The new-look Kia Soul is now on sale in the United Kingdom, offering updated styling details and enhanced specifications. The compact crossover, which in its new version features more SUV-inspired design touches, is priced from just £12,600. Don’t be fooled by the styling, though. The Soul is not that versatile.
UK-Spec Kia Soul is only available as a front-wheel-drive, five-door hatchback. Kia argues that what the majority of people want is the look of a rough-and-tumble crossover, but the convenience ad economy of a normal hatchback. That is what the Soul is trying to offer.
Kia Soul is a fairly practical hatchback, boasting a cargo space of 354 litres with the rear seats upright. With the rears seats folded, the luggage capacity is 994 litres to the cargo cover and a maximum of 1,367 litres up to the roof level.
The interior of the new Kia Soul is upgraded over the previous version with higher quality materials, soft-touch plastic and high-end accents and trim pieces. The standard kit on all models includes DAB radio, Flex Steer variable power-assisted steering , tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), painted bumpers, door handles and side mirror casings, keyless entry, air conditioning, electrically adjustable door mirrors, electric windows all round, steering wheel-mounted controls, USB and AUX ports and six airbags. If you want more equipment without having to pay much for them, you should wait for the many special edition models that are sure to follow the standard version.
Kia Soul can be ordered with two engines, including a 1.6-litre CRDi diesel (126bhp and 260Nm of torque – up to 56 mpg), and a 1.6-litre GDi petrol (130bhp and 161Nm of torque – up to 41 mpg).
