Introduced in the summer of '09 as a 2010 model, the compact Soul cute-'ute seems to have struck a chord in the hearts of people looking for an affordable truck. Truthfully, there are about zero truck parts that make up the Soul, but it does offer a high riding position, a jacked-up stance and cheery good looks to complement the package.
Actually, the flat butt of the Soul may be the least attractive part of the vehicle, with the tiny recessed tailgate and fat rear pillars. The rest of the package, however, benefits from a great design with headlight clusters that occupy the front corners, prominent cheeks and attractive alloy wheels.
Space-saving dashboard
By raising the centre console and rounding if off, the interior design team succeeded in brilliantly grouping up the audio and climate control switchgear together in an admittedly small area that doesn't protrude into passenger space.
In the 2010 Soul Burner model I tested last year, I found the glowing speakers quite amusing, but for the 2011 model they've been replaced with simpler, less-impressive illuminated rings. Oh well.
The Soul's cockpit feels bigger than its outer proportions suggest. Four adults can sit comfortably in the Soul, with sufficient headroom for everyone; a third adult can squeeze in the back for short trips, no sweat.
On the other hand, cargo space is where the Soul's dimensions come into play. You get 546 litres of storage with the rear seats folded which is enough for the weekly groceries, but arguably insufficient for a 1-week road trip with the kids. In addition, not all types of kiddie strollers will fit given the Kia's width. Fold down the seatbacks, though, and you obtain a virtually flat load floor with 1,512 litres of volume.
Actually, the flat butt of the Soul may be the least attractive part of the vehicle, with the tiny recessed tailgate and fat rear pillars. The rest of the package, however, benefits from a great design with headlight clusters that occupy the front corners, prominent cheeks and attractive alloy wheels.
Space-saving dashboard
By raising the centre console and rounding if off, the interior design team succeeded in brilliantly grouping up the audio and climate control switchgear together in an admittedly small area that doesn't protrude into passenger space.
In the 2010 Soul Burner model I tested last year, I found the glowing speakers quite amusing, but for the 2011 model they've been replaced with simpler, less-impressive illuminated rings. Oh well.
The Soul's cockpit feels bigger than its outer proportions suggest. Four adults can sit comfortably in the Soul, with sufficient headroom for everyone; a third adult can squeeze in the back for short trips, no sweat.
On the other hand, cargo space is where the Soul's dimensions come into play. You get 546 litres of storage with the rear seats folded which is enough for the weekly groceries, but arguably insufficient for a 1-week road trip with the kids. In addition, not all types of kiddie strollers will fit given the Kia's width. Fold down the seatbacks, though, and you obtain a virtually flat load floor with 1,512 litres of volume.
 |
| A great dash design brings all audio and climate controls within easy reach. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com) |