Kia Soul 1.6 (A) Review
13 Jul 2010|34,408 views
So Netherlands lost to Spain during the recent World Cup finals and although I was rooting for the Netherlands, that didn't put me off one bit. It's the World Cup filled with upsets galore. The big teams are losing and teams that you never expect to win keep proving the football fans wrong. So I guess one has to literally expect the unexpected.
It's really the same with the Kia Soul. I mean I've heard of it, read about it but never got the opportunity to see one myself. Not until I was offered the car, of course. And it really caught me by surprise. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought of it as an SUV. It's bigger than what I expected and it's certainly one of the most cheerful and enthusiastic car I've driven thus far.
This funky creation has certainly placed Kia in a whole new level of the hatchback segment. With the sharp, roomy and well-fitted cabin and the never ending fun you get from it, it's really hard to complain.
Exterior
Similarly to the Nissan Qashqai, the Soul is targeted at a very niche market. While others may disagree, I reckon the 2010 Soul wins on styling, hands-down.
Boxy yet not shabby, the Soul's exterior has been deftly drawn with careful detailing and consideration to its target audience. The front wears the new Kia corporate grille and friendly-feeling headlamps. Air intakes with foglamps by the side support the front fascia by giving the car the attraction it needs to make it more chic.
It's really the same with the Kia Soul. I mean I've heard of it, read about it but never got the opportunity to see one myself. Not until I was offered the car, of course. And it really caught me by surprise. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought of it as an SUV. It's bigger than what I expected and it's certainly one of the most cheerful and enthusiastic car I've driven thus far.
This funky creation has certainly placed Kia in a whole new level of the hatchback segment. With the sharp, roomy and well-fitted cabin and the never ending fun you get from it, it's really hard to complain.
Exterior
Similarly to the Nissan Qashqai, the Soul is targeted at a very niche market. While others may disagree, I reckon the 2010 Soul wins on styling, hands-down.
Boxy yet not shabby, the Soul's exterior has been deftly drawn with careful detailing and consideration to its target audience. The front wears the new Kia corporate grille and friendly-feeling headlamps. Air intakes with foglamps by the side support the front fascia by giving the car the attraction it needs to make it more chic.
 |
The tapered side windows and chromed door handles further the Soul's ready-for-action stance. Every vent, character line, bulge and curve has been placed cleanly and with purpose, and the end result is that the Soul's styling is relatively clever without being cloying.
The square rear, however, is less tidy. The nearly vertical, tall sharp tail lamps frame a light and lofty hatchback, making the Soul look like a huge box when viewed from behind. It may not look its best, but it blends in relatively well with the whole body, giving it a nice punctuation to the Soul's casual leaning stance.
Having just the right touch of design restraints is no mean feat. But the longer you gaze at the Soul, the better it gets as you'll discover all the fun that the design team intricately molded onto its flanks.
 |
Interior
Kia interiors have been models of straightforward, user-friendly controls that keep buttons and knobs to a minimum, which is practical and good. On the other hand, the downside of it is that they've been duller than an all-gray wardrobe. However, the all-new Kia Soul maintains its siblings' practicality, but adds in some design flair and a literal dash of colour, repositioning itself to a brand new creative level.
The interior features lots of interesting shapes, including a center stack that juts out in a pod featuring those simple audio and climate controls. Available features like special upholstery and two-tone colour schemes such as the 'Soul Shining', 'Street Demon' and 'Retro Chic' make the all-black Honda Fit cabin seem unimaginative and depressing.
To add on, the LED lights by the sides of the front doors add to the cool interior ambience and can be toggled between four different modes of 'on', 'mood', 'music' (which has them pulse on and off in time with the music) and 'off'. Mine came in red, which wasn't that bad looking but if that isn't your favourite colour, Kia also offers the mood lamps in green and blue.
Kia interiors have been models of straightforward, user-friendly controls that keep buttons and knobs to a minimum, which is practical and good. On the other hand, the downside of it is that they've been duller than an all-gray wardrobe. However, the all-new Kia Soul maintains its siblings' practicality, but adds in some design flair and a literal dash of colour, repositioning itself to a brand new creative level.
The interior features lots of interesting shapes, including a center stack that juts out in a pod featuring those simple audio and climate controls. Available features like special upholstery and two-tone colour schemes such as the 'Soul Shining', 'Street Demon' and 'Retro Chic' make the all-black Honda Fit cabin seem unimaginative and depressing.
To add on, the LED lights by the sides of the front doors add to the cool interior ambience and can be toggled between four different modes of 'on', 'mood', 'music' (which has them pulse on and off in time with the music) and 'off'. Mine came in red, which wasn't that bad looking but if that isn't your favourite colour, Kia also offers the mood lamps in green and blue.
