TAKE CARE OF THE CELLS
For more than six years that the first “Soul” lasted on the market, I did not have a chance to drive it - and I am only now getting my first acquaintance with the retiring car. Its interior is good: a neat panel made of hard, but two-color plastic. Expanse in the shoulders and above the head. Good quality chairs - decorated with checkered fabric. The doors are decorated with the same checkered inserts. The grayish interiors of many modern cars lack this lightness.
I'm straining my memory. Apart from the emphatically image-conscious Fiat 500, Mini and Smart, there are not many hatchbacks on our market with bold notes in the interior. The only things that come to mind are the Golf GTI with its signature cage and ball gear lever, the Renault RS line with yellow seat belts and the Citroens DS series, surprising with a truly extravagant interior. Can you continue this list right away?
Kia Soul - technical characteristics and equipment of the car
The 1st generation Kia Soul restyling vehicle received 5 stars for its safety system. Thus, the developers have implemented Euro NCAP, which is considered automatic enrollment in some of the safest and coolest B-class cars. Among other characteristics that cannot be ignored are:
- The trunk volume reaches 340 liters, and if you fold the rear seats in the car, it can be increased to 818 liters;
- curb weight is 1245 kilograms (a lot depends on the modification model);
- the weight and capacity of the tank is 48 liters, which is quite a lot;
- number of seats inside the cabin – 5;
- the power reserve is from 510 to 800 kilometers;
- the maximum speed is 177 kilometers per hour in 11.5 seconds to hundreds of kilometers in 60 minutes;
- the car has a six-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual transmission;
- the turning circle of the car is 10.6 meters;
- the length of the car is 4120 millimeters, the width is 1785 millimeters, and the height is 1610 millimeters;
- the front wheel track is 1570 millimeters, and the rear wheel track is 1587 mm;
- the permissible weight criterion is equal to 1710 kilograms, and the carrying capacity is 445 kilograms;
- independent suspension was introduced together with MacPherson struts on a spring system with anti-roll bar;
- the rear suspension is semi-independent with a hydraulic element, a shock absorber with a spring system;
- The front brake system is disc and ventilated, but the rear brake system is disc only.
The car is equipped with all the necessary security systems, and also has an audio system, climate control and other additional devices.
THIRST WITHOUT SPEED
One of the most striking interior details of the new Soul is the Start/Stop button, placed next to the machine lever. Now you don’t need to feel it somewhere under the steering wheel: when the trip is over and the automatic selector is switched to “parking”, your fingers seem to slide down on their own, turning off the 1.6-liter engine. But I still have a long way to go! And I press the button to wake up 124 forces a.
I was not mistaken. The engine here is the same as on the Soul of the 2008 model year, but it was derated by 5 hp. The maximum torque has become more modest by 5 newton meters (152 N∙m). Minor loss? Oddly enough, it is noticeable not only for the measuring equipment, but also for the more or less active driver, accustomed to using the full potential of the engine.
New Kia Soul versus old: hospitable soul
Review of Kia Soul 1.6 CRDI (2009)
I decided to completely rewrite the review taking into account the first maintenance and so that it would not be perceived as advertising, I provided the text with sarcastic excerpts from online reviews and test drives about Soul (italics).
Assessing the advantages and disadvantages of Soul, he wanted to consider them in relationship: after all, for example, a compact car can have either a large trunk or a large interior. And I would replace the shortcomings with “features” that need to be taken into account.
By the way, one significant drawback has been identified so far - the weakness of the paintwork.
Exterior
“Forehead muzzle. Unusual, memorable appearance, unusual, bordering on strangeness.”
One morning Mike Torpey (Kia Design Center, www.kiasoul.com/#/design) saw a documentary about wild boars. Inspired by the television picture, Torpey suddenly thought that the boar would look much better... with a backpack, which he reflected in his sketches for creating a new crossover, presenting them the very next day.
The exterior of the Kia Soul was developed at Kia's California design workshop in Irvine (USA). But the “filling” comes from Korea, and both Kia and Hyundai models served as its donors. For example, the suspension parts - front and rear - are from the Hyundai i20. The engines are from Kia cee'd... But everything else is one and only.
Soul's unusualness proves the following:
- in America the body type is defined as “hatchback”
- in Europe the body type is defined as a microvan
- on the Russian-language Internet I also saw a subcompact van, a minivan and a crossover
- In my contract it is generally stated... “station wagon”
Well, some very flattering definitions:
- 5-door SUV of the “K1” class (kia.infocar.com.ua)
- front-wheel drive 5-seater SUV (auto.ironhorse.ru)
Appearance , of course, is a subjective matter, and you have to see it in person, but for skeptics, I note that Soul became the first Korean car to receive several design awards, including the world famous Red Dot Design Award. And most recently it entered the TOP-3 in the category “Best Automotive Design” (World Car Design of the Year 2010).
Salon/Interior
“After an extravagant appearance, you feel a little deceived”
Before this, I had even simpler cars, so I’m happy with everything about the interior. And given the quality of the plastic, I just don’t touch it again)
“five people can fit in the cabin without loss of dignity”
There is plenty of space in the cabin, especially for rear passengers, which always causes outright surprise.
“Soul has a window sill instead of a trunk.”
Somewhere it arrived, somewhere it departed. The volume of the Soul trunk is often criticized, although its volume according to the SAE method (loading to the ceiling) is 546 liters (maximum with the seats folded down - 1511).
Suspension
“All-wheel drive doesn’t even smell like it”
“on uneven road surfaces it literally shook the soul out of each of us”
Rigidity is noticeable on roads with poor surfaces and most often at high speeds.
