KIA Soul 1.6 CVVT (93 kW) EX Soul!
Content
The Kia Soul, along with Daihatsu Materia (unfortunately, it does not sell well here), started a revolution that could give new impetus to car design. Take another look at the flagship photo of the test Soul: the lack of fresh form on this car, of course, cannot be blamed. The soul (soul as a soul) separates people: either you will fall in love with it immediately, or you will never love it. You are the last, at least in experience, in the minority.
Remember the Citroën C3 Picasso test in issue XNUMX this year? The French Wizard is indeed a direct competitor to the Korean newcomer, but the two machines are so different that it is very difficult to compare them. They are really close in size, but their purpose is completely different.
If the C3 Picasso wants to be a family car that spoils primarily the flexibility of passenger and cargo space, the Soul is completely helpless in this regard. There is not enough trunk and the rear bench is immobile. Whereas the C3 Picasso has tables in the second row and additional interior mirrors to control what is happening in the backseat (kids!), The Soul is above all well equipped with the latest electronic entertainment devices.
AUX, iPod and USB ports complete the pleasant red and black mix of interior and exterior. And while the C3 Picasso is comfortable, the Kia Soul is mostly a pleasure to drive. It is also expensive as they did not want to hear in Korea that they were offering a poorly equipped vehicle at a lower starting price.
You are unlikely to miss it on the road. The test was written beautifully, as if a five-year-old was playing with flowers, and even the beautifully added ventilation holes around the side turn signals weren't bad. We got the impression that most casual observers favor flat and truncated bright surfaces.
Although I saw black in the sales catalog, this is also a real beauty. ... The test car also had 18-inch wheels under which (miraculously) not even the 15x disc brakes looked lost. But large rims (mostly 16 or XNUMX inches) combined with low-profile tires help the Soul tremendously like smooth road surfaces, but not bumps in the road.
You will have to squeeze the steering wheel harder for each hole, and the noise from under the wheels will suddenly appear inside the cabin, which was not on the new asphalt. The power steering is electrically controlled due to lower fuel consumption, it works predictably and conditionally sporty.
The same is with the driver's seat: if the steering wheel were still sufficiently movable in the longitudinal direction, I would immediately write that the ergonomics of this car is excellent, so you have to grab your hands too far for the Soul to deserve such an assessment. Even inside, it will pamper you both visually (colors) and design (key shapes).
There are quite a lot of boxes and places to store things, although all boxes can only be used conditionally, as objects slide in them. And this hole in the upper part of the center console remained unknown to me until the end of the test. What can it serve for - perhaps the ideal attachment point for a pot?
We, of course, joked a little about this, but we definitely recommend not putting on the shelves large and heavy things (well, the test one did not have a rear window at all, but was tinted), which act like missiles in road accidents. The shower is mostly very well equipped.
All versions have six airbags and ESP stabilization, fuel cut-off and automatic unlocking in the event of a collision, so when combined with a rigid cage and crumpled body parts, you feel safe at home in your seat. The only safety concerns (as was the case with Kia cars) are with the tires: if they were dry, the Nexen tires did not meet our criteria on the wet road. Too bad and unacceptable savings for the price.
Despite the variable valve timing, the aluminum engine is not revolutionary, but it is a very pleasant companion on everyday cruises. While the petrol version of the Soul only has a five-speed gearbox, we didn't miss out on a sixth in normal driving.
Noise is also quite bearable at highway speeds, which can be attributed to the relatively good soundproofing, as well as the good sound system in the cabin, as it is difficult to resist the "winding" volume. We missed sixth gear just because it was so enjoyable to drive. On a winding road, the engine will have a pleasant section (although it cannot boast of flexibility), the transmission happily shifts from gear to gear, and the driver will easily control what is happening, despite the poorer tires.
The chassis (platform redesigned from the Kia Rio or also used in the Hyundai i20) is so predictable, despite the semi-rigid rear axle, that even when sliding you won't feel like you're just a passenger behind the wheel. Perhaps you just need a better servo system, as electrically driven systems are often to blame: it works fine while you are turning, the only drawback is at the beginning of the turn, when the system noticeably wakes up. In short, small changes to the steering wheel can confuse sensitive drivers.
Kia Soul is a bit atypical for Kia - a fun car. Much more than just a pretty picture. Modest flaws do not spoil the good impression it makes behind the wheel, although its mission is not the family press, as you would say at first glance, and after which rivals shine. It looks like the well-known Rubik's cube, invented in 1974 by the Hungarian sculptor and inventor Erno Rubik: a very pleasant pastime, but only conditionally. And in the end it enslaves you.
