Kia's urban crossover, the Soul, is designed to attract new customers to the brand. This is a five-door hatchback with front-wheel drive, a high roofline and an unusually long wheelbase.
With its funky appearance and cavernous passenger space, it's designed to appeal especially to the young and the young-at-heart.
There are three versions, LX, EX and GSe. The 1.6 128ps diesel engine is the only one on offer but it's powerful enough to ferry a family around in comfort. The luggage capacity is generous at 222 litres with the rear seats up and with extra storage space in the moulded tray below the hinged luggage bay floor.
Six airbags, ESP and ABS are standard. Other standard items on the entry level LX model include 16-inch alloys, AUX, USB & iPod compatibility, air conditioning, and central locking.
The 1.6 diesel engine has a C02 of 137g/km so is in Band B for Road Tax.
The car also comes with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty.
There have been sports cars in the past that would have been proud of how this one manages hils and twists and bends.
The boxy design is also eminently practical giving, among other things, really excellent visability all round. The side rear windows have privacy glass.
Headroom front and rear rivals that of SUVs in the size above this.
Seats are excellent, well designed and give the driver the chance of a nice high driving position.
You can't help but be impressed by the high standard and quality of the interior materials.
Storage areas include a great double-decker glove compartment, a useful little circular open bin on the top of the dash and decent door bins. Making best use of the load ability is easy thanks to the very simple rear seat back flip-over which leaves a virtually flat load area.
Overall, the car is practical, cheeky, and an awful lot more than just a passing image fad. It has enough character of its own not to date too easily.
Trish Whelan.
(A fuller version of this review appeared in the print edition of Car+Travel.)
