. Not only are hybrids brutally more environmentally friendly than diesels, they are also significantly cheaper to run:

5-year total ownership costs, 2004 cars:

Toyota Prius II: Fuel: $5,285 | Repairs: $2,291 | Totals: $29,669 [7]

VW Jetta 2.0 GL gas: Fuel: $10,402 | Repairs: $2,684 | Totals: $30,523 [8]

VW Jetta 1.9 TDI GL: Fuel: $8,742 | Repairs: $3,540 | Totals: $34,305 [9]


Smart people go hybrid. Smart car makers do hybrids.

Clueless people go diesel. Makers that has gone diesel have to cheat, mislead and falsify data now to lie to as large customer base as possible.

References:
[1] http://www.zercustoms.com/news/Toyota-Prius-Taxi-Cracks-550,000-km.html
[2] http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/compx2008f.jsp?year=2004&make=Toyota&model=Prius&hiddenField=Findacar
[3] http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/2008car1tablef.jsp?id=19689
[4] http://www.spritmonitor.de/de/uebersicht/50-Volkswagen/454-Bora.html?fueltype=1&power_s=60&power_e=85
[5] http://adac-ecotest.awardspace.biz/
[6] http://www.autobloggreen.com/tag/hummer+prius/
[7] http://www.edmunds.com/used/2004/toyota/prius/100326481/cto.html?setzip=10007&vdp=off
[8] http://www.edmunds.com/used/2004/volkswagen/jetta/100352546/cto.html?setzip=10007&vdp=off
[9] http://www.edmunds.com/used/2004/volkswagen/jetta/100352548/cto.html?setzip=10007&vdp=off

MrBratwurst's commentary is very refreshing to read as it is well written, well reasoned, though we might not all agree with his conclusions. But what is most remarkable is that it is well researched with citations for his references. Well done.

I'm sorry for this diesel remark, I'll avoid mentioning it in this tone, so I'm apologizing for it.

The only excusion I have in my defence is that I'm getting more and more angry since virtually no automotive blog or portal, when introducing diesels and hybrids, provides any significant insight into hybrid undeniable advantage.

They only shout unadjusted diesel mileages numbers and repeat "torque" again and again since this is what masses want to hear. They don't even understand diesels have no torque advantage (at wheels, where it matters) over forced induction gasoline or gasoline-hybrid vehicles.

I meant "excuse".

Everybody seen the crash test with the Smartfortwo? The Soul is a different "name" but the same "result". Ouch! Anybody with a death wish needs to go buy one of these. Good Luck....