Kia is continually pushing its way into major player status in the affordable car market, and the Soul has been at the heart of that push for a while now. (There’s no doubt a “heart and soul” line begging to be used there somewhere, but I’ll spare us all.)
The Soul calls itself a hatchback, but it has always been difficult to categorize. It looks more or less like a small SUV – but it’s clearly built for urban use and not off-road adventure. Those drivers looking for a street friendly five seater with welcoming payload capacity should give the Soul a look — especially with a sticker price kicking off just under $17,000.
For 2014, the vehicle is lowered, making it appear sportier and less top heavy. More stylish design flares surround the rear hatch with new tail lights wrapping around the hatch corners.
The driving experience is comfortable and adequately powered. The base four cylinder, 1.6 liter, 130 horsepower engine joins with either a six speed manual or six speed automatic transmission.
More advanced trim levels add power seats with lumbar support, heated mirrors, rearview camera, privacy glass, alloy wheels and electronic brake force distribution. Kia’s in-dash system (Uvo) provides all of the necessary flashes, bangs and whistles. Even the voice commands system seems to work better than other more expensive car tech packages.
Canadians on the Toronto show floor for CIAS 2014 will find Kia’s very affordable alternative to more expensive small SUVs. Fortunately, the Soul doesn’t ask them to give up too many creature comforts.
