Kia Soul 2011 Review

KIA'S curiously cubed small car may have Soul, but now it also has some guts.

The Korean company has shoehorned a frisky two-litre petrol engine into the Soul, given the range new six-speed transmissions, added a few cosmetic touches and is now hunting for more mature customers.

Kia Motors Australia boss Tony Barlow says the funky car has won some hearts among older buyers who appreciate its high hip height for easy access, good visibility and ease of parking.

Soul sales are up 22.9 per cent this year to 386, however, it is languishing near the bottom of the light car category, one of the most competitive segments.

"Around the world it's a big seller, especially in the USA,"  Barlow says. We are looking at ways to appeal to older drivers to improve sales."

VALUE

The base model 1.6-litre six-speed manual model remains $21,490 despite going to a sixth speed and adding vehicle stability management and hill assist control. The automatic adds $2200. The top-of-the-range Soul+ diesel manual is $27,990 up $800 while the auto adds $2000. It also now gets 18-inch alloys and a luggage cover.

The two-litre petrol model comes with the same level of specification as the diesel and costs $26,990 with the standard six-speed auto. The only real competitor is the equally well-specced Toyota Rukus which starts at $27,490, but doesn't feature a diesel variant. It's also a bigger car and comes with a more powerful 2.4-litre petrol engine.

TECHNOLOGY

Kia has made no changes to the mechanical underpinnings, only the addition of the new "NU" generation two-litre engine with 122kW and 200Nm of torque. The base 1.6-litre petrol engine gets a minor power and torque improvement to 96kW and 157Nm while the diesel retains 94kW and 260Nm.

The five-speed manual has been replaced with a six-speed box in the base and diesel models, while they all get a six-speed auto, up from the previous four-speed shifter.

Fuel economy has marginally decreased in the petrol auto by 0.3 litre per 100km to 7.3L/100km, while the diesel figures remain unchanged at 5.2L/100km (manual) and 5.9L/100km (auto). The two-litre model returns respectable figures of 7.5L/100km.

Inside, they still get a good suite of technology including Bluetooth, cruise control, iPod and MP3 connectivity. From a low-tech standpoint, the Soul now features reach-adjustable steering that makes it easier for drivers of any size to find a comfortable position.

DESIGN

Styling remains a "love-it-or-hate-it" proposition. Until Nissan decides to bring in the Cube, Its only style comparison is the Rukus. It's hard to make a brick look good, but the influence of chief designer Peter Schreyer is apparent in the new grille, headlights, taillights and snarly face.

It's 15mm longer in the nose, 12mm wider in the rear track, but otherwise has the same dimensions. The interior has also been tidied up and Kia has paid attention to damping noise, vibration and harshness for a more subtle and comfortable ride. Thankfully, they have removed the gimmicky disco lights from around the speakers.

SAFETY

It already comes with a five-star ANCAP safety rating and is unlikely to be re-tested as the structure is unchanged. It has six airbags, including full-length side curtain airbags, and crash-preventative driver aids. It's a shame it still comes with a space-saver spare, but there is room for a full-size wheel under the cargo floor.

DRIVING

It's difficult enough negotiating the chaotic left-hand-drive traffic of South Korea in a LHD car, so spare a thought for our west-to-east and back again crossing of the Korean peninsula in right-hand-drive Australian-spec models.

Thankfully, the quiet cabin, comfortable ride and no-fuss controls made the job a lot easier. The greatest advantage of a squarish car is that the windows are as far as the car's body goes in every direction except forward. That makes judging its girth a lot easier in tight lane-changing traffic.

Performing radical u-turns across several lanes of rush-hour traffic is also a doddle with a tight turning circle. But most of our drive was outon the smooth country highways where the only noise was from the music played through convenient Bluetooth audio-streaming.

There is little road or wind noise, which is a surprise given its non-aerodynamic shape, and the two-litre engine only intrudes under heavy acceleration with a pleasant thrumming.

It's no race car, but the new petrol engine provides plenty of oomph for passing, hills and sudden lurching into gaps in the traffic. It is perfectly mated to the new fast-changing and almost seamless six-speed auto. Ask for speed and it's there without fuss.

Despite pushing fairly hard on occasions, it returned fuel economy figures of 7.9L/100km. The cabin is a pleasant place to be with a commanding view of the road and oodles of legroom in the back, even with a lanky driver up front. Vision is good everywhere except the rear three-quarters, but the big mirrors fill in with plenty of rear coverage.

VERDICT

Some say it's funky, some say it's quirky, but it's certainly practical and versatile. Now the Soul comes with a bit more power, it should appeal to a broader range of drivers.

KIA SOUL

On sale: Now
Prices: $21,490 (Soul 1.6L man + $2200 for auto); $26,990 (Soul+ 2.0); $27,990 (diesel + $2000 for auto)
Warranty: 5yr/unlimited km
Service: 15,000km
Engines: 1.6L 4-cylinder petrol, 95kW/157Nm; 2L 4-cylinder petrol, 122kW/200Nm; 1.6L 4-cylinder diesel 94kW/260Nm
Transmissions: 6-speed manual and auto (2.0 auto only)
Economy: 6.5L/100km (1.6L man), 7.3 (1.6 auto), 7.5 (2L), 5.2 (diesel man), 5.9 (diesel auto)
CO2: 156g/km (1.6 man), 170 (1.6 auto), 179 (2L), 137 (diesel man), 155 (diesel auto)
Dimensions: 4120mm (L), 1785mm (W), 1610mm (H), 2550mm (WB)