Such is the ubiquity of small crossovers on British roads these days, it's hard to remember the stir that the original Kia Soul caused when it first went on sale way back in 2008.
The short, square proportions, the boxy styling and the car's infectiously quirky character provided a breath of fresh air by giving buyers a distinctive alternative to the supermini norm. The Soul also seemed to mark a watershed moment in the development of Kia, helping to transform the company from the niche also-ran marque it was into the big global player it now is.
And now, six years on from the original car's launch, Kia is back with an all-new model, and will be hoping it can replicate and build on the success of the original car.
On first inspection, the signs would seem to be good. Kia has chosen to take an evolutionary approach to the new model's styling, and to the untrained eye, it's difficult to tell the cars apart. The changes are there though -- the new car is longer, wider and closer to the ground than the old model -- and the new Soul feels altogether more chunky and grown-up than its predecessor.
The Soul is similarly stylish on the inside, and perhaps even more importantly, the interior seems to possess some real quality, with a surfeit of soft-touch plastics and a pleasingly solid feel to the major controls.
There's also an impressive amount of practicality on offer in the new Soul, with 354-litres of boot space on offer (1,367 with the rear seats folded down), while only taller passengers will complain about the amount of rear legroom.
Only two engines will be available from launch; a 1.6-litre petrol GDi version with 130bhp and a 1.6-litre diesel CRDi version with 126bhp. We've tried both, and although the petrol would seem to have the performance edge on paper (hitting 62mph in 10.6 seconds compared to the diesel's 10.8), in the real world, the diesel is the star of the range.
On the open road, the petrol feels a little breathless, with peak torque and power both arriving relatively high up the rev range. As a result, you have to work the (admittedly excellent) six-speed gearbox to get the best from the engine.
The diesel, on the other hand, is a strong performer with plenty of torque, making for a relaxing driving experience which suits the character of the Soul well.
Despite the Soul's high stance, it's a surprisingly good car to drive too. The suspension is stiff enough to keep body roll under control but supple enough to provide a decent ride, and although the steering lacks feel, it felt precise enough to inspire some fairly spirited driving across Yorkshire's twisting country roads.
Both models should also be relatively cheap to run, with petrol models averaging a claimed 41.5mpg and diesel models achieving 56.5mpg.
Buyers will have a choice of five trim levels -- Start, Connect, Connect Plus, Mixx and Maxx -- with entry-level models coming with daytime-running lights, air-conditioning, DAB radio, MP3, USB and aux-in compatibility and keyless entry.
Move up the range to Connect trim and you get 17-inch alloys, front fog lights, Bluetooth, a reversing camera, cruise control with speed limiter and a host of interior styling tweaks, while Connect Plus adds automatic air-con, sat-nab and a more powerful sound system.
Mixx models add 18-inch alloys, privacy glass, heated front seats, Kia's 'Urban Styling pack', which adds, front, rear and side skirts, and a two-tone body and roof. Top-of-the-range Maxx models, meanwhile, dispense with the two-tone roof in favour of a panoramic glass one, with front and rear parking sensors and leather seats also coming as standard.
So, should you buy one? Well, with prices starting from £12,600 for a Start model with the petrol engine, rising to £21,550 for the range-topping Maxx with the 1.6-litre diesel, the Soul undercuts most of its major rivals on price. It's also well-equipped across the range and, in diesel form at least, good to drive.
Truth be told though, the Soul lives and dies by the way it looks. If you don't like the car's chunky charm, chances are you've probably already stopped reading. But if you do, we'd say that the Soul is definitely worthy of consideration.
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| The Carsite Verdict | |
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Kia's second-gen Soul is good to drive, well priced and genuinely likeable. |
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