Kia’s Soul is aimed at people who want a sensible car that looks anything but sensible. People who like the retro look of a Fiat 500 or BMW Mini but who also need a back seat that’s suitable for family use.
Chunky looks that come into the love-it-or-hate-it category are the biggest feature of the soulful Soul from South Korea. We have to say straight out that we love it. Every line makes a statement. From the distinctive German-inspired grille, through the squared-off side and tall roof to the look-at-me tail lights, the Soul stands apart from the madding crowd of let’s-not-offend-anyone school of design.
The interior is cheeky in style too with big gauges and a funky look that harks back to the 1970s.
The really good news is that the Kia Soul isn’t all style and no substance. Buyers of large family cars will find there’s room for large teenagers in the back seat. There is plenty of headroom, fore and aft.
The Soul has a reasonable-sized boot, but in a shortish car like this it relies on depth rather than length. While it may not be large enough to cart a lot of gear on an extended holiday trip with two kids on board, the Soul will prove more than adequate for most families almost all of the time.
As with the Mini, the options list for the Kia Soul is large and designed to tempt the individualist who really wants to stand out.
Our road test Kia Soul came in a bright red colour and had large alloy wheels added to a great design that was loved by all who saw it.
The car we tested was powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine with 95kW of power and 157Nm of torque at 4850 rpm. The engine is nicely responsive and we found it happy to pull away from the lights with a good deal of poke.
Handling is competent enough, the Soul holds the road well and is reasonably willing to change direction part way through a corner.
The Kia Soul isn’t for everyone, but the individualist on a tight budget will love it.
Prices start at $21,490, not including government or dealer delivery charges.
