Kia Soul Hunter 1.6 CRDi Auto 5dr Car Review - February 2012

One of the most disappointing aspects of the Kia Soul is that the driving experience is really quite poor, and this is compounded by the firm ride which makes traversing the bouncy roads of Britain a real chore. The steering doesn't offer much responsiveness when the firmness of the suspension is taken into account, and the grip could be better. In terms of the driving position it is naturally high in this car, and although it is possible to adjust the seat and steering wheel to some extent, the visibility isn't the best.

The engine performance of the Kia Soul doesn't offer respite for the car either, with the acceleration from 0-62mph a competent 11.3 seconds. The top speed of 110mph is fine and perfectly good for driving on the motorway, but with the unsympathetic suspension driving at speed is not a particularly pleasant experience.

There are some cars that try and curve and smooth away the angles found in their design, and others like the Kia Soul which actually revel in the angular lines. The interestingly shaped grille and headlight clusters are pleasant enough, but there is no disguising the fact that the Kia Soul is shaped like a small van. Two rows of tail-lights flank the square rear door to the Soul, which is clearly designed for function rather than for flowing lines.

The 'Hunter' level of trim is a significant improvement on some of the lower levels of equipment, with alloy wheels included as standard certainly improving the Soul. Air conditioning and an electric sunroof mean that the Kia Soul will be a pleasant car to enjoy in the summer, and the power folding mirrors are also a nice touch, while electric windows in the front and back of the car do show why the price is as it is.

One of the main reasons that Kia are a brand with a growing level of popularity is that they do produce reliable cars which don't cost too much to run, and rarely require hefty repairs. This is supported by the warranty, which is very generous. Safety is also a priority in the Soul, which has a range of airbags to protect passengers in the front, and a curtain airbag for those in the rear of the car. Along with the driver aids that help to keep all four wheels firmly on the tarmac, these features helped the Soul to achieve a five star rating in the Euro NCAP safety test.

In terms of the practicality of the Kia Soul, headroom and legroom is good in the back seats as well as the front of the car. The folding seats and square rear door mean that carrying larger loads is also possible in the Kia Soul, which is helped by the boxy shape of the car.

One of the biggest problems that many people will have with this version of the Kia Soul Hunter is that the selling price of £17,295 is an awful lot of money for a Kia hatchback. This is particularly problematic when you consider that many more prestigious and practical rivals are available for a similar price.

In terms of the running costs of the car, the fuel efficiency of an average 47.9mpg is quite good for an automatic car. The insurance group is quite high meaning that premiums are unlikely to be too competitive, but the seven year warranty really is something special in this class, and is supplemented by a one year roadside breakdown assistance policy.