On the outside
Credit due, this is the first Kia that actually looks cool. The new Kia Soul is smart, funky and importantly unique. No rival car-maker has anything close to this in its charm armoury. Up until now, Kia has been closely associated with well-made cars that are easy to drive, don’t cost the earth to buy and come with massive warranties. The Soul is a new kind of Kia that we’re meant to buy for its looks and image alone. There’s a long list of Mini-like ‘personalisation’ options to help you on your way, too.
Kia Soul
Underneath, the Soul is a little more prosaic, being based on the same front-drive platform as the Hyundai i20 – a package that will also underpin future models including a new Kia supermini.
On the inside
The design of the cabin isn’t nearly as dramatic as the exterior, but the dash looks good, is well ordered and there are plenty of places to stash things.
Kia Soul
The Soul’s height and width ensure loads of cabin space. Kia claims more passenger space than a Nissan Qashqai, despite the Soul being 200mm shorter. Rear-seat knee room and headroom are particularly impressive, although fitting three abreast across the rear bench seat will be a tight squeeze. Downsides include some of the plastics not looking or feeling top-notch - even though they’re nicely textured – and the steering wheel doesn’t adjust for reach. Nevertheless, it’s pretty easy to get comfortable and the high seating position gives a commanding view of the road ahead.
Kia Soul
Kia Soul
Kia Soul
