Kia All New Soul

In the previous model, the Kia Soul (쏘울) is one heck of a boxy crossover which tries to blend into the urban atmosphere from its spunky character within and as years gone by, it's still more of a spunky character but having been around for five long years, the Soul has been totally transformed for its first ever full model change and here it is...

2014 Kia Soul

Well, here it is and I can't say whether if this full model change really is refreshing or revolting but generally, it feels a bit more revolting than refreshing and judging by its looks, the new generation Soul took some further inspiration from the Trackster Concept from the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. I'm not so sure why but I think the new model tries to be more of an acceptable part of the clique if it got any. The big science question is...what's new for the "All New Soul"?

2014 Kia Soul

Like I told, the new Soul took some styling cues from the Trackster Concept, giving this compact crossover more spunky than the previous model and when it comes to banana milk fandoms and K-Pop fandoms, you can't really tell the difference. Personalization aside, the new Soul can now be available with some stylish two-tone coloring and as for the available 18-inch wheels, they can be colored in either gray, red, or black. Here's a fast tip; if you're going in yellow, don't go for red. It won't win you many friends.

On the inside, well, things really shaken up a little because the new interior looks more conservative and more clique-friendly than the old model and getting in and out isn't much of a fuss unless they're on the right settings.

The new Soul features next-generation UVO infotainment system which comes with a smartphone app that provides new levels of connected car telematics, a suite of new safety and security features, navigation, infotainment, and so much more. The new UVO really made the new Soul aimed squarely on today's millennials and with UVO, there's so much you can do with it such as using your smartphone as a car key and when some nasty thieves stole your Soul, UVO's got your back.

2014 Kia Soul interior

One thing you will notice on the all new model is the Advanced SPAS (Smart Parking Assist System). This next-generation parking safety system uses some sort of witchcraft to detect parking spaces and in case you don't know how to park your car by yourself, the new Advanced SPAS can park either parallel or now reverse by itself hands-free. This is just like the episode when Jeremy Clarkson demonstrates the Cee-Apostrophe-D's SPAS on a parking space. Silly, sinister, but true. You could just finish changing up your clothes just before this Soul's parked by itself. Clever, isn't it?

2014 Kia Soul interior

The new Soul is available in two engine types available and be warned Filipinos, you can't have them because one: GDi engines don't work on Philippine soil and two: doesn't work in a Euro 2 country in the Philippines. Yep, the All New Soul features a 1.6L GDi petrol engine that generates 132PS of power and the 1.6L VGT diesel EcoDynamics engine churning 128PS of power. In the diesel model, bearing the EcoDynamics banner, it comes with Idle Stop and Go function which cuts the engine off when stopped and then starts it again when setting off, to save fuel. Rule of thumb though, you can't have it because of the fuel issues you're facing now, Filipinos. The 1.6L GDi engine doesn't work on dirty Philippine fuel, especially the ones with manganese on it, while the 1.6L VGT engine doesn't work in the Philippines because this engine is Euro V compliant and not compatible in a Euro 2 country like the Philippines. You have been warned. Questions on that?

Pricing? Get this, the new model starts at 14,450,000 Korean Won so that makes it more of a fair value than Nissan's very own bet, the Juke. Just to tell you, while these two are catastrophically ugly, the Soul is much more fair than the Juke and unlike the Juke which relies on bland XTRONIC CVT, the Soul is mated with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed auto so therefore more engaging to drive than the Juke. However, when it comes to their fun-to-drive factor, both of them will never get the nod because judging by their performance figures, they're just too...regular.

So there you go, if you want a compact crossover but don't have the budget to buy a Juke, get yourself a new Soul. May not be good looking at first but it's more than enough to bring your friends for a road trip, just to let you know.

Available colors: Electronic Green, Acid Green, Toffee, Inferno Red, Mustard, New Vanilla Shake, New Vanilla Shake Two-Tone Roof, Newport Blue, Newport Blue Two-Tone Roof, Clear White, Clear White Two-Tone Roof, Clear White Red Zone Package, Bright Silver, Titanium Silver, and Cherry Black.

Photo: Kia Motors