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 taillightsKia'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.
photo: Kia