2011 Kia Soul 4u Luxuary
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.
Not too speedy
2011 Kia Soul 4u Luxuary Interior
The 2011 Soul can be equipped with two engine choices; forget the base trim with its 1.6-litre four, and step up to the 2.0-litre unit good for 142 hp and 137 lb.-ft of torque. Connected to a 4-speed automatic – mandatory in the top-shelf 4u Luxury model – the 0-100 km/h sprint takes 9.4 seconds, while the quarter-mile is cleared in 16.8 seconds at 130 km/h. Not particularly quick, but sufficient given the vehicle’s mission.
Actually, in normal driving conditions, the Soul feels peppy; an extra gear or two would definitely help fuel economy and keep engine revs low on the highway which currently rest at 2,400 rpm during a steady 100 km/h cruise.
Still, our fuel economy average of 8.4 L/100km is pretty good, despite the 4-speed auto’s tendency for slow upshifts, making sure it squeezes out the better part of the engine’s torque.
The Soul also feels more eager to be shaken around than one of its notable rivals: the Nissan Cube. However, it’s nowhere near as sporty as another one of the Soul’s notable rivals: the Nissan Juke. The 18” wheels with low-profile tires, as well as what Kia calls a “sport-tuned suspension,” contribute to a stiff ride, especially on badly maintained city streets. If you want a softer-riding Soul, go for the 2u version.
Go for the 2011 or wait for the 2012?
It’s no secret anymore: The 2012 Soul will receive a minor makeover that includes headlights, taillights, mirrors, and wheels. The big news, however, is what will be found under the hood: the base 1.6L engine will get direct injection good for 138 horses, while the 2.0L unit will gain 22 hp for a total of 164. And while we’re at it, the new Soul will eventually be offered with a start/stop system as well as both 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions.
2011 Kia Soul 4u Luxuary
So, better performance and better fuel economy; why go for the 2011, then?
Incentives, that’s why. As we’re publishing this review, the 2011 Soul is flaunting cash purchase rebates and 0% purchase financing for up to 84 months. A sweet deal can be had here.
What’s less of a deal is the Luxury trim. A Soul 4u with an automatic costs $20,595 and comes nicely equipped. The $23,995 Luxury version adds leather upholstery, an intelligent key system, a centre-console armrest, automatic climate control and a backup camera which are all nice-to-have features that can easily be left aside.
The Kia Soul makes sense. I wasn’t actually blown away by Kia’s pint-size crossover when I first reviewed it a year and a half ago, but since then it has grown on me. The 2012 Soul will be even better, so I’d be tempted to wait a couple of months for it to arrive.
By Michel Deslauriers / Photo: Sébastien D'Amour
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