Soul shows Kia's quirky side

What is it?

This is the Kia Soul, a small hatchback, MPV and SUV all rolled into one neat, funky package. It's a Honda Jazz-meets-Ford-Fusion-meets-Nissan Qashqai kind of thing, with a bit of Daihatsu Materia thrown in, and it's the car Kia hopes will make the brand cool, possibly for the first time ever.

Kia is desperate to shed its image as maker of cheap and not so cheerful cars. The cee'd proved it can do quality these days, and now the Soul has been designed with hip young things in mind. Fortunately it also happens to be pretty practical. For a start, it's much bigger in the metal than it comes across in pictures, managing to hide its bulk with clever styling details like a glasshouse that widens towards the windscreen, flared wheel arches and asymmetrical, twin-level headlamps.

There's plenty of space inside, with ample leg and head room for four six-footers. Boot space is a little lacking, however, although there are plenty of cubbyholes for storage. It's a shame Kia didn't see fit to add a sliding rear bench to liberate more space for luggage when needed.

Power comes from 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines, both with power outputs of 124bhp, though the diesel trumps the petrol for torque, with 188lb.ft against 115lb.ft. Larger-engined 2.0-litre versions will be available in other markets too, though Kia is adamant they will not reach UK shores. A 1.4-litre petrol might make an appearance later in the model cycle, though.

To make every Soul more personal, Kia hopes the majority of buyers will specify one or two of the bolder choices on the options list, like big wheels, a bright red interior or one of the many vinyl exterior decals available - popular among MINI and Fiat 500 owners.

Is it any good?

It is indeed, though it's very much a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. The mini-SUV looks should appeal to those looking for 4x4 style without the associated guilt, and the boxy proportions mean it's spacious and practical. The cabin, too, is simple, well-ordered and pleasing on the eye. However, the looks lure you into a false sense of security; touch the dashboard and it all feels disappointingly cheap. All the plastics are hard, and though the dash top has a textured finish to partially mask its inadequacies, the radio surround, door handles and centre console are sub-par - and will probably scratch and mark easily.

However, upper-spec models will cushion the blow with the addition of some impressive kit and colour schemes designed to dazzle. Our test car, for example, came equipped with a bright red dash and seat covers (even grey dashboards get contrasting red inner glove box linings), a superb eight-speaker stereo optimised for bass, a reversing camera with the display integrated into the rear-view mirror, and 18-inch alloy wheels. All models come with air conditioning.

Behind the wheel the Soul impresses. It's no B-road driving machine, but the ride is fluid and comfortable, only coming unstuck on the most broken of roads, and the steering, although too light, is direct. A high driving position and plenty of headroom means visibility is good, and the seats are comfortable. Of the two launch engines, the diesel is the one to go for. It's punchy, economical and refined, and perfect for town driving because it picks up strongly from around 1,500rpm. On the other hand, the petrol unit is gutless and noisy, and of course is beaten for economy and emissions by the diesel. It's best avoided.

Should I call the bank manager?

If you must, but the chances are you won't need to because it looks like the Soul will hit the UK very reasonably priced, starting at around £10,500 - which is not a lot for all that space and a decent amount of kit. Choose your accessories wisely, and around £12k should get you a well equipped, stylish and practical runabout. Only cheap interior plastics and a lacklustre petrol engine really let the Soul down. It looks funky, drives well and offers a genuine alternative to other quirky hatchbacks like the MINI and Fiat 500 - but with far more space and, most probably, less money.

Summary

If Kia gets its marketing strategy right the Soul should fly out of showrooms, because it's not only practical and quite cheap - it's genuinely cool and different too. The more Souls that hit the road with big wheels, bold colours and unusual exterior decals, the more people will notice its quirky appeal and head for their local Kia dealers. We hope so too, because while it's not perfect, the Soul proves that Kia can make really interesting cars. It's just a shame that quality-wise it doesn't continue what the cee'd hatchback started. However, it's fun to drive, different and well worth a look.

Mark Nichol