I was also pretty impressed with the Aux-In option because it doesn't just comprise of an auxiliary input which is suitable for any audio source. It also includes a USB port, which can also read MP3 tracks from a thumb drive - something not many cars have.
The amount of interior room is surprisingly impressive, with high-mounted seats granting passengers (regardless of size) an ample amount of legroom and the tall roof line leaves lots of headroom space. Unfortunately, with the backseat raised or lowered which is 340 litres and 818 litres respectively, cargo room is significantly lacking compared to its competitors such as the cavernous Fit, although the Soul's boxy shape certainly helps when carrying large items.
Apart from the small quibbles, the interior is certainly a good place to be in. I felt proud and happy driving around in this funky kid despite being a tad noisy. Not only does the steering wheel have audio controls, the design of it makes a rather proud and bold statement. I reckon for a small vehicle the Soul is roomy, well laid out and practical. Although it doesn't drive large, it seems a lot larger from the inside than from the outside.
The amount of interior room is surprisingly impressive, with high-mounted seats granting passengers (regardless of size) an ample amount of legroom and the tall roof line leaves lots of headroom space. Unfortunately, with the backseat raised or lowered which is 340 litres and 818 litres respectively, cargo room is significantly lacking compared to its competitors such as the cavernous Fit, although the Soul's boxy shape certainly helps when carrying large items.
Apart from the small quibbles, the interior is certainly a good place to be in. I felt proud and happy driving around in this funky kid despite being a tad noisy. Not only does the steering wheel have audio controls, the design of it makes a rather proud and bold statement. I reckon for a small vehicle the Soul is roomy, well laid out and practical. Although it doesn't drive large, it seems a lot larger from the inside than from the outside.
 |
Drivetrain
I believe the 2010 Kia Soul is the sprightliest small car the Korean automaker has produced. The Soul stays well-planted in corners and provides the driver with a decent amount of feedback. However, the power steering feels way too light, making it unremarkable. Around minor roads, the Soul is decently comfortable, but on the highway, the ride quality can be a bit choppy.
Going over humps can also prove to be a problem as the suspension feels pretty stiff. However, with the new ride coming in soon, monotube shock absorbers will be implemented for better ride quality. The 1.6-litre engine is certainly no ball of fire, but its primary job is to move people and things around. It can be a bit grumpy when stretched and the cabin gets a little noisy due to the 18-inch wheels, but damn do they look cool.
With a top speed of 162 km/h and 12 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h timing, the Soul isn't blistering. But let's be frank. The roads in our country aren't the best place to speed or race. And even if you do, it'll probably be from one traffic light to another. Thus, I'm sure the engineers at Kia had thought about that when they structured the car, given its stature and target audience.
I believe the 2010 Kia Soul is the sprightliest small car the Korean automaker has produced. The Soul stays well-planted in corners and provides the driver with a decent amount of feedback. However, the power steering feels way too light, making it unremarkable. Around minor roads, the Soul is decently comfortable, but on the highway, the ride quality can be a bit choppy.
Going over humps can also prove to be a problem as the suspension feels pretty stiff. However, with the new ride coming in soon, monotube shock absorbers will be implemented for better ride quality. The 1.6-litre engine is certainly no ball of fire, but its primary job is to move people and things around. It can be a bit grumpy when stretched and the cabin gets a little noisy due to the 18-inch wheels, but damn do they look cool.
With a top speed of 162 km/h and 12 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h timing, the Soul isn't blistering. But let's be frank. The roads in our country aren't the best place to speed or race. And even if you do, it'll probably be from one traffic light to another. Thus, I'm sure the engineers at Kia had thought about that when they structured the car, given its stature and target audience.
Conclusion
Owning a car can be relatively tough nowadays let alone driving one that makes you happy. Personally, I reckon the 2010 Soul is the first Kia to appeal to one's emotions as well as more practical concerns like value, features and space. In terms of its outlooks, it is one funky creation that will not look too shabby parked beside a Mini or a Volkswagen Beetle.
If you ask me, it is definitely worth a look.
Owning a car can be relatively tough nowadays let alone driving one that makes you happy. Personally, I reckon the 2010 Soul is the first Kia to appeal to one's emotions as well as more practical concerns like value, features and space. In terms of its outlooks, it is one funky creation that will not look too shabby parked beside a Mini or a Volkswagen Beetle.
If you ask me, it is definitely worth a look.
