Korean manufacturer Kia has built a reputation for making sensibly styled budget cars and for making concessions in quality to maintain an affordable price point. Recently there has been a change in ethos at Kia and its vehicle styling has become far more daring. Kia has become the Skoda of Asia because like Skoda it’s engaged in a heated battle against badge snobbery. Kia’s latest weapon and metal manifestation of its revised thinking is the Kia Soul. So is this unique new ‘urban crossover’ hot property? We spent a week kicking the tyres and lighting the fires to find out.
It’s impossible not to stare when you first lay eyes on the Soul’s extroverted exterior aesthetic. It’s bold and refreshingly risky in how much styling has been retained from it’s original concept car form. The Soul is covered in distinctive styling cues and marks a significant departure from Kia styling of old. A wrap-around glasshouse and a rear pillar that pushes from back to front recreates a motorcycle helmet look desired by the designers. A new corporate Tiger grille sits up front and is set to be a feature of other Kia vehicles 
in the future. The radical style is finished off by high vertical taillights and on the Soul Burner 18-inch alloy wheels. If you still think the Soul is too plain, many customisation options are available including roof rails, interior trim options, body kits and various decals to make it all your own. Overall the styling is polarizing and although it’s targeted at a youngish market you get the feeling it may equally appeal to female baby boomers.
Jump inside the Soul Burner and you’re greeted with a scorching red and black interior. Once adjusted to the dominating colour scheme the Soul’s controls are sensible and well laid out with stereo controls repeated on the steering wheel. The three-dial instrument cluster is basic but easy to read and strongly illuminated at night. There is an interesting array of interior equipment that ranges from gimmicky like the stereo speaker mood lighting system that pulses to the stereo’s bass beat, through to highly useful like the reversing camera that screens within the rear-view mirror. The stereo itself is an excellent unit with an additional centre speaker and sub-woofer in the Burner model, but what’s most impressive is the full integration when connecting an iPod using a seamless interface.
The front seats are wide, comfortable and offer three-way adjustment for the driver along with a fold-down armrest. The steering wheel only has tilt adjustment, which results in a driving position that is quite upright but makes the most of the Soul’s excellent forward visibility.
Unfortunately wide rear pillars and a small rear windscreen compromise rear visibility, but that’s the price of the unique exterior styling. Cabin space is excellent and the Soul mixes a reasonably low seat-line (good for getting in and out) with a high roof that makes for generous headroom. Luggage space is ample in standard configuration at 340 litres drop down the 60:40 split back seat and it grows to a cavernous 671 litres.
Packed in under the Soul’s short bonnet is a 1.6-litre turbocharged diesel engine developing 94kW of power and 260Nm of torque. It’s no fire-breathing monster but is capable of sprightly acceleration and motorway cruises comfortably. The diesel unit is impressively economical and can achieve a frugal 5.9l/100km combined. It’s matched up to a four-speed automatic transmission, which is one gear shy of many new-car autos. To make up for this shortcoming it’s quite a smart auto box that holds lower gears well when accelerating and high gears when braking. It also offers fairly smooth changes and combined with the torquey diesel motor it’s very functional.
Get out of the city to steam along some windy roads and it quickly becomes obvious that steering and suspension aren’t the Soul’s strong points. For all its SUV styling the Soul is a conventional front-wheel-drive vehicle quite capable of torque steering particularly in the wet. That said, the overall handling and general grip in the Soul is passable but the suspension is set quite firmly which does result in a fairly harsh ride. The Soul at times jumped and skipped over bumps during cornering which was an issue probably compounded by the 18-inch wheels. Likewise general ride quality is affected by intrusive tyre noise on rougher road surfaces. However, little wind or engine noise makes it into the cabin.
The electronically assisted steering is responsive and light making the Soul easy to spin around at low speeds but there is a distinct lack of any real feedback. This makes for a one-sided driving experience and is a telling example that driving dynamics were not the main focus for Kia in the Soul’s creation.
In terms of safety the Soul is well endowed with dual front, side and full-length curtain airbags and ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist. An Electronic Stability Program is standard on all models and the Soul boasts a five-star NCAP safety rating.
The bottom line is that it’s hard to be scolding of the Soul because it’s a very capable city car that has generous interior space, some cool tricks, is easy to drive and has a modern diesel motor that offers solid power and even better fuel economy. However, the below average ride and steering quickly extinguishes any ideas that the Soul is a true drivers’ car and with Kia’s new styling language comes a new price point that may deter purchasers on a budget.
Will the Kia sell its soul? It will, but not to buyers looking for either a sporting drive or an entry-level bargain. It will sell to those that are hot for its quirky concept car looks and appreciate the accompanying practicality.
Click through to the next page for a full list of specifications.
