KIA SOUL HATCHBACK REVIEW

For The petrol engine gives decent performance, and the cabin has plenty of passenger space. Base versions are well equipped.

Against The ride, handling and refinement are poor, and the Soul isn’t cheap enough to be a budget alternative. Compared with other small hatchbacks, it’s not particularly cheap to run, either.

What Car? says

3 out of 5 stars

A few strong points, but overall, the Soul isn’t a great car – poor to drive and not cheap enough to own

Reader review rating

3.75

The Kia Soul Hatchback full review Read in full

Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Reasonably perky petrol engine
Ride & Handling
1 out of 5 stars
Awful on both counts
Refinement
2 out of 5 stars
Road noise spoils the calm
Buying & Owning
3 out of 5 stars
Not as cheap as you’d think
Quality & Reliability
2 out of 5 stars
Solid but uninspiring
Safety & Security
4 out of 5 stars
Everything you’d expect
Behind The Wheel
2 out of 5 stars
Could be better
Space & Practicality
3 out of 5 stars
Good for people, not for luggage
Equipment
4 out of 5 stars
Entry model good, pricier ones don’t add much

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There are 7 Kia Soul versions available

Kia Soul Hatchback 1.6 GDi 1 5dr	£12,495	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Kia Soul Hatchback 1.6 GDi 2 5dr	£13,595	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Kia Soul Hatchback 1.6 CRDi 2 5dr	£14,695	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Kia Soul Hatchback 1.6 GDi Hunter 5dr	£15,095	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Kia Soul Hatchback 1.6 GDi Quantum 5dr	£15,595	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Kia Soul Hatchback 1.6 CRDi Hunter 5dr	£16,195	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Kia Soul Hatchback 1.6 CRDi Quantum 5dr	£16,695	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5

Kia Soul Hatchback 1.6 GDi 1 5dr

If you’re sold on the Soul’s looks, this is the version to go for. It’s a pretty below-par car, so it’s best to keep it cheap

What Car? says:3 stars out of 5

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Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

Kia markets the Soul as an urban car with an SUV attitude – no wonder the styling is so confused. What you do get with the Soul, though, is lots of cabin space and a pretty generous list of standard equipment. Entry-level 1 models, for example, come with pretty much everything you’d want: air-conditioning, four powered windows, remote locking, Bluetooth and a six-speaker stereo with steering wheel controls.

The thing is, the higher-end models add plenty to the price, but not much to the equipment roster.

Two 1.6-litre engines are available, and the 138bhp direct-injection petrol feels pretty perky, if not that fast. There’s a 126bhp diesel available, too. Both engines come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, and you can add an auto to the diesel as an option.

While the Soul is a decidedly below-par car, it comes with an exceptional warranty – seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.