But there is almost no roll, traveling long distances does not cause a feeling of motion sickness; oncoming air flows do not have a significant effect on Soul.
Visibility
As already noted, the Soul’s body is very durable, so it is clear that it cannot be done without massive racks. This requires adaptation and increased attention when turning. Well, I had to solve the problem of reverse visibility by installing a camera - the dead zone below is too large, which is dangerous, for example, when driving in courtyards.
Handling and dynamics
“Kia Soul is an image car, so it’s more important how it looks than how it drives”
The steering is adaptive, i.e. understands what you are doing and at what speed. The steering wheel begins to become noticeably heavy after 60-70 mph, making frivolous actions difficult, and in parking lots it spins at once.
“At low speeds it doesn’t care about the aerodynamics of the brick, but already at 130 kilometers per hour you feel that the car is starting to rest against an air wall.”
Personally, I did not notice any problems accelerating to 160 km/h on good highways.
“If you try further intensive acceleration, then the “pre-infarction” state of the engine is obvious: it makes a lot of noise”
But then the acceleration is already very strained.
It should be noted that I am an average average driver and Soul’s handling and dynamics suit me quite well.
But still, the first thing I did immediately after the purchase was to go out for my own personal test drive in the winter and make sure that the exchange rate stability systems kept the Soul stably on the road even on summer tires, no skidding! But in some situations, my good old Renault here turned across the road, my soul was sinking into my heels. Soul is also stable at speed when one half is driving on asphalt and the other on snow (12 sec video): https://www.youtube.com/v/CKLdphDNgV8
You almost never get tired of traveling - precise control + cruise + stiff suspension. This suspension is very good on highways; bad roads and dirt roads have to be avoided, or the speed must be greatly reduced.
"Soul jumps like hell in a frying pan"
On good roads, Soul goes like a tank, the speed is not noticeable at all, but on secondary roads there is a limit for acceleration, since it becomes difficult to keep the galloping Soul on the road. It overcomes mud very well, the main thing is not to stop.
That's why I don't like to let Soul go off-road. But it turned out to be easy to overcome a dirty, bumpy forest road with unpredictable elevation changes in a car with optimal ground clearance (164), small overhangs and a short wheelbase coupled with an automatic transmission. And how all sorts of sedans and cars with manuals “suffered” here - all the time you have to drive with the clutch half-depressed and, accordingly, there is a risk of slipping, or you have to thoroughly “scratch your belly” or bend the muffler (by the way, in Soul it is in the hollow).
“When you sharply press the accelerator pedal, the car thinks for half an hour, but then it rushes along with the tenacity of a steam locomotive!”
This is probably about kickdown. There is thoughtfulness for a second or two, but you can adapt to it.
Corrosion resistance
An inspection of the body after the first winter did not reveal any problems, with the exception of a mysterious treatment of the bottom: everything was covered except for the tunnel under the exhaust pipe (see photo).
Noise insulation
The Soul is positioned as a city car and for the city, the noise insulation, in my opinion, is tolerable. The noise becomes disturbing on poor surfaces, in the rain and at speeds above 80 km/h.
I performed minimal sound insulation on the wheel arches, floor, sides and trunk (without the ceiling and doors). Now everything is fine. Except in heavy rain and hail, the cabin feels like you are under fire.
Features of winter operation
I had no problems at -26. Once again I used the fuel preheating system. And for comfort and confidence, on frosty days I set the alarm to start automatically every 4 hours for 15 minutes - the car is always warm and the engine is ready! I am completely satisfied with the directional stability systems. The only thing to avoid lying on your guard is to be careful when starting in the snow. The instructions recommend turning off ESP and using the gas pedal carefully.
Air conditioner
We can say that it is not for nothing that the installed air conditioner is called “Climate Control System” in the description for Soul, since it is almost climate control. The only difference is that you cannot accurately set the desired temperature and humidity - this is done by eye. There is also an automatic window defogging system - the air conditioner turns on automatically when all the air flow is directed towards the windows (even in winter).
Safety - “5 stars” EuroNCAP
+ the body structure includes programmed deformation zones
+ special reinforcement beams are installed in the doors to protect against side impacts
+ in the cabin – a damping steering column and a system for attaching child seats
+ airbags all around
+ active head restraints
+ stability control systems
Therefore, when assessing the “increased” cost of Soul, one should take into account not only the extraordinary appearance, but also the highest level of safety.
Tool kit and spare wheel
It should be taken into account that the Soul has a stowage wheel, and not a full-size spare wheel.
I also understood why experienced car enthusiasts have a “normal” wheel wrench. The original one, as it turned out, is not enough to easily change the wheels after winter. I had to buy a FORCE sliding wheel wrench.
Mixed Consumption (I consider it a cumulative total, 70-80% - city):
- Winter - 9.3;
- Spring - 8.7;
- Now - 8
Passed TO-1 (15 thousand) at the official KIA service, cost - $230.
So, Soul can be mistaken for a crossover, so you can show off!
This is the main feature of this hatchback - an extraordinary appearance with a claim to respectability and at the same time
— quite economical in terms of fuel consumption and budgetary in terms of payments for volume (1.6)
- with excellent starting dynamics in the city, and on the highway the dynamics are not bad when using kickdown
What was added:
- Alarm system with auto start and turbo timer
- Rear View Camera
- Noise insulation
- Crankcase protection
- EGR deflectors for windows and hood
- Increased mudguards, trunk lighting
Friends who carried out noise insulation work noted the quality of the assembly, and also said that the battery installed in Soul could well last for 7 years.