So Netherlands lost to Spain during the recent World Cup finals and although I was rooting for the Netherlands, that didn't put me off one bit. It's the World Cup filled with upsets galore. The big teams are losing and teams that you never expect to win keep proving the football fans wrong. So I guess one has to literally expect the unexpected.
It's really the same with the Kia Soul. I mean I've heard of it, read about it but never got the opportunity to see one myself. Not until I was offered the car, of course. And it really caught me by surprise. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought of it as an SUV. It's bigger than what I expected and it's certainly one of the most cheerful and enthusiastic car I've driven thus far.
This funky creation has certainly placed Kia in a whole new level of the hatchback segment. With the sharp, roomy and well-fitted cabin and the never ending fun you get from it, it's really hard to complain.
Exterior
Similarly to the Nissan Qashqai, the Soul is targeted at a very niche market. While others may disagree, I reckon the 2010 Soul wins on styling, hands-down.
Boxy yet not shabby, the Soul's exterior has been deftly drawn with careful detailing and consideration to its target audience. The front wears the new Kia corporate grille and friendly-feeling headlamps. Air intakes with foglamps by the side support the front fascia by giving the car the attraction it needs to make it more chic.
It's really the same with the Kia Soul. I mean I've heard of it, read about it but never got the opportunity to see one myself. Not until I was offered the car, of course. And it really caught me by surprise. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought of it as an SUV. It's bigger than what I expected and it's certainly one of the most cheerful and enthusiastic car I've driven thus far.
This funky creation has certainly placed Kia in a whole new level of the hatchback segment. With the sharp, roomy and well-fitted cabin and the never ending fun you get from it, it's really hard to complain.
Exterior
Similarly to the Nissan Qashqai, the Soul is targeted at a very niche market. While others may disagree, I reckon the 2010 Soul wins on styling, hands-down.
Boxy yet not shabby, the Soul's exterior has been deftly drawn with careful detailing and consideration to its target audience. The front wears the new Kia corporate grille and friendly-feeling headlamps. Air intakes with foglamps by the side support the front fascia by giving the car the attraction it needs to make it more chic.
|
The tapered side windows and chromed door handles further the Soul's ready-for-action stance. Every vent, character line, bulge and curve has been placed cleanly and with purpose, and the end result is that the Soul's styling is relatively clever without being cloying.
The square rear, however, is less tidy. The nearly vertical, tall sharp tail lamps frame a light and lofty hatchback, making the Soul look like a huge box when viewed from behind. It may not look its best, but it blends in relatively well with the whole body, giving it a nice punctuation to the Soul's casual leaning stance.
Having just the right touch of design restraints is no mean feat. But the longer you gaze at the Soul, the better it gets as you'll discover all the fun that the design team intricately molded onto its flanks.
|
Interior
Kia interiors have been models of straightforward, user-friendly controls that keep buttons and knobs to a minimum, which is practical and good. On the other hand, the downside of it is that they've been duller than an all-gray wardrobe. However, the all-new Kia Soul maintains its siblings' practicality, but adds in some design flair and a literal dash of colour, repositioning itself to a brand new creative level.
The interior features lots of interesting shapes, including a center stack that juts out in a pod featuring those simple audio and climate controls. Available features like special upholstery and two-tone colour schemes such as the 'Soul Shining', 'Street Demon' and 'Retro Chic' make the all-black Honda Fit cabin seem unimaginative and depressing.
To add on, the LED lights by the sides of the front doors add to the cool interior ambience and can be toggled between four different modes of 'on', 'mood', 'music' (which has them pulse on and off in time with the music) and 'off'. Mine came in red, which wasn't that bad looking but if that isn't your favourite colour, Kia also offers the mood lamps in green and blue.
Kia interiors have been models of straightforward, user-friendly controls that keep buttons and knobs to a minimum, which is practical and good. On the other hand, the downside of it is that they've been duller than an all-gray wardrobe. However, the all-new Kia Soul maintains its siblings' practicality, but adds in some design flair and a literal dash of colour, repositioning itself to a brand new creative level.
The interior features lots of interesting shapes, including a center stack that juts out in a pod featuring those simple audio and climate controls. Available features like special upholstery and two-tone colour schemes such as the 'Soul Shining', 'Street Demon' and 'Retro Chic' make the all-black Honda Fit cabin seem unimaginative and depressing.
To add on, the LED lights by the sides of the front doors add to the cool interior ambience and can be toggled between four different modes of 'on', 'mood', 'music' (which has them pulse on and off in time with the music) and 'off'. Mine came in red, which wasn't that bad looking but if that isn't your favourite colour, Kia also offers the mood lamps in green and blue.
