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RPM TV Website | March 26, 2024

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One-Day test: The New Kia Soul

Kia Soul Side View Kia Soul Interior Kia Soul Side Front Kia Soul Interior
Adam Schoeman

As far as brand progression goes, Kia and its South Korean sister Hyundai have made huge inroads when it comes to quality, technology and desirability.

I remember when the Kia Rio Station Wagon was one of the ugliest cars around, inside and out, and having one was a clear sign that you simply could not afford one of its oriental cousins from Toyota or Nissan. But today Kia and Hyundai control a share of the market that is not only well priced but also brand conscience.

When faced with a rental car I will almost always chose the Hyundai i20 over the Polo because the basic Polo is just too basic, and the i20 has a more comfortable ride. Similarly, it is difficult to fault the Kia Sportage, a car that single handedly showed us that a budget conscience SUV does not have to look like a box on wheels, or feel cheap.

But these are the flagship cars. When I think of Kia I think of the Sportage, but there are no less than nine (eleven if you count the commercial K range) vehicles that wear the Kia badge. And it is one such car that I have on test today.

Kia Soul Interior

Kia Soul Interior

The new Kia Soul is not a SUV even though I think that it wishes it could be. According to Kia it is a compact car but while that might have been true for the first generation of Soul this brand new 2014 model has grown up considerably, to a point where compact might not be the right adjective anymore.

A quick look at the spec sheet shows that it has grown in both length and width (not in height) but the actual numbers tell a very different story compared to how it looks. It is only 40mm longer, and parking spaces will only need to be 14mm wider to accommodate the 2014 Soul.

It is also built on the same platform as the Cee’d, so it should really be the same size as a family hatch back, but it just looks much larger.

Kia Soul Side Front

Kia Soul Side Front

The key I think is the Soul’s signature move: the wrap around glass with the ‘invisible A and B pillar’ and of course that high waist line. High is maybe not the right word, because the point at which the door ends and the windows begins makes the Soul feel a little imposing when you stand next to it.

Behind those giant doors lives a well appointed and comfortable interior, that also feels spacious and somewhat eccentric. The Soul is itself a little eccentric because of its boxy looks and the interior, while luckily not going to the extremes of say the Toyota FJ Cruiser and its 90-degree dashboard, has carried some of that over.

The front speakers are mounted on top of the dashboard and face upwards, giving them a turret-like feel, as if they are ready to dispense the sound to your ears like shells from a 90 mm cannon. That is where the weirdness ends and the rest of the interior focuses on functionality rather than furthering the exterior’s agenda.

Kia Soul Interior

Kia Soul Interior

Our 1.6 MT DSL STREET Soul came equipped with a lot of extras of which only the reversing camera was optional. The multi functional steering wheel, climate control, USB and Bluetooth audio, automatic lights, leather seats and keyless start mean that there are enough toys to keep you busy, and best of all, you aren’t paying extra for any of them.

One critic of the interior though is that the high waistline does mean that, if you are short like me, it does start to feel a little claustrophobic. It forces you to adopt a very high sitting position to combat that, but the seat adjustment is scantly.

DSL STREET MT is actually code for diesel, which is what was powering our Soul. The 1,6-litre engine is the same common rail CRDi diesel engine from the previous Soul and produces 94 kW and 260 Nm of torque. The engine might be old but linked to a six-speed manual gearbox it feels lively and eager, making it fun to drive, but not that fuel efficient compared to some of the more modern engines that are available.

Unlike the engine, the chassis as received a lot of work including a torsional rigidity increase of more than 28% thanks to the use of ultra high strength steel. The front now also has four bushings opposed to the previous Soul’s zero, which along with changes to the rear suspension has greatly improved the Soul’s handling. It corners confidently considering its height and that it is not a sports car.

Ultimately the Soul is pleasing vehicle to drive, and is certainly trying to offer a little bit of flair in a segment that is normally ruled by a utilitarian iron fist. The styling will not be to everyones liking but that is part of the Soul’s soul. It is not for everyone, but if you take the plunge then you can be confident in knowing that it does reward loyalty to the slightly strange.

Price: R304 995
Options: Reversing Camera
Optional Extras Total: R4 361
Total Price: R309 356

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