The Star: December 21, 2017

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday December 21 2017 31
Driven
Turbocharger gives
Kia heart and soul
• By Ross Kiddie
KIA’S SOUL is a car which
has always struck me as
being a vehicle which
should have sold better.
Sure, there are many of
them on our roads, but
such is its design I always
figured it would appeal
more, especially to those
who like trendy and others
who could see its value as
a company billboard or for
other mobile advertising.
All that aside, the Soul
has had a bit of a cosmetic
upgrade and a new Soul
model has just landed.
There’s now an option of
the 1.6-litre turbocharged
engine which is finding its
way across a wider range
of Kia product. I first drove
the turbo unit in the Pro_
cee’d GT a year or so ago
and, of course, in Hyundai’s
Veloster.
The Soul certainly benefits
from the small capacity,
forced induction engine,
and if you aren’t a turbo
fan the car is still available
here in 2-litre naturally
aspirated form at $35,990
or non-turbo 1.6-litre at
$32,490. The turbo GT lists
at $37,990 and it would be
the car for me, its engine is
a real honey and develops
healthy power outputs of
150kW and 263Nm, the
latter realised low in the rev
band at 1500rpm reaching
a broad spread to 4500rpm.
The significance of those
power outputs is that it
doesn’t need to work hard
to maintain reasonable
levels of performance, the
benefit is also respectable
fuel usage. Kia also claims
a 6.9-litre per 100km
(41mpg) combined cycle
average, that sits well with
the 8.2l/100km (34mpg)
average figure showing
constantly on the evaluation
car’s trip computer.
At 100km/h the engine is
turning over quite lazy at
1900rpm, sipping fuel at
the rate of just 4.8l/100km
(58mpg).
Against the clock the
Soul turbo will reach
100km/h from a standstill
in a lively 7.5sec, and will
provide a solid highway
overtake of 5.1sec (80km/h
to 120km/h).
Power is transferred
through a twin clutch automatic
transmission, it is a
quick-shifting unit with
ratios designed to enhance
a smooth flow of power.
That’s the benefit of seven
gears, the engine doesn’t
get bogged down filling the
KIA SOUL: Turbocharged model fits into a range of
standout models.
gaps, and with the turbo
punch the engine is not far
from the point of feeling
flighty.
The engine feels lively
underfoot, especially in
sport mode, encouraging
the driver to feel the boost.
I took the test car on a road
that I don’t normally use,
the road to Little River usually
carries way too much
traffic for my liking but
I had a Trade Me item to
pick up so the Soul tackled
those varying array of corners
along the way.
• Price – Kia Soul
turbo, $37,990
• Dimensions –
Length, 4140mm;
width, 1800mm;
height, 1618mm
• Configuration
– Four-cylinder,
front-wheel-drive,
1591cc, 150kW,
263Nm, seven-speed
automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 7.5sec
• Fuel usage –
6.9l/100km
When presented with
them at speed there is good
balance and reasonable
steering accuracy. At over
1.6m the body is quite tall
but it doesn’t sway much
over the suspension. In
turbo form it gets a bit of
extra suspension damping
which controls that body
movement well. Riding
on wide (235/45 x 18in)
Nexen tyres, their low profile
also helps provide that
optimum level of grip at
turn-in.
By sheer nature of its
simplistic tube beam rear
suspension design, the Soul
will never offer sports car
attitude, but between the
willingness of the engine
and satisfactory handling
behaviour there is just
enough balance between
the two to provide a thrill
if the driver wants to push
hard.
That aside, it is also the
clever city street traveller
with smooth operating
manners and an ease which
you would expect from
the modern sport utility
vehicle.
It is a comfortable car to
travel in and it is designed
so that optimum use of
onboard space is created. It
is a genuine five-seater and
the quintessential, functional
family vehicle.
The Soul GT also gets
sporty features inside and
out. There’s unique frontal
treatment, side mouldings
and a twin exhaust pipe
package. Inside, there’s
orange stitched leather
and fabric upholstery, and
D-shaped steering wheel.
It also gets a high level of
kit for safety, earning it a
five-star Australasian New
Car Assessment Program
rating.
In recent years Kia has
invested heavily in design
and styling. All of the
models landing now have
unique characteristics
which not only look smart
but work towards an intuitive
driving environment.
The Soul has been
around since 2009, obviously
it has stood the test of
time and has always been a
car which had the looks at
forming a basis for many
styling opportunities. With
the turbocharged engine,
it now has a bit of oomph
to go with its look-at-me
attitude.
Let’s hope Kia doesn’t
lose the direction it’s taking
whereby motoring should
be fun and enjoyable. Good
cars like the Soul, and
the others within the Kia
stable, are here to make a
statement.
bumper
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