The Kia with lots of Soul

The Kia Soul Street... rarin' to go.

Not only does it put bright two-tone body paint back on the map, it also has huge bracket-style, high-mounted rear lights, "look-at-me" daytime running lights, a sexy bum, snazzy alloy running gear plus a pug-cocky face and sloping roof-line that makes it look like the love-child of the much more expensive Range Rover Evoque.

But there is much more to like about this futuristic urban wagon with its cheeky SUV-like styling than its ultra-chic make-up. Slide into its living quarters and check out its stitched seating, shiny piano-black finishes and steering wheel that gives you finger-tip control of audio, cruise control Bluetooth and trip computer functions.

Soul music

Life in the Street won't be tough...

click to enlarge

In "music" mode, the speaker rims pulsate in red to the beat of the music and in "mood" mode the colour changes at regular intervals with the tweeter speakers producing top-notch sound from whatever mobile storage devices you plug in. Another attention grabber is a prominent touchscreen complete with rear view camera.

For a little fella the cabin space is seriously impressive with enough room, including class-leading rear seat legroom and shoulder room, to comfortably house four big Stormers forwards.

Three choices

The Smart choice...

The Soul is available in three specifications packages - Start, Street and Smart and even the least expensive of the three is equipped with 17-inch alloys, ABS brakes, front fog lamps, high-mounted rear stop lamps, body coloured door handles, electric heated folding door mirrors, a windscreen auto-defogging system, a 60/40 split folding rear seat backrest, manual air-conditioning, an audio system with six speakers, radio with RDS and MP3 / Aux connectivity, electric windows and a Bluetooth® hands-free system.

The slinky Korean comes in three packages: a 1.6 petrol-engine version that has 91kW and 152 Nm on call, a 2.0-litre petrol model that produces 116kW and 192Nm and a perky 1.6-liter diesel that kicks out 94kW and 260Nm. The two range-topping Smart versions only come equipped with auto boxes but the other models offer the choice between a six-speed manual and auto transmission.

Diesel gets the nod

For a little fella the cabin space is seriously impressive with enough room, including class-leading rear seat legroom and shoulder room, to comfortably house four big Stormers forwards.

At the Media introduction in Gauteng I drove the two 1.6 versions and instantly fell for the charm of the oil-burner which, at the end of the day, was my choice of the range.

It is quick out of the starting stalls and feels livelier than the two petrol options, even though it is the slowest of the three over the 0-100km/h sprint and at top speed. The diesel also feels a bit more confident on the road, particularly through the sweeps in Sport mode (drivers have a choice between Normal, Comfort and Sport settings). ABS brakes on all models do a good job of scrubbing off speed.

The Start's living quarters... fewer features than the Street's, but still quite impressive.

click to enlarge

The ride quality is good with the suspension dishing out a pleasing balance between sporty and comfortable ride. The six-speed transmission's creamy smoothness adds to the driving pleasure, particularly the auto box, which performs well even in congested traffic.

A pleasure to park

There is much more to like about this futuristic urban wagon with its cheeky SUV-like styling than its ultra-chic make-up.

Because of the Soul's stubby size and good all-round views provided by the acres of glass surrounding the cabin the new tyke is a pleasure to park in crowded parking lots, particularly with the assistance of front and rear parking sensors.

It is also well kitted out in the safety department, including passenger, side and curtain airbags, a vehicle stability management system and hill start assist - a combination which gives it one of the highest safety ratings in this class.

The Soul's attractive features and attractive pricing make it a worthy competitor for other brands in this market segment.

To personalise the different models even further there are also a number of optional extras to choose from.

A growing fan club

Since its launch, Soul has recorded global sales of more than 760,000 and its fan club in this country has been growing steadily. With its appealing character and nifty looks as main magnets, Kia South Africa are aiming at 200 sales a month.

Considering the new Soul's magnetic emotional appeal, contenders in this segment could be in for a few sleepless nights. To make matters worse for them, the Soul's price is only slightly more than that of its predecessor and it includes a five-year/150,000 warranty, a four-year service plan and three years of unlimited roadside assistance.

2015 Kia SOUL Review

Road Test: 2014 Kia Soul

2015 Kia Soul Start Up and Review 2.0 L 4-Cylinder