KIA Soul

The Kia Soul is a new minivan model that is available from € 13,402 with two trim levels ( "Diva" and "Burner") and two engines, 128 hp diesel and a petrol 124 hp (all prices ).

It has similar prices to those of similar models, but their engines are more powerful. For example, KIA 1.6 DOHC 124 hp is more powerful and is priced somewhat lower than the Citroën C3 Picasso VTi 120 bhp, the Nissan Note 1.6 of 110 hp and Opel Meriva 1.6 105 hp (comparative table).

The standard equipment of this version of Soul is less complete than the C3 Picasso, the Note and the Meriva equivalent. The KIA can not carry items such as outside mirrors and heated, fog lamps, trip computer, sliding rear seat, the air conditioning, alloy wheels or the rear moons sobretintadas that it is standard for the other three models. However, the Soul have stability control as standard, USB and external bar luggage rack, three elements that are not available or are optional on the Citroen, Nissan and Opel.

KIA Soul. Soul 2009.El body model has five doors, five seats and traction to the front wheels. The proportions are small off-road or, at its height, minivan, not tourism hatchback.

Their engines (1.6 CRDi 128 hp and 1.6 DOHC 124 hp) are the same as the Kia Cee'd, with modifications. The power given is not the same as in the cee'd, the diesel provides 115 hp and the 122 hp gasoline.

The Soul measures 4,10 m length, 1.78 m wide and 1.61 m high. It is therefore more than an Opel Meriva (5 cm) and a Nissan Note (2 cm). The wheelbase is 2.55 m. Its structure (platform) is derived from the Kia Rio and the Hyundai i20, Kia cee'd not.

Inside

The seats are placed in an elevated position, including the driver, adjustable height in its lowest position. The rear bench is not sliding as in other models, which diminishes functionality. Like the Rio, the steering wheel has height adjustment only, not deep. In the Hyundai i20, in contrast, can perform both types of adjustment.

The interior space of the Soul is not well spent compared to a Skoda Roomster (10 cm longer), an Opel Meriva and Nissan Note. In the rear seats is seven inches wider than the Note, one wider than the Meriva and seven narrower than the Roomster.

There is therefore a car width in absolute terms, but is two cm wider than, say, a Seat Altea, which measures about 20 centimeters longer. The available height is not a problem in any of the seats.

KIA Soul. Model 2009.La KIA Soul major limitation is the back space for the legs: it is identical to that Altea, three inches below the Note and eight to the Roomster and the Meriva in the rearmost position of their seats slide.

While getting inside measurements comparable to those of some competitors, it comes at the expense of the size of the boot, which is small (280 l). The luggage space of Soul has 60% of the volume of the trunk of a Meriva and less than half the size that of the Roomster. Even a 20% smaller than the Note, a bit narrow and car trunk. Moreover, as the seats are not sliding, you can not sacrifice the space of the rear seats to give more room for luggage.

Engines and driving impressions

The Kia Soul is available with a gasoline engine and one diesel, both 1.6-liter engine capacity. The diesel engine gives maximum power of 128 hp and 124 hp gasoline.

In a brief initial contact with both engines, urban route, it seems more appropriate for the petrol engined version. The suspension of this version is more comfortable (in the diesel with the optional 18-inch wheels suspension is dry) and the engine sounds distinctly less. The engine power is very high for a car the size of the boot seems eminently urban use. Surprisingly, there is less potent versions.

KIA Soul. Model 2009.No I had the opportunity to prove in any winding road of the two versions. The direction, power is too soft even for urban routes by which I spent with the Soul. Henry Street also complained of touch on the direction of Kia Rio, which is probably identical.

The diesel version has approved an average consumption of 5.1 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 137 g / km route. In contrast, the version with the gasoline engine has an average consumption of 6.6 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 159 g / km. It is an important difference, which may require a change to the preference of petrol on the Diesels. But a car does not seem advisable for large daily runs, so the fuel price difference can be almost anecdotal.

In some countries, not Spain, will be a third petrol engine with 2.0 liter 142 hp.

Customization options and equipment

Regardless of trim level we are talking about ( "Diva" or "Burner"), the Soul has various customization possibilities, which will affect details of appearance and equipment. The details of body decoration are dealer options. The elements are mounted on factory equipment.

Among the optional elements most notable works are the rear view camera, whose image is reflected in the rearview mirror, a control system for tire pressure (alerts you when the wheel has lost 25% of pressure), mirror Electrochromic, parking sensors rear and electrically folding exterior mirrors.

KIA Soul. Model 2009.También available to decorate or personalize the car, there's a rear spoiler and some other element as deflector and mud guards.

It is on sale with 11 body colors and three interior. In some of the combinations inside the glove box and another box in the center of the dashboard are painted red. The opening of this box is complicated because the insurance that opens closes the opposite direction. To open, the lid must be pushed as if it were to close.

The equipment account Soul with six airbags, disc brakes all-wheel drive and ESP.

Also as standard, has a sound system with CD and radio connection for MP3 players and iPods, six speakers and a technology that Kia calls "PowerBass. Optionally available is a sound system consisting of eight speakers, an external amplifier and a subwoofer, located in the trunk.

KIA anticipated the appearance of this model with the prototype Soul Burner (pictured), Soul Diva (image) and Soul Searcher (pictured), during the Geneva Motor Show 2008. The Soul has been designed in the U.S. and is manufactured from November 2008 in the factory that KIA is in Korea.

Soul Hybrid Concept

KIA Soul Hybrid Concept. 2008.The Kia Soul Hybrid prototype is a prototype designed to get approved an average consumption of 4.9 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 117 g / km.

It has an internal combustion engine (petrol) 1.6-liter engine capacity that is assisted by a small electric motor of 15 kW (20 hp) and 105 Nm. It has continuously variable transmission "TVC" and a brake that recharges the batteries through recovering the energy lost during braking and decelerating.

It also has the system to which Kia calls "ISG (Idle Stop & Go). The system automatically shuts down the engine when the car is stopped and lights when you step on the clutch pedal. Only with this system, KIA asserts that reduces fuel consumption and exhaust enimisiones up to 15%.