Kia Soul test drive since 2008 hatchback

Soul and pepper

Kia Soul. Price: from 500,000 rubles. On sale: since spring 2009
Kia has never been on such compromises with me. Indeed, to date, such avant -garde models as Soul, the company has taken out of designer bins in conceptual form, leaving us unpretentious serial creations. Therefore, serious expectations are associated with the novelty of the lineup: the car is designed to increase not only customer interest, but also the image of the brand
Test pilot
Dmitry Tytyuchenko, 33 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience of 14 years, personal car - Jeep Wrangler
KIA continues to methodically grope the way for customer emotions. He steps carefully, carefully examining every centimeter of the path, so as not to frighten the potential client with incorrect movement. The first, indecisive step and people are actively applauding the innovative CEED. In Russia, for example, he took 23rd place in the list of best -selling models last year. And Koreans inspired by success, meanwhile, go even further release the serial version of the avant -garde crossover Soul, which finally put the cross on the image of the brand, as a famous generator of high -quality near -budget boredom. The novelty, built on a completely new platform, is completely knocked out of the general designer canvas of the manufacturer, for which he receives an honorary semi -official nickname Little rebel. Ruthless, merciless, but unusually attractive.
As Martin Luther King once said, the riots are the language of those who were not listened to. And now Kia in the language of a wide soul (just like that from English translated by Soul), the new model calls for young people and those who are in the heart of Moscow, to liberate, expanding the framework of consciousness. Free Your Mind! The advertising slogan says. Let's try?
The Kia Soul rebels with all its energetic appearance. With a roof cap, a contemptuously protruding lip of the front bumper, the conspiratorial squirrels of expressive headlights and tightly clenched teeth of the false radiator, the car safely challenges the previous stereotypical ideas about the brand. In confirmation of the seriousness of the intentions, he plays the muscles of the wheel arches and strains the widest muscles of the square back, crowned with sad rear lights. Carbonarium, as is!
This is clear. But why a crossover? If you believe modern explanatory dictionaries, a crossover is still a station wagon of increased patency. And what kind of cross -country ability is, when neither a full -wheel drive transmission, nor a large road clearance, did not give the car. The leading wheels are the front wheels, and an average clearance of 164 mm. However, due to short overhangs and a decent height of the model (1610 mm), the distance between the bottom and the road surface really seems large than in fact.
However, as a car for the active citizen Soul, it is still quite universal. With a modest length of 4105 mm, the visual crossover has a serious wheelbase of 2550 mm. So the five -seater salon of the model is quite spacious both in height and in width: free space from the back in general for the envy of many cars from high school. What can not be said about the 222 -liner trunk, capable of swallowing only a bag for the gym. The capacity is not so important young, but the young heart is true, with small manipulations with folding rear seat you can get an even loading area for baggage with a volume of 700 liters. But then there will be nothing to envy high school students.
The rebellious spirit is impregnated and the car interior. The modern Soul interior is cut with the classical style of previous creations of the company. In particular, the progressive dashboard in the Mazda3 style and the three -spokeshael multiple, which will probably appear on new models of the company, first appeared here for the first time. Unless soft to the touch, but inexpensive decoration materials in the view can remind, for example, of Kia Rio. However, even they look their own here, making space warm and comfortable. Logical ergonomics is another plus of the rebellious machine. Comfortable chairs with sufficient lateral support provide a comfortable high landing, the keys on the steering wheel allow you to control the MP3 player without leaving the road from the road. The tape recorders and air conditioning regulators are understandably located in the sticky language of the central console, in the lower part of which there are USB and IPOD connectors for music targets. In terms of equipping, everything is also in an adult way: expensive versions are a complete electric package, a driver's seat elevator, a rear view camera with a picture on a salon mirror, a panoramic roof and even a powerful audio system blinking to the music in the speakers. Apparently, for a bright and noisy protest unlucking with their hearts.
It seems that it is precisely on their age -old temperament that the stingle on the dynamics of the 1.6 gasoline engine (124 p.), From which the expansion of the model on the Russian market will begin. It is aggregated only with 5 -speed mechanics, which will automatically cross out from the list of applicants for young girls who are accustomed to cost two pedals. And the modest accelerated characteristics of such a version with strained starts and soft accelerations will be bored with a quick youth. A more lively modification with a 1.6 -liter 128 -horsepower diesel is easy to rise, this engine is perfect not only at high speeds, and its elasticity is noticeably higher. In addition, if desired, he easily mates with a 4 -speed automatic.
But the controllability of Kia Soul is perhaps chases a large focus group. The sensitive steering wheel makes 2.8 turns from the stop to the stop and provides adequate feedback. The electric power transmitter transmits a small blurring of reactions only at a really high speed. The car holds the straight line perfectly, in corners noticeably rolling and showing a small demolition of the front wheels, which is promoted to stabilize the system. It is a pity that the ESP in the base will be only for European markets for the sake of Euro NCAP, which was flatly refused to put the highest rating based on the results of Crash tests of cars without it on board.

How it was
It took the manufacturer only two and a half years to bring the serial version of Kia Soul into people. For the first time, the Korean brand presented the concept car with the same name in January 2006 at the Auto Show in Detroit. Work on creating a car was organized on the principle of one head well, and two are better!. In parallel, masters in Seoul and California design studios worked on the project: then the model was still oriented mainly to the US market. And in order for the complacency of the future crossover to be striking not only in the eyes, but also in his ears, he was called intelligent and caressing hearing by the name Soul.
In addition, this step allowed Kia to stay roots, paying tribute to the native city of Seoul, with which the name of the model is tune. At the pre -production stage, namely to the European premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008, the German design studio also joined the finalization of the car. Three multidirectional concepts were born: Soul Burner, Soul Diva and Soul Searcher. Finally, the serial Kia Soul flashed on an autopodium in Paris in October 2008.
We do not love
The image from the rear view camera is displayed on the salon mirror. Noticeable
With a USB-placed, information on the flash drive will always be at hand. Modernly
Option: additional speaker on the console. Suddenly

Driving
If you do not overdo it at speed, the car will seem quite friendly.
Salon
Spacious front and behind, ergonomic. But the luggage compartment is incorrect.
Comfort
The energy -intensive suspension without breakdowns practices the irregularities of the road, but on the gravel sitting in the cabin they shake it pretty much.
Safety
To pay extra for ESP somehow not comme il faut. And everything else is enough.
Price
The exact price has not yet been determined.

Advantages and disadvantages
+ New for the brand of a rebellious look, spacious interior, good ergonomics.
- Small trunk, average dynamic properties.

Specifications
Mark and model - Kia Soul 1.6 mt
Dimensions - 4105x1785x1610 mm
Engine - gasoline, 1591 cm3, 124 liters. S./6300 min--1
Transmission - mechanical, 5 -speed
Dynamics - max 177 km/h; 11 s to 100 km/h
Competitors - Suzuki SX -4, Skoda Roomster

Our opinion
It is still difficult to say whether Soul will be able to ask the pepper to competitors. The concept of the car is extraordinary, so it does not have many rivals, and prices for Russia have not yet been determined. However, the fact that the model has made a small revolution in the perception of the Korean brand is undeniable. Like, however, his soulfulness.

Author: Dmitry Tytyuchenko
   
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [February 2009]