2010 Kia Soul Preview

Coming soon to Canada is the 2010 Kia Soul. The Soul will enrich the youthful-car market by injecting personality into this economical end. The Kia Soul has kept true to its modern form first seen at the Detroit International Auto Show in 2006. When it arrives, this five-passenger Kia will be available in four trim levels: Soul, Soul+, Soul!, and Soul sport.


The base model links a 120-hp 1.6-litre motor to a five-speed manual transmission only, with no automatic transmission available. Outside, the base Soul model has steel 15-inch wheels atop front disc and rear drum brakes. Inside, it has front, side, and curtain airbags, but anti-lock brakes and stability control are just optional. Standard is an MP3/USB/AUX/SAT-capable audio system as well as power windows and door locks.

The Soul+ upgrades the motor to a 140-hp 2.0-litre unit, wheels to 16-inch alloys, and rear brakes to discs. Anti-lock brakes and stability control become standard alongside air conditioning, cruise control, power mirrors, keyless entry, and Bluetooth phone connectivity. From the outside, the Soul+ gets body-colour trim and tinted windows. Major options include a straightforward 4-speed automatic transmission, power moonroof, and 315-watt 8-speaker sound-system.

Excluding the optional automatic transmission, the Soul! model gets the all the options of the Soul+ as standard. In addition, the Soul! features 18-inch alloy wheels, floor mats, interior metal trim, and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. Soul! models have a beige-black scheme for the interior trim/upholstery.

The moonroof is optional in the Soul sport model, but the sport's exterior gains more sporty styling with revised front/rear fascias, side sills, and a rear spoiler. Inside, the Soul sport has metal pedals and a red-black trim/upholstery scheme. The only change to the driving characteristics stems from the suspension, which is slightly lower and stiffer.

The Soul uses an all-new front-wheel-drive platform with a MacPherson strut front suspension and economical twist-beam rear suspension. With an overall length of just 4.1 metres, the Soul looks to be a nimble vehicle. Interior space is versatile with split-folding rear seats and a usable cargo area. On the outside, the Soul's upbeat styling is finished off with large pillar-mounted taillights

Kia's new entry will compete directly with Toyota's Scion brand, which is coming to Canada in the near future. Another rival is also on the way from Nissan in the form of the cube. Expect a road test on the Soul once it arrives from Seoul.