2014 Kia Soul may demand more success

Though quite a funky design, THE five-door, five-seat Soul hasn't lit up buyers to any great extent possibly because of the styling and also Kia's tempting line-up that gets plenty of attention. Now that more people are looking at smaller SUV's Soul might come on to the radar especially as there's a new model due soon.

The new, California designed, 2014 Soul looks, well, pretty much like the old Soul except for detail changes to the front and rear. But every body panel is different, so is the interior and the platform is from Kia's European small car, the C'eed. There's more of the so called "Schreyer" look at the front and some fairly radical tail lights and rear end styling but Soul remains a boxy on wheels with attitude.

ENGINE / TRANSMISSIONS / TECHNOLOGY

Power comes from a choice of 1.6-litre petrol and turbo diesel engines. They are used elsewhere in Kia's range and are available with a six speed manual or six speed auto transmission driving the front wheels only.  Outputs are 103kW/167Nm and 94/260Nm for the petrol and diesel respectively. Fuel economy is likely to be around the 6.0 litres/1900km mark for both, possible better than that.

The new platform is appreciably stronger than the previous model thanks in part to extensive use of hi-tensile steel in the chassis and body. The new Soul has been crash tested in the US where it scores the equivalent of five stars.

The suspension has been upgraded in line with other changes to offer a more comfortable and controlled ride. A sub frame is now used to mount the Macstrut front suspension for reduced noise and vibration in the cabin. The steering is revised and components relocated for better feel and less shock transmission to the driver on rough roads. Other noise attenuation materials and systems further reduce interior noise and vibration.

DESIGN / STYLING / FEATURES

Though it looks the same, the new Soul body is incrementally larger all over resulting in more interior space for passengers and luggage. This is accentuated by a better interior design and anew dash featuring higher quality materials and finishes.

Kia will offer the new Soul with appreciably more kit as well as more options. While Australian specification hasn't yet been decided, overseas models come with a range of equipment including LED driving lights and xenon headlights, keyless entry, button start, auto climate control, cruise control, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, panoramic glass sunroof, connectivity advances and upgraded audio.

Some driver assist features make an appearance including high beam assist, smart parking and lane departure warning. Some or all of these features are likely to flow through to Aussie-spec Soul  model dependent. As with the current model. Kia offers numerous customisation choices for Soul buyers including about a dozen exterior colours with contrast roof colour, multiple interior choices and a number of wheels in 16, 17, and 18-inch sizes.

PRICES

Prices for the current model start at around $22 grand which seems the likely starting point for the new model, up to about $30 grand if you tick all the boxes. Shop it against Toyota Rukus, Peugeot 2008, Mitsu ASX, Holden Trax, Ford Ecosport and all the rest of them. It's a robust, practical, safe and funky little thing.