The Kia Hamsters – a quirky marketing campaign featuring human-sized hamsters – made a triumphant return in 2016 and have helped push sales of the Kia Soul to new heights, giving Kia dealers reasons to cheer.

The Hamsters made their original debut in 2009 with the launch of the Soul. The delightfully odd campaign was a good match for the uniquely designed compact crossover, and it helped the new vehicle to make a splash with the auto-buying public. The campaign went on hiatus, in 2014, but hit the airwaves again with new advertising spots in 2016.

The original spots feature human-sized hamsters breaking free of their hum-drum existence to drive the new Soul. Subsequent ads showed the hamsters dancing and rapping about the Soul. The latest commercial shows the hamsters joining in for a multi-cultural folk music gathering. The spots have been very popular among Millennials, the target demographic for the Soul.

2016 has been a strong year for Kia Soul sales, and there’s little doubt that the return of this beloved marketing campaign has been part of the success. It also helps that the 2016 Kia Soul is an excellent product and well worth checking out at your local Kia dealership.

About the 2016 Soul

The 2016 Kia Soul keeps the funky aesthetic and competitive pricing that has made it a hit with young adults, and Kia has thrown in a few new features to keep it fresh.

For 2016, Kia added new standard equipment on several trim levels, giving buyers better value for their car-buying dollar.

Under the hood, buyers can opt for a base 1.6-liter engine that produces 130 horsepower and 118 lb. ft. of torque. Upper trim level buyers can choose a 2.0 four-cylinder engine that generates 164 horsepower and 151 lb. ft. of torque.

Combined mileage for the two engine styles is 26 mpg for the base engine and 27 mpg for the 2.0-liter. Reviewers say that the 2.0-liter engine provides plenty of cruising power and is a delight to drive.

On the inside, the Soul has plenty of head and legroom for front and rear seat passengers, and it also offers adequate cargo room. The boxy design gives the Soul some definite advantages in terms of space. Interior controls are intuitive and easy to navigate, and upper trim levels of the Soul include the UVO interface.

With regard to safety, the Soul received an overall five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, also earning five stars each for frontal impact and side impact safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Soul its top rating of “Good” for moderate-overlap and small-overlap frontal-offset crash tests, as well as for side-impact, roof-strength, and whiplash tests.

The marketing genius and practical design brilliance of the Soul has made it a leading vehicle among car buyers seeking a fun and affordable compact crossover. Bill Barth Kia can help North Dakota residents find their vehicular Soul-mate with great bargains and service.

Tags: Kia dealer, Kia hamsters
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