Kia Soul quick spin review
Price From $25,990 plus on-road and dealer costs.
Vitals 2.0-litre four-cylinder, 113kW/ 191Nm, six-speed automatic, 8.4L/100km, FWD.
What is it?
The all-new version of Kia's funky, tall-boy hatch, with the styling influenced by the stunning Track'ster concept, and bringing no shortage of mechanical improvements.
What isn't it?
While it does have a raised ride height and tough stance, it's not a compact soft-roader by any stretch, as it is only available in front-wheel-drive.
What does it say about me?
That you don't want your first car to be a boring conventional hatchback.
What doesn't it say about me?
That you couldn't stump up for any of the fashionable small cars from premium car makers, such as the Audi A1, Mini, Mercedes A-Class or Volkswagen Beetle.
Who else is buying it?
Hip, young families and those who may be young at heart and want the higher seating position and easy entry of the Soul.
What colours does it come in?
There's six to choose from, starting with a standard Clear White that adds nothing to the retail price, and five premium colours - Bright Silver, Titanium Silver, Inferno Red, Cherry Black and Acid Green - that cost an additional $620.
If it was a celebrity, who would it be?
Zooey Deschanel - star of the roommate, rom-com series The New Girl; quirky and cute but with more indie rather than mainstream appeal.
Why would I buy it?
Because it looks different, yet its unique style doesn't compromise its spacious interior packaging. And it's a much better car than its predecessor.
Best bits?
The airiness of its cabin, with good all-round vision, plenty of rear seat space for a small car, and funky design. It's also quite refined, with a good level of isolation from wind, road and engine noise at highway speeds.
Worst bits?
It can't back up its youthful go-anywhere pretence, as it's not a ridgy-didge four-wheel-drive, nor is it a sporty hatchback.
Will it let me down?
Kia has made huge strides in reliability over the past decade, and our test car felt well screwed-together with no squeaks or rattles. For those who may still be hesitant in choosing a Korean brand, Kia offers a comprehensive five-year warranty for the Soul.
Does it cost too much?
It's certainly more expensive than most small, but conventional, hatchbacks, but is line-ball with the $25,990 Cerato Si on which it is based, and comes in $1000 cheaper than the Soul+ that it effectively replaces, with even more gear.
Will I get a deal?
Considering the unique appeal of the Soul and the fact that the only option is premium paint, you may be able to haggle for a discount on a colour that may be more difficult to shift and/or free on-road costs.
Will it get me noticed?
It certainly has a look all of its own, so yes, it stands out from the crowd.
Does it go?
It's not a hot hatch by any stretch of the imagination, but the 113kW, 2.0-litre engine is smooth enough for fuss-free city driving.
Does it like corners?
Not really, as the tall body style has a high centre of gravity - meaning it leans through corners - and the Nexen tyres don't offer much grip.
What about bumps?
Kia Australia makes a big deal about modifying the suspension settings of its cars to better suit Australian conditions, and the Soul is no different. It is still a bit choppy over bumps, but it generally feels well-composed and comfortable most of the time.
How's the stereo system?
It's only a six-speaker set-up - with woofers in each door and big, bold tweeters in the corner of the dash top - but it isn't too bad. It has connections for all devices, with Bluetooth audio streaming, AUX and USB inputs, and the touch-screen interface is easy to use despite its small (11cm) size.
What about service stations?
The bluff frontal area of the Soul doesn't make it a slippery car, and the 2.0-litre engine isn't the most advanced - lacking fuel-saving technologies such as direct-injection heads and stop-start - which makes its claimed average consumption of 8.4L/100km above the norm in the small-car class.
Would you buy one?
If you like the look of the Soul, then I certainly wouldn't dismiss it. It's a smart small car with a lot more substance behind its funky interior than its predecessor.
What else should I consider?
It depends on what you're looking for, but if fashion is the key criteria then its rivals extend from everything including the cheaper Fiat 500 to the more expensive Mini and VW Beetle. But if it is functionality and features, then its rivals are the new breed of city-sized SUVs such as the Ford Ecosport, Peugeot 2008 and soon-to-be-replaced Nissan Dualis. Then there's its most obvious competitor, the similarly boxy Toyota Rukus.
The spin
"The Soul already has great emotional appeal, so our main focus with the 2015 model was infusing it with improved driving dynamics, developing a higher-quality cabin and adding desirable features to highlight the new Soul's fresh sophistication."
The translation
We hit on a fresh design with the original Soul, but didn't back it up well enough in terms of how it drove and the quality of the cabin. We listened and learned …