Kia Soul 2014 Review

Kia’s second-generation Soul is no longer the most quirky kid on the block, so the funky city-car may well be defined by its extensive features list, versatility and competitive price – starting from $23,990. A mix of small car meets SUV, the new Soul won’t be a volume-seller, but is again expected to be on the shopping lists of a wide variety of buyers.

Kia launched its new Soul in Sydney this week with a renewed focus on refined handling and a more mature personality. There was no hipster story to be told, but a more serious tale which sees the less attractive sibling emerge from its pubescent awkwardness. The new Soul appears to have shed all traces of first-gen jitters, to reveal a confident and more masculine personality.

Keeping things simple for the Australian buyer, the Korean-built Soul is available here in one model grade only, Si, which echoes the specification level offered across the current Kia range.

It’s powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, matched to six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. The four-cylinder Nu MPI engine produces 113kW of power at 6200rpm and 191Nm of torque at 4700rpm.

The Soul Si is priced at $23,990 for the manual transmission and $25,990 for the six-speed auto (plus on-road costs).

When it comes to fit, finish and finesse, the Soul is a surprise performer. A marked step-up in quality finishes, design and overall cohesiveness means the Soul has a better chance of mixing it with a variety of competitors including the Nissan JUKE, Mitsubishi ASX and Holden Trax. The combination of high-shine plastics, leather accents, contrast stitching and touches of chrome bring together a comfortable and refined cabin ambience.

Although there’s only one spec, it picks up all the kit on offer elsewhere, including cruise control, power windows all round, premium interior trim, 17-inch alloy wheels, six-speaker sound with USB/AUX inputs, 4.3-inch colour touch-screen, reversing camera, roof rails, tinted glass, remote central locking with keyless entry, dusk-sensing headlights, three 12-volt outlets, four cup holders, four bottle holders, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free telephony and audio streaming and a multi function steering wheel.

But the real game-changer for the Soul, is its new underpinnings – a platform shared with the Cerato. Scoring full marks for on-road behavior, the Soul handles itself with a new-found confidence. Front-end grip, steering feel and overall dynamics are of a good standard. The new Soul also gains Kia’s Flex Steer technology now offered across many models, which allows the driver to adjust the feel of the electric steering system across three modes: Normal, Comfort and Sport.

Kia’s claim of a 28 per cent increase in torsional rigidity is evident. Tipping into corners under acceleration, the Soul maintains its composure, while the six-speed automatic gearbox is decisive and smooth. In manual mode, changes are quick and the transmission will hold revs when asked to.

And while the automatic box behaved without fault in the car we drove -- and was a better fit for our city-based launch loop -- there was a certain joy to the behaviour of the six-speed manual, making it our pick of the two.

The gears were well spaced, the clutch effortless and, in manual guise, the engine seems to sing a happier, peppier note. Not that we’ll see many manuals in showrooms, as Kia forecasts sales of nine to one in favour of automatic versions. We’ll get the chance to give both transmissions a more thorough test in the coming weeks.

While the subtle localised suspension tuning delivers a better ride experience on Australian road conditions, the suspension walks a very fine line between firm and harsh. Granted, the Soul shows good form in terms of dynamics but, like most things, its performance cannot exceed the sum of its parts.

There’s an ease of use to the cavernous Soul that is incredibly appealing, particularly with a family load in mind. It’s slightly larger dimensionally than its predecessor -- 20mm longer and 15mm wider. Interior space has grown, too, by 6mm in headroom and 7mm in shoulder room, while entry height has been lowered slightly – 5mm in the front and 7mm in the rear.

Despite boasting a more rigid body, Kia has managed to reduce the size of the A-pillars (by 20mm), improving forward visibility. But rear quarter visibility still proved a challenge.

Five occupants can be seated comfortably with good visibility for all. The lack of second-row directional air-vents won’t go unnoticed, but the multiple front air-vents and under-floor outlets handled the job well, so rear passengers mightn’t complain too much.

The flexibility of a 60/40-split rear seat sees the Soul’s load capacity manage between 238 and 878 litres of luggage, and its cabin storage compartments are abundant.

Standard safety equipment includes traction/stability control with anti-lock brakes and brake assist, tyre pressure monitoring, front, side and curtain airbags, three-point seatbelts and reminders for all occupants, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors.  Kia expects the second-generation Soul to gain a five-star safety rating.

Average fuel consumption is pitched at 7.6L/100km for the manual and 8.4L/100km for the automatic, with CO2 emissions at 195g and 178g respectively. In our upcoming road test we’ll get a better feel for these figures.

Adding value where some others still fall short, Kia also offers a five-year/unlimited-km warranty, capped-price servicing and one-year roadside assistance.

So while this second-generation Soul is still no Romeo, it grows up in a number of key areas and still stands out from the crowd.

2014 Kia Soul pricing and specifications:
Price: $23,990 manual, $25,990 auto (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 113kW/191Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual or automatic
Fuel: 7.6L/100km manual, 8.4L/100km auto (combined)
CO2: 178g/km manual, 195g/km auto (combined)
Safety Rating: untested

What we liked:
>> Comfort and ease of use
>> Confident handling
>> Refined interior

Not so much:
>> Firm ride
>> Rearward visibility
>> No options

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