Factfile
SOULMATES POP up when you least expect it. When we first encountered this car as a concept in Detroit two years ago we barely gave it a second glance – another daft idea that wouldn’t see the light of day. The Koreans would never let it through.
When we next spotted it at last year’s Geneva show, it was almost production-ready. It looked funky and fresh, but few of us held out much hope for its future. The name was enough to go on: “Soul” sounded like another Asian attempt to capture European street-cred by pinching car names from the Austin Powers guide to youth culture.
Asia has a long and celebrated history of completely missing out on irony when it comes to naming cars. Most of you will recall the Mitsubishi Carisma, but Kia has a long line of examples. First in Europe there was the Pride, a small, boxy supermini that left owners strangely lacking in self-esteem. Then there was the Mentor, hardly a motoring exemplar. As for the Rio, it’s hardly awash with carnival spirit, even in its current guise. Judging by their track record, the likelihood was that this car would offer as much soul as the Craggy Island parochial choir.
So it was a surprise to encounter a car with so much charisma. Surely there was something askew? No. For once they got it right; this car has character.
The exterior design is as bold in its metal form as it is in print. The lines are that dramatically sharp, the front that curvaceous and muscular. It’s also as well proportioned and chunky as it looks. On the road it has the sort of presence we last encountered when the revamped Mini arrived nearly 10 years ago.
Of course, it lacks the heritage – and therefore the allure – of the Mini, and many will consider it something of a rip-off. Yet it never claims to be a muscular Mini. What it can claim is some serious design forethought. Kia is quickly developing serious design credentials.
The lines may be unfamiliar to Irish buyers but the Soul is a car strongly influenced in the US by the incredible popularity of the Scion brand. Owned by Toyota, Scion was created with young, cash-strapped motorists in mind. The basic package is little more than a motoring canvas upon which owners can create a more individual identity from an options list that outdoes the Ikea catalogue. An Asian car giant trying to capture the youth market seemed a slim chance, but they pulled it off.
Now comes Kia, with a car that bears some resemblance to the Scion brief, a little more family-orientated and with fewer options for individualisation, at least on the Irish market. The image, however, is strikingly similar. Sharp angles on the exterior and some colour-coded touches inside – including backlit speakers on the premium version that flicker to the beat of the music – are features that could claim some Scion influence.
Similarities don’t matter on our shores in any case; Europe doesn’t get Scion. For most buyers, it will be their first look at this format and first impressions during our week in the test car suggest they’ve got a real winner on their hands. While we are often regarded as a nation of motoring conservatives, the success of Nissan’s Qashqai shows we’re open to new formats and ideas and the Soul fits perfectly into this groove.
While photos don’t do the Soul justice, the striking exterior is evident. What is less evident is the interior space – this is a proper family car. It can cope with five tall adults without a problem, thanks to decent headroom and rear seat legroom, while the finish of the car is worthy of many Japanese rivals.
Admittedly, the gap between the two Asian car giants closed about four years ago, but there is very little to distinguish this from any well-built Asian car. There’s nothing cheap or nasty about the plastics or the switchgear. Everything feels solid and well installed. The second row of seats is particularly impressive in terms of legroom. That said, space seems to come at the cost of the boot; with rear seats up, the boot is tall and offers decent luggage space, though it’s not as deep as we would have hoped. It starts at 340 litres – just not up to the challenge presented by rivals like the Qashqai or the Dodge Caliber.
Even with rear seats down it boasts a rather modest 818 litres compared to a whopping 1,790 litres in the Skoda Roomster. Admittedly, the latter lacks the hints of SUV, but it offers as much individual character and that is, after all, what Soul owners clearly seek out in their car.
Nevertheless, for everyday family use the Soul is more than capable of carrying the requisite load and it’s on a par with many of the supposedly family-orientated five-seat minivans.
Ireland is only getting one derivative — a 1.6-litre 126bhp turbodiesel engine — and, in truth, it’s all we need. This diminutive diesel is well capable of powering the Soul. It’s already the favoured power choice for Cee’d owners and, in this guise, proves eager and responsive, more so than many rivals. When we had our first run in the Soul, we drove to collect it in a Mercedes B-Class with a 2-litre diesel. The Cee’d left it sitting when it came to responsiveness and torque.
Those traits are what you want from a diesel and, though some may consider 1.6 litres a little light for a car of this size, let us reassure you it’s more than up to the task. It’s also well mated to the five-speed manual transmission, although a sixth gear would have been useful; the car feels responsive but revs a little high at motorway speeds.
The ride is a little firm but able to deal with muddy tracks, although it’s not an SUV so don’t expect it to climb too many dunes. It might look more muscular than your average hatchback, but it’s made for tarmac. The Soul’s handling is another strength and even on some of Ireland’s worst roads – trudging through Connemara – it was never caught off-balance. It nestles well into the apex of corners, particularly for a car of its size. You only really start to appreciate that when you try reversing it into a tight spot. That’s when you fully realise its length. On the road it feels far nimbler than it actually should.
Another boon for the Soul is the specification levels on offer. Standard is very impressive when compared with some of its rivals. From a safety point of view, stability control is fitted on all versions, along with six airbags. Then there’s the fancy reversing camera on the top-end model that throws up a colour video feed in a small screen in the rearview mirror when you engage reverse gear. It’s the sort of gadgetry you’d expect in a premium luxury car, not some funky Korean family runabout for less than €23,000.
Then there’s the price. Starting at €19,995, it’s very competitive. The mid-range model adds very little to the mix so our advice would be to go for entry or top grade, depending on budget. Even then, the gap between the two is only €2,400.
Several strong rivals come close to the Soul, but for us its distinct image is a winner. It’s a breath of fresh air as we attempt to combat the depressing events surrounding us, yet it doesn’t mean breaking the bank. Kia might miss the mark on other occasions but the Soul has captured the mood and got the timing just right. What could well have turned out to be yet another Korean version of motoring purgatory may well be Korean salvation. Bless its soul.
Engine: 1582cc in-line four-cylinder 126bhp @ 4,000rpm; 260Nm torque @ 1,900rpm
Specification: standard features include ABS, stability control ESP, six airbags, impact sensing auto door unlocking, air-con, central locking, 60/40 split folding rear seats, 16” alloys, privacy glass, radio/CD with MP3 and USB/iPod connection, audio controls on steering wheel, front foglights; EX adds 18” alloys, rear spoiler, chrome handles, electric folding mirrors; GSE adds 8-speaker upgrade for stereo, reversing sensors and camera with screen built into rear-view mirror, speaker mood lamps
L/100km (MPG): urban – 6.3 (44.8); extra-urban – 4.6 (61.4); combined – 5.2 (54.3)
CO2 emissions: 137g/km
Tax: VRT - 16 per cent; annual motor tax: €156
Price: €21,295 (€19,995-€22,395)