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ROAD TEST: Need a soulmate? Kia has the answer
Alan Candy reports on the lifestyle landmark vehicle of today - the Kia Soul
We all need a soulmate in life and Kia believes that applies to your car, too.
And in a time of austerity and auto-gloom, it's refreshing to find a model that truly embodies the freedom and lifestyle choices that enjoyable driving should be all about.
Plus, there's always room for an oddball in the camp – and that's the Kia Soul.
Kia sums up a car that's almost impossible to pigeon-hole in seven succinct words – emotional, iconic, self-confident, bold and lifestyle-driven.
If you want a category, Soul is probably an urban crossover – like conventional superminis, Soul has five doors, five seats and front-wheel drive, is just over four metres long and is a hatchback. But there's still nothing quite like it on the road and Soul turns heads wherever it struts.
To me, Soul looks something like a squashed mini Land Rover designed by a cartoonist – with that alarmingly slanted roof, amazing headlamps, bulging rear lights, big curved front screen and strangely squared rear door, there's plenty visually to take in.
Soul's triumph is that it combines a host of bizarre design ideas that actually work as a whole and make it a complete one-off – like the original Fiat Multiplas and Daihatsu Materia it's among the most quirky motors on the road.
To my delight, the test car I drove was cream coloured and the last time I had one of those must have been back in the '80s with the Austin Maestro or Metro. Seriously retro, this is Ashes To Ashes colour come to life.
The two traditional models in the UK are badged Soul 1 and 2, while the first "originals" are named Samba, Shaker and Burner, with prices starting at less than 10,500.
I have been at the wheel of the Shaker, which drew more public attention than any other car I've tested this year and provided a highly entertaining week of driving.
Inside, Soul isn't quite so zany. Finished in body colour matching cream and grey, it features vast amounts of headroom and that panoramic front screen.
Although the flat door handles are awkward until you get used to them (you start off by losing your grip on them and pinging them against the bodywork), there is very little to grumble about.
Soul's funky, of course, but close inspection reveals excellent build quality, attention to detail and high quality fabric and furnishings that look good, feel good and and are built to last.
Although dashboard plastic are not very tactile, they're obviously durable and the dashboard is dominated by a U-shaped centre stack with a big circular oddments well at the top, which is incredibly useful.
Stickmen graphics and clear instrument readouts make the Soul easy to understand from the off and ergonomics are generally very good.
It's hard not to like the perky 1.6 petrol engine, which fires up enthusiastically and is enthusiastic, decently fast and fun. A five-speed gearbox is slick and quick and the whole car feels full of life on the move, with a lively chassis, good steering feel right through any manoeuvre and strong stability straight ahead.
Soul boasts vast amounts of oddments space to keep all the family happy and luggage space behind rear seats is genuinely useful, with plenty of extra room when the seats double over.
With fantastic character and some clever new design ideas, like the reversing camera that presents a high definition picture in the car's interior mirror, Soul has come like a breath of fresh air to a largely stagnant motoring market.
It may be hard to define, but it's very easy to like.
Fast facts:
Kia Soul comes in nine models, with prices from less than 10,500.
Choice of 1.6-litre petrol or diesel, with auto option on CRDi.
True urban-crossover combines SUV looks with city style.
Five-year unlimited mileage warranty.
iPod and MP3 compatibility with USB port and AUX. input.
High-spec 315-watt amplifier and boot-mounted sub woofer available.
Soul's style is 'tough, not rough' with high, rounded bonnet, bulging wheel arches and wide track.
Generous spec includes air conditioning, all-round electric windows, remote central locking and six airbags fitted to every model.
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Weather for Bedford
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Today
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