Kia Soul Car Review

FIRST THOUGHTS: A new petrol engine with more power and better fuel economy and an excellent 6-speed auto ‘box make the 2012 Kia Soul an even more appealing option for style conscious small car buyers.

Cars belonging to the Japanese ‘Kei’ car segment have always been a little quirky. See, due to registration laws in Japan that mean cheaper yearly bills if your car is within certain external dimensions, there has always been the need to package as much room into as little space as possible. The new Soul is an interesting take on the concept, and perhaps the most visually appealing of its type from any manufacturer.

These Kei cars have gotten bigger over the years, like most things automotive, and many have never made their way onto Australian shores. Classical examples include the Daihatsu Move and Suzuki Wagon R. Despite the Nissan Cube being available Down Under, only the Toyota Ruckus and Kia Soul are available directly from the manufacturer and that makes them a whole lot more appealing than a grey import...

There’s a lot to like about the 2012 Soul + including a more versatile interior with more room and comfort than you might expect, and a new petrol engine. As tested, the Soul will set you back $26,990, so when you compare it to a conventional hatch, you do get a lot of style and practicality for your money. A choice of two petrol engines, one diesel, and auto or manual, ensures there’s something for everyone. This top-spec model is only available with the auto transmission though.

The design itself is about as practical as it gets in real terms; a square, boxy shape that allows for a, well, square interior space. For some, the styling might be a little too out there. For us, it’s exactly how this segment needs to play the game. Out on the road, the Soul seems to appeal to people of all ages. This 2012 model is something of a mid-life makeover for the Soul and it’s been given the tweak it needed. In fact, the Soul was the vehicle that really kick-started Kia’s new design philosophy that is now evident across the range.

In terms of getting around town, it’s pretty hard to look past the Soul. The new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is zippy and revs willingly all the way to redline. But with 122kW at 6500rpm and 200Nm at 4800rpm, the Soul doesn’t have to be worked too hard. Zipping around town has rarely been easier and more effortless than this. The six-speed auto is a fantastic gearbox that shifts up and down the ratios smoothly and without hesitation. The extra cog helps keep fuel economy down too (the manual is more fuel efficient, just, but the auto is more pleasant to use).

Bump absorption is good over nasty ruts and potholes with the chassis feeling both solid and compliant despite the short wheelbase. Our test model, a top-spec Soul +, comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, and these offer a good compromise between aesthetics and ride quality. The steering is precise and the turning circle (10.5m) is perfect for a city-oriented.

Comfort

SUV-style driving position offers great visibility

This is where the Soul really surprises. Up front, there’s ample fore, aft and up, down movement for both driver and passenger to get comfortable in their seats. The steering is adjustable for reach and rake. There’s also an enormous amount of headroom. Visibility from the driving pew is excellent both ahead and behind, and the seats themselves are excellent, comfortable and well bolstered. The seats themselves are excellent, comfortable and well bolstered and the driver’s side retractable armrest is a smart addition. Here comes the only gripe though, my far more attractive better half commented (or should that be lamented) on the lack of an armrest for the passenger. Fair point too actually, as it would be practical to have one for the passenger on longer trips.

The SUV-like driving position is brilliant and, even on longer trips; there was nothing in the way of aches and pains evident after a few hours behind the wheel. The cabin is relatively quiet and well insulated. Road noise is kept to a minimum, even with the low-profile rubber fitted to our test model and there’s a solid feeling of insulation throughout the interior.

Practicality

Genuinely impressive rear seat space and plenty of luggage space, too

You could argue that as a city car, few options are more practical than a vehicle like the Soul. Its flat sides, and short overhangs, mean it’s an cinch to navigate through traffic, tight laneways and underground carparks. Street parking is easy too even in the tight confines of the Sydney CBD. With the rear seats in place, the luggage area is not massive, owing to the short overhang behind the rear wheels, flat back and determination to provide as much room inside for passengers as possible. That said, we did manage to squeeze two nights worth of luggage for four adults into the hatch area quite easily, but if you do need more room just fold down the rear seats to open the back section right up.. The back seat is also a lot roomier than you might expect, meaning four adults can be transported around in comfort. The flat floor and upright seating layout also helps here.

Build and Finish

There’s a general feeling of solidity and quality

It’s fair to say that Kia has come a long way in the past decade in terms of fit, finish and build quality. And that ranges from little details like switchgear and touch surfaces to larger factors like insulation and seat quality. As such, the Soul is right up there with Kia flagships such as Optima and Rio in terms of refinement and quality of construction. There can be a bit of a tinny sound when you close the doors and they feel a bit light, but once closed, you could certainly be ensconced in a far more expensive car. The interior is quiet, all the switchgear feels solid and well built and the touch surfaces don’t feel cheap or tacky. The plastic trim also feels sturdy, as does the thick cloth used on the seats and door linings.

Safety and Security

Five-star ANCAP safety rating and a full suite of airbags and electronic aids

Kia has worked hard to match its European rivals, and is now right at the sharp end with standard safety equipment of late and the Soul has everything you need in this regard. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that these safety inclusions are standard across the range from the entry-level model to the flagship variant. Anti-lock braking with EBD and Brake Assist head-up the list. There’s stability control and traction control, a seatbelt warning chime, a high-mount rear stop light, three child seat anchor points and three-point seatbelts on all positions. Six airbags are also standard across the range, as are front seatbelt pretensioners with load limiters and active front headrests. Side door impact beams keep the body structure solid and childproof rear door locks work with impact sensing auto door unlocking to keep things safe as well.

Security isn’t overlooked either, with a battery saver fitted as standard along with an immobiliser, remote central locking with keyless entry and a panic button.

Ownership

Diesel engine is hard to go past but new petrol and auto is excellent

The claimed ADR fuel number for the Soul + with the auto transmission is a reasonable 7.5L/100km. Impressively, the claim is pretty accurate and we managed 7.9L/100km on test. That’s over more than 300km of driving so it is a real-world number. General running costs for Kia product is very low compared to other similar vehicles and the Soul should be no different there. The five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty is a particularly attractive carrot dangling in front of the nose of prospective buyers. While the manual gearbox is marginally more fuel efficient than the auto, unless you’re a diehard self-shifter, the auto is the stand out around town option. It’s smooth, refined and exactly what you want for give and take traffic crawling. It’s worth noting that 18-inch tyres aren’t expensive to replace these days either so there will be no nasty surprises there. We’ve spoken to a number of Kia owners recently (various models) and there has been nothing to report in the way of lingering faults or mechanical issues. 

On face value, the Soul, which starts at $21,490 and works its way up to $29,990 isn’t exactly cheap. However, the Soul does have a lot of standard equipment. The Soul + model tested here getting cruise control and a leather wrapped steering wheel standard.  Across the range, there’s a five-function trip computer, ambient temp display, power windows (auto down for driver), cup holders everywhere you look, bottle holders, and plenty of other tricky storage options. The standard audio system – again across the range – is also of a high quality. You get an MP3 compatible CD player, six speakers, AUX/USB input with iPod compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity for your phone (with steering wheel mounted controls in + models), speed dependent volume control and a pollen and dust filter for the AC system.