Alyosha Mrak, photo: Aleш Pavleti.
Kia Soul 1.6 CVVT (93 kW) EX Soul!
Basic data
| Sales: | Kia Motors Adria Group Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Base model price: | 17.690 € |
| Test model cost: | 18.090 € |
| Calculate the cost of auto insurance | |
| Power: | 93kW (126 KM) |
| Acceleration (0-100 km / h): | 11,0 with |
| Maximum speed: | 177 km / h |
| Mixed flow ECE: | 6,5l / 100km |
Technical information
| engine: | 4-cylinder - 4-stroke - in-line - gasoline - front-mounted transversely - displacement 1.591 cm? – maximum power 93 kW (126 hp) at 6.300 rpm – maximum torque 156 Nm at 4.200 rpm. |
|---|---|
| Energy transfer: | front wheel drive engine - 5-speed manual transmission - tires 225/45 / R18 V (Nexen CP643a). |
| Transportation and suspension: | limousine - 5 doors, 5 seats - self-supporting body - front single wishbones, spring struts, double wishbones, stabilizer - rear axle shaft, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers, stabilizer - front disc brakes (forced cooling), rear disc 10,5 - ass 48 m – fuel tank XNUMX l. |
| Mass: | empty vehicle 1.179 kg - permissible gross weight 1.680 kg. Performance (factory): top speed 177 km / h - acceleration 0-100 km / h 11,0 - fuel consumption (ECE) 7,9 / 5,7 / 6,5 l / 100 km. |
| Box: | Trunk volume measured using AM standard set of 5 Samsonite suitcases (total 278,5 L): 5 places: 1 backpack (20 L); 1 × aviation suitcase (36 l); 1 suitcase (68,5 l) |
Our measurements
| T = 14 ° C / p = 1.099 mbar / rel. vl. = 37% / Mileage condition: 5.804 km | |
| Acceleration 0-100km: | 11,1s |
|---|---|
| 402m from the city: | 17,8 years ( 126 km / h) |
| Flexibility 50-90km / h: | 15,0 (IV.) S |
| Flexibility 80-120km / h: | 20,5 (W) p |
| Maximum speed: | 174km / h (V.) |
| Minimum consumption: | 8,8l / 100km |
| Maximum consumption: | 9,5l / 100km |
| test consumption: | 9,2 l / 100km |
| Braking distance at 100 km / h: | 40,4m |
| AM table: | 42m |
| Noise at 50 km / h in 3rd gear | 54dB |
| Noise at 50 km / h in 4rd gear | 52dB |
| Noise at 50 km / h in 5rd gear | 52dB |
| Noise at 90 km / h in 3rd gear | 62dB |
| Noise at 90 km / h in 4rd gear | 61dB |
| Noise at 90 km / h in 5rd gear | 60dB |
| Noise at 130 km / h in 4rd gear | 68dB |
| Noise at 130 km / h in 5rd gear | 66dB |
| Idling noise: | 35dB |
| Test errors: | unmistakable |
Overall rating (295/420)
Someone is already baked in the first photos, someone fell in love with him from the very first time, and still others don’t want to hear about him at all. The Kia Soul is a car that is often the subject of discussion in hotels as opinions differ. So believe me, this is not only unusual, but also good!
Exterior (14/15)
The square is beautiful, they say at Kia, and for the most part we attach great importance to it.
Interior (94/140)
Despite being modern, the interior is the worst part of the car. Well, more than in the front seats, you have to put up with the rear and when loading luggage. It impresses with its workmanship.
Engine, transmission (44
/ 40)A decent engine, although flexibility is not a good thing. Thanks to the large wheels, the chassis is too rigid, good (only five-speed) transmission.
Driving performance (55
/ 95)After the rain, the tires pumped up, but immediately the chassis was in neutral. Slightly worse feeling when braking and directional stability.
Performance (20/35)
Quite enough, although the declared two-liter engine and maybe even the 1.6 CRDi VGT turbodiesel would suit him better.
Security (37/45)
Well equipped with security, although that also means a higher base price.
Economy
Higher price (with good equipment), average fuel consumption and good warranty. Unfortunately, Kia does not provide a mobile warranty.
We praise and reproach
appearance
workmanship
rich standard equipment
Transmission
barrel size and flexibility
it has no longitudinal movement of the rudder
comfort thanks to 18-inch wheels
wet tires
base price
