2014 Kia Soul

SPECIFICATIONS

1. The 2014 Kia Soul’s base engine is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder unit that delivers 130 horsepower with 118 lb-ft of torque. 2. The optional engine displaces 2.0-liters and cranks out 164 ponies and 151 units of twist. 3. Two six-speed transmissions are can be had by Soul customers, either a manual (only available with the 1.6-liter engine) or an automatic. 4. Base price for a 2014 Kia Soul is about $15,500 for a stripped-down model. Load it to the gills and plan on spending around 27 grand.

PREVIEW

Vehicles like the Scion xB and Nissan Cube prove that it’s OK to be different. These rolling boxes are efficient, affordable and spacious; attributes that appeal to young, value-conscious shoppers. This is convenient because that’s who these vehicles are directly targeted at.

Unfortunately for those companies, there don’t seem to be very many people interested in owning a vehicle shaped like a Maytag top-load washer. 

While those vehicles are floundering, Kia’s youth-oriented competitor has really found its niche. You could say the Kia Soul is quirk done right. It blends tasteful but bold design with a functional, comfortable interior and a bargain bin price tag.

The formula seems to be working. If you can believe it, the Soul is Kia’s second-best seller behind the Optima midsize sedan. And that’s the outgoing model. It was introduced way back in 2009. Of course, the brand’s innovative advertising campaign featuring anthropomorphic rodents certainly hasn’t hurt. Kia’s hamsters have become a cultural phenomenon all their own.

Making a good thing even better, the South Korean automaker has been hard at work on the next-generation Soul. Rocker panels to roof, hood to hatch the product has been totally redesigned.

INTERIOR

The interior is a colossal step up from the first-generation Soul, which, while attractively designed was largely constructed of hard plastic. Here the dashboard is squishy-soft to the prod; the door panels and center armrest are spongy and hospitable as well. This is a genuinely nice place to spend time.

 

All the buttons and switches have a premium feel and piano-black accents inject a healthy dose of sophistication into the passenger realm; just keep some pre-moistened towelettes handy to eradicate fingerprints that are sure to collect on the glossy trimmings.

Like many new vehicles today a navigation system is available in the Soul. Kia’s latest units are colorful and pretty responsive. One of their systems is based on Android while the other is built on Microsoft technology.

Other available extras include a 10-speaker Infinity audio system, again, with light-up front speakers that pulsate and change colors to the beat of whatever you’re listening to. Heated and ventilated front seats are on the menu as well.

UNDER THE HOOD

Two engines are available underneath the Soul’s breadbox-like hood. The base unit is a rather small 1.6-liter four-cylinder that puts out 130 horsepower. That’s respectable specific output, but the torque is much less impressive with only 118 lb-ft of twist on tap. Smokey burnouts and scandalous drifts are out of the question with this base powerplant… as they are with the optional engine.

Both engines feature gasoline direct injection and variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts. These features help increase horsepower and torque without hampering fuel efficiency.The Soul’s available 2.0-liter unit puts out a much more useful 164 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque. As for gearboxes, two six-speed transmissions are on the menu. The smaller engine can be had with a manual or auto-box, while the larger is only offered with the self-shifter.

Company representatives estimate that about 65 percent of buyers will opt for the 2.0-liter powerplant compared to only 35 percent for the 1.6. This decision is kind of a no-brainer. Not only is the bigger engine significantly more powerful it’s also a smarter overall choice.