Boxy little runabout gets a performance boost
Likable CUV drives smaller than it looks
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 animé caricature than an actual production car.
For a while, the boxy crossover appeared to be a burgeoning segment-in-themaking, with the Element and xB soon joined by the Nissan Cube and Kia Soul. While sales of the other three peaked modestly bef ore plummeting i nto 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 salesyear figures of the Element, Cube and xB combined.
It’s curious that one flourished while the others sank into obscurity. That leaves us with the Kia Soul. A hardto-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.
Buyers l ove t heir Kia Souls, but have long been wanting more power and an all-wheel-drive system. With the arrival of the Soul Turbo, the boxy little runabout is now available with the terrific l i ttle turbocharged engine found in the Forte Koup and Hyundai Elantra Sport. ( But still no AWD.) 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 dual-clutch 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 interior 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 leather-wrapped flatbottom steering wheel, complete with contoured grips — and it’s heated, too.
The new se v e n- i nch 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 l eg 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. 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.
A rather l i kable l i ttle vehicle, the Kia Soul Turbo would suit the buyer looking for a bit more performance and character in a compact crossover.