Price: from $29,990, tested model (Soul Burner) $36,990
What we like:
- Distinctive exterior and interior styling
- Spacious cabin
- Customisation options
- Useful diesel motor
What we don’t like:
- Ride quality
- Vague power-steering
- Compromised rear visibility
Words and Photos: Adam Mamo
Kia Soul (2009) – Specifications
MECHANICAL
Engine type 1.6 DOHC CRDI Turbo Diesel
Displacement (cc) 1582 cc
Compression ratio 17.3
Max. power 94 kW @ 4000 rpm
Max. torque 260 Nm @ 1900 rpm
Fuel economy (combined cycle) 5.9L / 100 km
Co2 emissions (g/km) 156
Diesel Particulate Filter
TRANSMISSION
Gear box 4 speed Automatic
SUSPENSION
Front suspension McPherson Strut
Rear suspension CTBA (Coupled Torsion Beam Axle)
WHEELS
Tyres 225/45/R18
Braking system Ventilated front discs, solid rear discs
Wheels 18″ Alloy
Space saver spare wheel and tyre
STEERING
Steering system MDPS power assisted rack & pinion
Minimum turning radius kerb to kerb (m) 5.25
DIMENSIONS
Overall length 4105 mm
Overall width 1785 mm
Overall height 1610 mm
Wheelbase 2550 mm
Kerb weight min. / max 1210 kg / 1289 kg
Luggage capacity (seats up / seats down) 340 / 671 litres
Fuel tank capacity 48 litres
Towing capacity – unbraked (kg) 550
Towing capacity – braked (kg) 1100
Gallery
defiance at dull safe styling and it stands out when viewed from any angle. The grille and bumpers have been restyled mixing an aggressive look with the Honda corporate face. Straight flat sides push into wrap-around jeweled taillights that are a feature point of the rear. Twin chrome tail pipes and flashy 17-inch alloys cap off the ultra-modern look. Overall, it’s sculptured, sleek and a radical departure from the brick-on-wheels people mover styling still used by some competitors.
sunroof, electrically adjustable heated front seats, tri-zone climate control, automatic HID headlamps and fog lamps. The only noticeable omissions are Bluetooth, a ceiling-mounted DVD player and satellite navigation. Overall, it’s very pleasant being on-board but how does it feel to captain Honda’s latest transport ship?
If conditions worsen and you’re heading for the rocks the Odyssey has its safety bases covered. Front, side and curtain airbags are ready to pop and an Electronic Stability Program uses Traction Control and ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist. There are also three-point seat belts on all seven seats. To appease the environmental gods Honda has chosen materials for their recyclability and environmental compatibility.
With the exception of the sporty Yaris RS (
become annoying in traffic and is inconsistent with the Yaris’ city car appeal.
Visibility is excellent front and sides, rear visibility is compromised by thick C-pillars but no worse than other new subcompacts.
common-rail 4-cylinder diesel engine whacks out 126kW of power and a stump-pulling 343Nm of torque. These are strong stats among the Hilux’s competitors and are key factors in the Hilux being the ute to beat. The diesel unit offers pace on the road, shifting off the line with haste and happily humming along at cruising speeds. What’s more impressive is the Hilux’s ability to tow or haul very heavy loads with the full compliment of torque being available from just 1,400 rpm. Combined with a 2.5-tonne braked towing capacity the Hilux can just drag anything it can’t carry.
I tested both manual and automatic transmissions and was more impressed by the auto box. The manual was good for helping control the grunt at the rear but it had a long throw and needed to be eased into gear at times. By comparison the auto was relaxed, changed smoothly and providing the accelerator was used lightly it never hunted or changed gear unexpectedly.
Hilux’s cabin is pleasant it offers commanding visibility, enough room for five and has an effective air-con unit that filters any dust or pollen from entering.
should: long distance driving.
measly cup holder, and that’ll only take a takeaway coffee cup. That really is unacceptable in a car of this era, particularly as the remainder of the in-cabin storage is scant and not particularly useful. I ended up leaving my water bottle in between my legs, and what you don’t want at the end of a long journey is groin-warmed water. One more beef: you can’t open the boot unless the key is out of the ignition.
Visually the RX350 defies the traditionally boxy stature associated with SUVs, instead maintaining a raked back profile and athletic stance. The overall aesthetic is a clear continuation from the outgoing model with the exception of a restyled nose with more dramatically angular headlamps and a larger, lower-set grille. A high chrome belt-line ascends the vehicles flanks tapering off when it reaches the thick rear pillars. At the back mammoth jeweled tail lights and a sloping rear windscreen with a hidden wiper cap off the bulky muscular proportions. Chrome touches and 7-spoke 19-inch rims add class to what is distinctive if not entirely elegant exterior styling. The Bullet Train inspired look is definitely an acquired taste but is an aerodynamic success with the RX350 returning class-leading co-efficient drag figure of 0.33Cd.
the laid-back nature of the cabin. The leather seats are soft and feel like they would remain comfortable on even the longest journeys. As you’d expect in a vehicle this size legroom and headroom is generous for all occupants. There are storage bins and cubbies all around and the rear seat can slide, recline and split 40/20/40 for versatility when loading large items. Cargo capacity is generous at 446-litres and this can be expanded to 900-litres with the rear seats folded down. The RX350’s lengthy equipment list includes all the usual suspects and a few extras like, iPod connectivity, economy driving indicator light, Smart Entry, memory power front seats, Intelligent Adaptive Headlights, Bluetooth phone capability and a 12-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system. Interior functionality and ergonomics are top-class on the RX350 with the only noticeable equipment omissions being a roof-mounted DVD player for back seat passengers and a third back row of part-time seating.
patterns to suit individual driving styles. It will also provide engine braking for hill descents and reduce ‘gear hunting’ when going up hills. The transmission works hard and is effective in shifting power to the road when required while remaining smooth during cruising.
