New Soul 2.0 AT SMART

Soul Mate

If there’s a car on the road that’s instantly recognizable, it must be the Kia Soul. There’s no mistaking it for something else: the square shoulders and boxy behind, the signature grille, and the big Kia badge in the middle, of course. But the new Soul is actually all new. It’s built on a different platform, it’s slightly bigger to give occupants more leg, head and elbowroom, and the boot is bigger too. The body panels are new and the body shell is stiffer, which means that handling should be better. All in all, it’s the same basic winning recipe, but let’s say the ingredients are more, and of a higher quality. And just like Korean manufacturers do, they’ve added everything but the kitchen sink in terms of specifications, without the consumer having to pay for it too dearly.

So what is it about the Kia Soul that makes it so likeable? Well, it is totally unique, almost fashionable and nerdy at the same time. Our test model, the second-from-the-top New Soul 2.0 AT “Smart”(R 325 995), had some added kit to make it extra special, including the optional R12 540 sunroof. I thought that was money well-spent, as the amount of light that flooded the cabin made it feel twice its size. The trendy interior is quite refined, with soft-touch plastics on the dash and glossy piano black trim in the front fascia, steering wheel and doors. The leather-covered steering wheel has upbeat yellow stitching, which is echoed on the comfy black leather seats. And there is lots of room to move about indeed, in the front and rear. I think my favourite part of the Soul is probably its user-friendly boot lid, which is low and light enough to be opened by my five year-old son. The deep boot itself is a generous 354 litres, which can be stacked pretty high. 

Sitting inside the Soul is just as cool as looking at it. The possibilities are endless for electronically adjusting the driver’s seat (only on “Smart” models), and pairing my phone via Bluetooth was super-simple. The 3.5 inch touchscreen is intuitive and there is nothing that warranted a look through the instruction manual. I was slightly irritated by the somewhat noisy six speed automatic gearbox, though. It does not sound quite as annoying as the four speed auto box in the Kia Rio, but it’s still quite intrusive when you put your foot down to quickly take a gap. As for the Soul’s handling – it is surprisingly hatchback-like, probably due to increased torsional rigidity (a stiffer body shell), and the fact that it’s not high off the ground, although it feels that way due to the SUV-like driving position.

The 2.0 litre Soul is not within everyone’s grasp, but entry and mid-level Souls are generously specced too. From the “Start” package upwards there are features such as front fog lamps, a six speaker sound system with Bluetooth and six airbags. My colleagues and I concurred that the mid-range New Soul 1.6 MT DSL ‘Street’ derivative (R 309 995) is your best option if you’re in the market for a new Soul. Above and beyond the previously mentioned specs, you will also find a smart key and start button, a touchscreen, a chilled glove box, leather seats, rear parking sensors as well as more safety features like stability control and Hill Start Assist. Its 94 kW/ 260 Nm turbo diesel pot should also be more economical.

To sum it all up, the Soul is just easy. And by that I mean easy to get in, easy to operate, easy to get out, easy to open the boot, and easy on the senses. Who wouldn’t want a car that makes life easier?

Facts & Figures:

Price:	R325 995 (without optional extras)
Engine:	2.0 litre petrol
Power:	116 kW at 6200 rpm
Torque:	192 Nm at 4000 rpm
Top speed:	186 km/h
0 to 100 km/h:	10.2
Fuel tank:	54 litres
Realistic fuel consumption:	About 10 – 11.7 litres per 100 km (combined)
Boot size:	354 litres
Ground clearance:	150 mm
Warranty:	5 years/150 000 km
Service plan:	4 years/60 000 km with 15 000 km intervals
Roadside Assistance:	3 years, unlimited km’s
Also consider:	Citroën C4 Picasso