SOLID, FAMILIAR RIDE RAMPS UP THE FUN
Kia’s turbocharged Soul is a frisky little crossover with quirky character
I can recall my initial reaction at first glimpsing the Scion xB. Although it was preceded by the Honda Element, the xB became the defining face of the new “box car” trend in automotive styling, a fresh look with a strong Japanese influence. I wasn’t sure I liked it, because it looked more like an anime caricature than an actual production car.
For a while, the boxy crossover appeared to be a burgeoning segment-in-the-making, with the Element and xB soon joined by the Nissan Cube and Kia Soul. While sales of the other three peaked modestly before plummeting into a death spiral, the Kia Soul took off, selling more than 145,000 units in the U.S. last year, and just over 12,000 in Canada. That’s more than the peak sales-year figures of the Element, Cube and xB combined.
It’s curious that one flourished while the others sank into obscurity. The Element was a novelty when it arrived in 2003, but sales dropped with the arrival of competitors offering more features and technology. The xB lost its original fan base in 2008 by trading its dorky and boxy looks for something a little more mainstream, and ultimately less compelling. And the Cube was phased out in 2015 following steadily diminishing sales. That leaves us with the Kia Soul. A hard-to-define (is it a hatch? A tall wagon? A compact SUV?) but likable vehicle that offers plenty of cargo space, yet drives smaller than it looks.
The Soul has been a popular seller with subcompact-crossover buyers, but in this competitive segment, no automaker can afford to rest on their laurels. With so many really good choices offering an increasing level of features, even the segment leaders must continually improve to meet customer expectations.
Buyers love their Kia Souls, but have long been wanting more power and an all-wheel-drive system. Until the Kia Trail’ster makes its debut (rumoured to be in 2018), buyers are unfortunately going to have to wait for AWD. But with the arrival of the Soul Turbo, the boxy little runabout is now available with the terrific little turbocharged engine found in the Forte Koup and Hyundai Elantra Sport. The 1.6-litre turbo-four puts out 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, and runs on regular gasoline. It’s hooked up to a seven-speed dualclutch automatic transmission.
Visually, the Turbo is distinguished from the more pedestrian Soul by 18-inch alloy wheels, Turbo-exclusive rear diffuser style rear fascia, and a front skid plate, as well as dual exhaust tips, red accents, and Turbo badging.
The cabin style is somewhat reminiscent of the Nissan Juke, but with more usable cabin space. The design theme is funky, with plenty of interesting shapes, contrasting red stitching and a customizable ambient light show like a mini-Vegas. It’s playful, but it’s also well built and has quality soft-touch materials. There’s a beautiful, fat and leatherwrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, complete with contoured grips — and it’s heated, too.
The new seven-inch touch screen infotainment system has standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the optional eight-inch screen in this tester also features an easy-to-use GPS navigation system. Seating is comfortable, with good leg and headroom. Cargo capacity is 532 L, which expands to 1,402 with the rear seats down. Under the trunk floor is a nifty storage unit that’s great for hiding valuables.
The powertrain is terrific, but don’t mistake this Soul for a hot hatch. The abundant supply of ready torque gives the Turbo frisky responsiveness, but its driving character is let down by the same torsion-beam rear suspension found in the regular variants. While handling is still quite good, and keeps the car stable during brisk on-ramp manoeuvres, the lack of an independent rear suspension means the Soul will never have the sort of all-four-wheels contact that makes the great hot hatches grip so well.
Still, it’s a lot more fun to drive than the regular Soul and choosing “Sport” with the drive mode selector adds weight to the steering, quickens throttle response, and holds the gears in the engine’s power band longer. Surprisingly, there are no paddle shifters on this sportiest model in the lineup.
If it’s a hot hatch you’re after, there are many better options, such as the Ford Focus ST or the Volkswagen Golf GTI. The Soul Turbo fits in the same category as the Nissan Juke Nismo; it’s a frisky little crossover with sporty design cues and a touch of quirky character.
While the Juke has the added advantage of all-wheel drive and paddle shifters, the less expensive Soul offers much more usable space, runs on regular gas, and it’s the most fuel-efficient Soul in the lineup.
A rather likable little vehicle, the Kia Soul Turbo would suit the buyer looking for a bit more performance and character in a compact crossover.