I was also pretty impressed with the Aux-In option because it doesn't just comprise of an auxiliary input which is suitable for any audio source. It also includes a USB port, which can also read MP3 tracks from a thumb drive - something not many cars have.
The amount of interior room is surprisingly impressive, with high-mounted seats granting passengers (regardless of size) an ample amount of legroom and the tall roof line leaves lots of headroom space. Unfortunately, with the backseat raised or lowered which is 340 litres and 818 litres respectively, cargo room is significantly lacking compared to its competitors such as the cavernous Fit, although the Soul's boxy shape certainly helps when carrying large items.
Apart from the small quibbles, the interior is certainly a good place to be in. I felt proud and happy driving around in this funky kid despite being a tad noisy. Not only does the steering wheel have audio controls, the design of it makes a rather proud and bold statement. I reckon for a small vehicle the Soul is roomy, well laid out and practical. Although it doesn't drive large, it seems a lot larger from the inside than from the outside.
The amount of interior room is surprisingly impressive, with high-mounted seats granting passengers (regardless of size) an ample amount of legroom and the tall roof line leaves lots of headroom space. Unfortunately, with the backseat raised or lowered which is 340 litres and 818 litres respectively, cargo room is significantly lacking compared to its competitors such as the cavernous Fit, although the Soul's boxy shape certainly helps when carrying large items.
Apart from the small quibbles, the interior is certainly a good place to be in. I felt proud and happy driving around in this funky kid despite being a tad noisy. Not only does the steering wheel have audio controls, the design of it makes a rather proud and bold statement. I reckon for a small vehicle the Soul is roomy, well laid out and practical. Although it doesn't drive large, it seems a lot larger from the inside than from the outside.
|
Drivetrain
I believe the 2010 Kia Soul is the sprightliest small car the Korean automaker has produced. The Soul stays well-planted in corners and provides the driver with a decent amount of feedback. However, the power steering feels way too light, making it unremarkable. Around minor roads, the Soul is decently comfortable, but on the highway, the ride quality can be a bit choppy.
Going over humps can also prove to be a problem as the suspension feels pretty stiff. However, with the new ride coming in soon, monotube shock absorbers will be implemented for better ride quality. The 1.6-litre engine is certainly no ball of fire, but its primary job is to move people and things around. It can be a bit grumpy when stretched and the cabin gets a little noisy due to the 18-inch wheels, but damn do they look cool.
With a top speed of 162 km/h and 12 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h timing, the Soul isn't blistering. But let's be frank. The roads in our country aren't the best place to speed or race. And even if you do, it'll probably be from one traffic light to another. Thus, I'm sure the engineers at Kia had thought about that when they structured the car, given its stature and target audience.
I believe the 2010 Kia Soul is the sprightliest small car the Korean automaker has produced. The Soul stays well-planted in corners and provides the driver with a decent amount of feedback. However, the power steering feels way too light, making it unremarkable. Around minor roads, the Soul is decently comfortable, but on the highway, the ride quality can be a bit choppy.
Going over humps can also prove to be a problem as the suspension feels pretty stiff. However, with the new ride coming in soon, monotube shock absorbers will be implemented for better ride quality. The 1.6-litre engine is certainly no ball of fire, but its primary job is to move people and things around. It can be a bit grumpy when stretched and the cabin gets a little noisy due to the 18-inch wheels, but damn do they look cool.
With a top speed of 162 km/h and 12 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h timing, the Soul isn't blistering. But let's be frank. The roads in our country aren't the best place to speed or race. And even if you do, it'll probably be from one traffic light to another. Thus, I'm sure the engineers at Kia had thought about that when they structured the car, given its stature and target audience.
Conclusion
Owning a car can be relatively tough nowadays let alone driving one that makes you happy. Personally, I reckon the 2010 Soul is the first Kia to appeal to one's emotions as well as more practical concerns like value, features and space. In terms of its outlooks, it is one funky creation that will not look too shabby parked beside a Mini or a Volkswagen Beetle.
If you ask me, it is definitely worth a look.
Owning a car can be relatively tough nowadays let alone driving one that makes you happy. Personally, I reckon the 2010 Soul is the first Kia to appeal to one's emotions as well as more practical concerns like value, features and space. In terms of its outlooks, it is one funky creation that will not look too shabby parked beside a Mini or a Volkswagen Beetle.
If you ask me, it is definitely worth a look.
Car Information
Kia Soul 1.6 GDi (A)
CAT A|Petrol|13.8km/L
Horsepower
104kW (140 bhp)
Torque
166 Nm
Acceleration
10.4sec (0-100km /hr)
This model is no longer being sold by local distributor
All Used Kia Soul
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