Cute Kia with lots of Soul

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And hoo boy, is it going to get the tongues wagging because just like the fast-looking, slow-moving PT Cruiser, queer-bummed Renault Megane, pop-eyed Fiat Multipla, brash Jeep Patriot and the ugly Dodge sisters Nitro and Caliber, this new Korean Kia could lead to family feuds and rowdy pub and club arguments.

When I saw the first photographs of the Soul my immediate thought was this little tyke is trying to box way above its weight in terms of its challenging looks.

It just seemed too cocky and cute to climb through the ropes against seasoned veterans such as the Nissan Qashqai, Suzuki SX4, Honda Jazz, Daihatsu Terios and VW Golf Trendline.

But the first round goes to the Soul because it beats them all on price and is as good - if not better - in other vital areas such as space, build quality, refinement, safety and travel joy.

And round two also goes to Soul because it also beats all except Suzuki (which is about R14,000 more expensive) in the power and torque stakes.

South Africa is one of the first of more than 100 countries to take delivery of the Soul so it's too early to gauge response from the world's motoring media and buying public.

But one thing is sure, if ever proof was needed that Korean cars are serious international players then the Soul is it.

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Certainly this new Kia is as good as anything that comes out of Japan, much better than those made in India and China and on par with price-equals from France and Italy.

I drove the Soul briefly during the recent local media launch and liked its spacious cabin, ride quality, super-smooth gearbox and gutsy 1.6-litre engine.

The multi-point injection petrol engine (a diesel is due some months down the line) chugs out 91.2kW and 156Nm at a fairly high 4200rpm

It will sprint from zero to 100km/h in a not too shabby 10.4 seconds and on to a top speed of about 177km/h.

Kia gives fuel consumption at between 5.1 litres and 6.6 litres per 100km.

On the road the Soul is a smooth as soul music. The suspension is firm without being bouncy, the engine has just enough growl not to be intrusive or sleepy, the cabin is well insulated against road and wind noises and the steering has a nicely weighted, solid feel.

In spite of its high profile it feels confident on the road, thanks to a long wheelbase, wide track and independent front and twist-beam rear suspension.

Soul is one of the new breed of five-seater, five-door urban crossover vehicles that handle like family cars and look like they want to be an SUV.

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In terms of length, width, height and wheelbase it slots in neatly between its Kia sisters Rio and Sportage.

The cross-over segment of the market is rapidly growing in popularity and Kia says it expects to sell about 500 of these new cars a year, mainly to professional singles, young couples and small families in the 25 to 35 year age bracket.

But I won't be at all surprised to see spirited wrinkle-rockers scooting around in them either.

Seeing the Soul in the metal for the first time sparked off mixed response from our group of motoring scribes…. “pug ugly,” said one… “really cute,” said another, and that just about sums it up.

Its styling is challenging, but it grows on you very quickly.

My initial frown soon turned into a smile because the Soul's high roofline (and the resulting acres of interior space), chubby high bonnet, bulging wheel arches, prominent chrome grille and large headlamps all add up to its appealing little tough guy persona.

Key elements of the Soul's very different appearance are its high roofline, unusually long (2550mm) wheelbase, its height (1610mm), a windscreen base which is 135mm higher than a typical compact car, its ‘hip point' which is 120mm higher and ground clearance of 165 mm.

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Different it certainly is and therein lies much of its appeal, as Zian van Heerden, sales director for Kia Motors South Africa, says: “The Soul will get Kia talked about and generate customer appeal that will translate into strong sales.”

But besides its unusual appearance, much of its appeal flows from its big and airy cabin which is particularly driver-friendly.

The driver has a commanding view of the road, the seats are really comfortable and it's easy to find a relaxing driving position behind the sporty four-spoked steering wheel and the attractive four gauge instrument cluster.

With the Soul clearly aimed at the young and young-at-heart market, Kia has installed a really classy, high-tech audio system made up of a radio/CD player with MP3 compatibility, USB, AUX and iPod connections, six speakers (one in each door and two tweeters) and steering wheel mounted audio controls.

Boot space is a generous 340 litres with the rear seats upright. The 60/40 split rear seat backrest can be folded down without having to remove the head restraints and the resulting (almost flat) load area can accommodate a total of 570 litres of luggage without obstructing the windows.

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Unfortunately good luggage space comes at a sacrifice and in this case it means a Marie biscuit instead of a normal spare wheel.

On the Soul's list of bells and whistles you will find 16-inch alloy wheels, 205/55 R16 tyres, electric front and rear windows, front driver & passenger airbags, head restraints and three-point seat belts for all five occupants, remote release filler flap, rear screen wiper, electric power steering, air-conditioning, tinted glass with shaded windscreen band, central locking, ‘battery saver' to prevent draining of the battery, electric heated door mirrors, special “Soul Glow” seating fabric, a rear spoiler and front and rear fog lights.

Having just been awarded five stars in European safety tests, Soul's carrier-care aids include dual airbags and an ABS anti-lock braking system that incorporates electronic brake force distribution (EBD).

Overall, a seriously impressive new arrival on an already crowded local new vehicle market, but Soul has a number of advantages - its cool looks, comfortable ride, nifty living quarters and competitive price, not forgetting the incentives of a four-year/90,000km service plan and a five-year/100,000km warranty.