Kia Problems

The Soul was created to appeal to younger motorists with the desire to personalise their ride to suit their lifestyle. NEW While that idea might put the frighteners up older motorists it shouldn't, because under that funky skin lies a really practical small car that makes perfect sense for the times. It's called a hatch, but looks like a wagon and has oodles of inner space for its relatively diminutive exterior dimensions. With its upright style it is easy to get in and out of the Soul, and when you're in you find it's quite roomy with good head and legroom. The squarish shape means those in the rear seat also have plenty of room as well as those in the front seats. The rear seats split and fold down, and the big square opening in the rear allows big, boxy items to be loaded with easily. While the Soul is a practical little device that should appeal across a broad spectrum of buyers it's also funky enough to appeal to the younger set, particularly things like mood lighting, and USB and iPod connectivity. Two engines were offered. One was a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that gave the Soul decent acceleration without being breathtaking; the other was a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel that delivered good fuel economy. There was also the choice of a four-speed auto and a 5-speed manual, the auto a smooth operator, but lacking a sport-shift function. Kia offered the Soul in three variants, starting with the entry-level hatch, before moving up to the 2 and on to the 3 at the top of the range. NOW It has to be said that the Soul is relatively new to the market and the earliest examples are yet to reach 50,000 km, so it's too early to say conclusively that there aren't any hidden issues that have yet to surface. But at the same time we can say that we receive relatively few complaints about Kia cars in general, which means the future really does look quite rosy for the Soul. A recent spin in a Soul revealed it to be well built and nicely finished, there was nothing about it that would suggest it had any hidden demons. The petrol-powered hatch drove sweetly, with enough punch to hold its own in traffic, the auto transmission was smooth and unfussed. There was no sport-shift function, but it was happy to shuffle along with the lever planted in 'D'. On the road it was quiet, the ride was comfortable, and there was plenty of room inside. For anyone thinking of buying a used SUV it would be worth adding the Soul to the shopping list as it gives you the upright stance of the SUV without all the complicated gubbins that come with the all-wheel drive system. When checking a used Soul prior to purchase check for a service record that confirms it has been properly maintained and make the usual checks for dodgy crash repairs. SMITHY SAYS Neat, roomy and economical little urban cruiser that makes perfect sense. Kia Soul 2009-2010 Price new: $22,990 to $30,890 Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cylinder, 91 kW/156 Nm; 1.6-litre turbo-diesel 4-cylinder, 94 kW/260 Nm Transmission: 4-speed auto, 5-speed manual, FWD Economy: 7.0 L/100 km, 5.9 L/100 km (TD) Body: 5-door hatch Variants: Soul, Soul 2, Soul 3 Safety: 4-star ANCAP COMING UP Do you own a Toyota Yaris? If so tell us what you think of it by sending your comments to Graham Smith at grah.smith@bigpond.com or Carsguide, PO Box 4245, Sydney, NSW, 2010.  

Choosing the right vehicle to suit your growing family's needs is always difficult, particularly because the car that makes the most sense is the one you least want to drive. Once, family choices were limited to a sedan and wagon, mostly of the big Holden, Ford variety, but today there's a myriad choices that can have you scratching your head trying to decide. Most families today opt for a big four-wheel drive wagon or an SUV, but they really aren't the best bet for a family that extends beyond mum, dad and a couple of kids. For larger families there's no question that the best choice is a people-mover. Even then there's a range of makes and models to choose from and you have to decide if a big model, like the Kia Grand Carnival, is needed or if you can get away with a compact model, such as the Kia Rondo. Kia claimed the Rondo was unique in the market, a new concept it trumpeted, but was it really so new? Not really, Holden beat it to the punch some years ago with the Zafira and if you looked a little further into the past you'd find the Daihatsu Pyzar. Like the Zafira the Rondo was based on a medium-sized passenger car platform, in Kia's case the Magentis. It was a four-door wagon with seven seats that came in three models, the base LX, the EX and range-topping EX-L. The LX came with a five-speed manual or an optional four-speed automatic if you were prepared to part with an extra $2000. It was standard with air-conditioning, 15-inch steel wheels, power mirrors and windows. In the middle of the range the EX also had steering wheel-mounted audio controls, roof rails, fog lamps, 17-inch alloys, upgraded cloth seats and a four-speed automatic was standard. The range-topping EX-L boasted a sunroof, leather trim, and climate control air-conditioning. Although the Rondo was sold as a people-mover it wasn't a huge mothership like some peoplemovers, it was little longer than a regular hatchback, which made it easier to handle in the rough and tumble of the school run. Despite its compact dimensions it was deceptively large inside, with the second and third rows of seats able to be slid back and forth to accommodate all passengers relatively comfortably. The only downside is that once all passengers are in and comfortable there isn't much room left to carry anything behind the third seat. Rondo shared its engines and gearboxes with the Magentis, and the extra kaygees of a full load tends to dull the performance of the 2.0-  litre four-cylinder engine under the bonnet, and the four-speed auto, the choice of most Rondo owners, was also a limitation. IN THE SHOP Like Hyundai before it Kia was once looked upon as a cheap-and-cheerful model from Korea and not to be taken too seriously by all but the cash-strapped among us. That's changed, and how, with the new Rio recently voted Carsguide Car of the Year, and deservedly so. Kia has got its act together and its cars are no longer derided for being unreliable and lacking in durability. Carsguide gets very few complaints about the Rondo, which suggests there's little to be concerned about when shopping for a used example. Even better, the 5-year, unlimited kilometre warranty is still in effect. To cash in the warranty the vehicle must have been serviced by the book, so it's important to make sure the required servicing has been done. Also check for the usual signs of dodgy crash repairs, mismatching paint, drooping doors, wobbly panel gaps. IN A CRASH Rondo scrubs up quite well on the safety front, with four ticks from ANCAP, based on front airbags across all models, and side airbags on the EX and EX-L. All models, including the base LX, had ABS braking and stability control. AT A GLANCE Price new: $26,990-$31,990  Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol; 106 kW/189 Nm Transmission: 5-speed manual, 4-speed auto Economy: 8.4-8.6 L/100 km Body: 4-door wagon Variants: LX, EX, EX-L Safety: 4-star ANCAP