Kia Soul is a front-wheel drive SUV of a subcompact category, combining a striking design, a modern and practical interior and a good balance of "driving" characteristics, which mixes the features of cars of three classes at once: crossovers, hatchbacks and minivans ... This five-door is aimed primarily at creative people (regardless of gender) aged 26 and older, living in urban environments, who take an active life position, follow all current fashion trends and have an unusual hobby ...
The third generation Kia Soul appeared in all its glory before the general public at the end of November 2018 on the catwalks of the Los Angeles International Motor Show, and its official sales on the Russian market began on June 3, 2019.
After the next "reincarnation" the SUV retained its traditional form factor, but at the same time changed in all directions - it became even more spectacular in appearance, "moved" to a new platform, at the same time slightly enlarged in size, acquired a slightly more spacious trunk and replenished its functionality with new modern options.
Externally, the third generation Kia Soul is difficult to confuse with some other car - it looks attractive, bright, original, sporty and well-proportioned. The aggressive front end of the crossover flaunts predatory squinting headlights connected by a "transparent" jumper, and a sculptural bumper with a large "hexagon" of the radiator grille and sections of additional lighting equipment on the sides (although, if in the "top" versions - the optics are completely LED, then in " base "it is noticeably simpler - and the head light in this case is located below).
In profile, the five-door is distinguished by a raised body with angular shapes, a short hood and a sharply chopped off stern, and the take-off window sill line, the "floating" roof and the embossed flourishes of the wheel arches add expressiveness and dynamism to its appearance. The stylish rear of the car is decorated with spectacular boomerang lanterns with three-dimensional "stuffing", a curly trunk lid and a "puffy" bumper.
It is worth noting that the third-generation Soul is also offered in a "sporty" version of the GT Line, the hallmarks of which are more aggressive bumpers, red accents on the body and a twin exhaust.
Size and weight
The subcompact crossover reaches 4195 mm in length, does not exceed 1800 mm in width, and 1610 mm in height (including the roof rails - 1625 mm). The wheelbase of the car is 2600 mm, and its ground clearance is 180 mm (for the GT Line version - 10 mm lower).
The curb weight of the five-door varies from 1300 to 1412 kg (depending on the modification).
Interior
The salon of the "third" Kia Soul looks beautiful, modern, soundly and quite solid, and even boasts a good level of workmanship and mostly high-quality finishing materials.
Directly in front of the driver there is a stylish three-spoke multi-steering wheel and a laconic instrument cluster with main dials and a colored (in the initial versions - monochrome) "window" of the on-board computer between them. The expressive center console carries a 10.25-inch touchscreen for the infotainment center and an exemplary air conditioning unit with a pair of large washers. It should be noted that in the "medium" configurations a media system with a 7-inch screen is installed, and in the most accessible - a simple radio tape recorder with a 3.8-inch monochrome display.
The front riders in the car are assigned normal seats with an unobtrusive side profile, rigid filler and wide adjustment ranges (from the driver's side - including height), and in the "top" versions - also with a servo drive, heating and ventilation.
On the second row there is a comfortable three-seater sofa, a sufficient supply of free space and a minimum amount of amenities (a pocket in the back of the passenger seat, a USB socket and a folding armrest).
The third-generation Kia Soul trunk boasts a well-shaped opening, but a very modest volume - only 364 liters with a five-seat layout. The backrest of the rear sofa folds down (in the ratio "2: 3") with a slight rise into the passenger compartment, which increases the storage compartment up to 1388 liters. In a niche under the raised floor there is a "dock" and a jack, without any organizers.
Specifications
On the Russian market, Soul of the third incarnation is offered with three four-cylinder petrol units to choose from:
- By default, the engine compartment is filled with an aluminum "aspirated" MPI G4FG with a displacement of 1.6 liters with a distributed fuel injection, an intake tract of variable length, phase shifters at the inlet and outlet and a 16-valve timing belt of the DOHC type, developing 123 horsepower at 6300 rpm and 151 Nm of torque at 4850 rpm.
- More powerful versions are equipped with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated Nu MPI engine with a lightweight block with an offset crankshaft relative to the cylinder axis, a multi-point "power" system, a low-noise 16-valve timing chain, a plastic intake manifold with variable geometry and infinitely variable valve timing at the inlet and outlet which generates 150 hp. at 6200 rpm and 192 Nm of peak thrust at 4000 rpm.
- The GT Line version is armed with a 1.6-liter T-GDI engine with an aluminum block and cylinder head, phase shifters at the inlet and outlet, a turbocharger combined with an exhaust manifold, direct fuel injection and a 16-valve timing belt, producing 200 hp. at 6000 rpm and 265 Nm of torque at 4500 rpm.
All engines are combined exclusively with a front-wheel drive transmission, but the 123-horsepower version works together with a 6-speed "mechanics" or a 6-band hydromechanical "automatic", the 150-horsepower relies exclusively on an automatic transmission, while the "turbo four" is joined with 7 -step "robot" with a pair of dry multi-plate clutches.
Speed, dynamics and consumption
From standstill to 100 km / h, the subcompact crossover accelerates after 7.8-12 seconds, and its maximum speed "rests" at 180-205 km / h.
In the combined cycle of movement, the car "drinks" on average from 6.9 to 8.0 liters of fuel for each "hundred" of the run, depending on the modification.
Design features
The third "release" of the Kia Soul is built on a modular "bogie" called the K2 with a transverse engine. The five-door has a monocoque body, which consists of 70.1% high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel grades.
An independent MacPherson-type suspension is installed on the front axle of the crossover, and a semi-independent architecture with a torsion beam (in both cases with anti-roll bars) is installed on the rear axle.
The car is equipped with a rack-and-pinion steering system with an active electromechanical power steering, mounted on the steering shaft. All wheels of the SUV are equipped with disc brakes (ventilated at the front).
Options and prices
On the Russian market, the third generation Kia Soul is offered in seven equipment levels to choose from - Classic, Comfort, Luxe, Prestige, Premium, GT Line and Premium +.
A car in the basic configuration with a 123-horsepower "aspirated" and a manual transmission costs at least 1,029,900 rubles, while the surcharge for an "automatic" is 60,000 rubles. As standard, it is equipped with: six airbags, 16-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, ABS, ESP, four power windows, an audio system with six columns, ERA-GLONASS technology, electric drive and heated mirrors, a light sensor and some other options.
An SUV with a 2.0-liter unit (starting with the "Luxe" version) cannot be bought for less than 1,259,900 rubles, for the "sporty" version of the GT Line you will have to pay at least 1,629,900 rubles, while the "top" version will cost from 1 649 900 rubles.
The most "sophisticated" car in the Premium + configuration has in its arsenal: dual-zone climate control, leather trim, heated front and rear seats, all-LED optics, 18-inch alloy wheels, a media center with a 10.25-inch screen, keyless entry and engine start , front and rear parking sensors, steering wheel and windshield heating, adaptive cruise control, Harman / Kardon audio system, sunroof, blind spot monitoring, front seat ventilation and other "gadgets".
