Kia's 2014 Soul remake delivers subtle visual tweaks but more significant interior changes and revisions to drive dynamics.
Few cars have done a better job of putting a relatively unknown brand on the radar for a broad swath of American car buyers. The 2009 Kia Soul and the hip-hop hamsters who became its spokes, er, rodents have carved out a unique and enviable niche in the market. So, with the launch of the 2014 Soul, Kia faces both risk and opportunity.
Anyone who has watched TV or gone to the cinema in recent weeks probably knows the slimmed-down “Hamstars” are back, their latest, catchy spot, backed by Lady Gaga vocals, meant to draw attention to the launch of the updated urban crossover. Their help is needed. The 2014 Kia Soul’s distinctive design undergoes evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, changes that might otherwise be missed by most buyers.
That said, Kia’s priority was coming up with a more comfortable CUV that resolves some of the earlier model’s issues with driving dynamics and refinement. Our experience during a Minneapolis driving event suggests the Koreans have largely succeeded.
The original, 2009 Kia Soul helped transform the image of the South Korean brand.
Last year, Kia sold more than 115,000 Souls and it has moved more than 90,000 so far this year, according to the company’s sales figures. “It’s a core vehicle for us,” said Michael Sprague, Kia’s vice president of marketing and communications for Kia, noting that the Soul is one reason why the Korean sibling to better-known Hyundai is now the eighth best-selling automotive brand in the U.S.
Thus, Kia designers worked to hang onto the best parts of the outgoing Soul while working to improve the areas where the original fell short.
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The result is a softer exterior design that features a but nonetheless maintains the basic stance, with the familiar squared-off shoulders, wraparound greenhouse, high-mounted tail lights and bold fender flares easily recognizable as a Soul — and quick to stand out in traffic and at the curbside. Most of the revisions have been borrowed from Kia’s successful concept vehicle, the 2012 Trac’ster.
The 2014 Kia Soul features a 0.8-inch longer wheelbase, at 101.2-inches. The updated CUV has been broadened to 70.9 inches, an increase of 0.6 inches, and the height has been trimmed by 0.4 inches, to 63.0 inches. The dimensional changes are subtle but still quietly reorient Soul’s appearance.
Though slightly larger, the basic shape of the 2014 Kia Soul is instantly recognizable.
Among the new touches are premium details such as LED front daytime running lights and rear LED “halo” lights, Both help connect Soul to siblings within the Kia lineup.
(Kia is planning a battery version of the Soul. Click Here to learn more.)
The interior of the Soul also has been overhauled. The new model looks richer, with a new instrument panel and a center stack that now includes a larger, easier to use touchscreen.. Soft-touch materials are found on the instrument panel, center console and door panels. Details include leather-trimmed seats with improved lateral and thigh support, and the use of high-gloss piano-black trim pieces on the center console and dash. These elevate the overall look and feel of what began as little more than as a stylish econbox in its original trim. Kia’s second-generation infotainment and telematics system, UVO eServices, is also available on the new Soul..
The improved seats are quite comfortable even on a longer drive and the 2014 Kia Soule gets a full array of standard safety equipment including side-curtain airbags for rollover protection and electronic stability control.
The interior of the 2014 Kia Soul no longer has that chintzy econobox look.
The Kia’s basic foundation has been improved with a new body enjoys a 28.7% increase in torsional rigidity over the current Soul. The more rigid structure can be felt in the form of the 2014 model’s improved ride and handling. The suspension also has been improved to address one of the Soul’s most nagging flaws and the electric power steering has been redone to provide more feedback to the driver.
The new Soul’s base power train is a 130-horsepower 1.6-liter all-aluminum DOHC four-cylinder engine. The engine has been updated with gasoline direct injection technology on both the base engine and on the 2.0-liter powerplant on the up-level Soul “Plus” and “Exclaim” models. The bigger engine delivers 164 horsepower and 151 pound-feet of torque.
Both the 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter engines have been tuned to provide more low-end torque for an improved around-town driving experience. The 1.6-liter engine is matched to a six-speed manual transmission though a six-speed automatic is available. The automatic is paired with the 2.0-liter I-4 on both the Plus and Exclaim moderls.
The base 2014 Kia Soul feature a 1.6-liter I-4, though higher trim levels get a new 2.0-liter engine.
Fuel economy is 24 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway for the automatic transmission and 23 mpg and 31 mpg on highway with the six-speed automatic. That goes for whichever engine package you choose. Mileage increases slightly to 24 mpg in the city on the highway if the car is equipped with the optional integrated starter generator and automatic gearbox.
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The Soul’s base price is $15,495 but load it up and you’ll push into the low $20,000 range.
Overall, the overhaul of the Soul was done with a deft touch. The best parts of the vehicle, including its unique silhouette, have been preserved while the interior and ride and handling have been given a much needed overhaul making it much more fun to drive.