Those relegated to the rear will not feel hard done to, since only the tallest basketball player is going to feel closed in. With the driver's seat set so that I was comfortable in the front, I climbed into the back and found that from head to toe, I had more than enough room to fit comfortably.

Driving
Driving the Soul was quite a bit different than I expected. The upright driving position and large (from the inside) glass area meant that I could see virtually everything around me, and since the mirrors were large and easily adjusted, I was able to eliminate all the blind spots around me. This makes planning your moves in city traffic much easier. The other part of the equation for easy city driving is the engine and the 2.0-litre four rose to the task. The only thing I had to do was make sure the manual five-speed was in the right gear when I pushed the pedal down.

If I didn't happen to be in the right gear, it was easy enough to get there because shifting was buttery smooth. I tried several times to botch the shift and only once was I able to notice any vagueness at all in going up or down through the gears. A couple of times I even neglected to used the clutch. Again, buttery smooth shifts without protest.

The other part of the equation for easy city driving is the engine and the 2.0-litre.

Highway driving was equally easy, but with 142 horsepower to call on, being in the right gear to get out and by someone on a two-lane road was very important. If you were on a multi-lane road, then all that was needed was to turn on the blinker and go by because the Soul can cruise comfortably at any speed you feel appropriate.

Suspension
Kia puts a sport-tuned suspension on the top-line 4u version and I have to admit that I didn't notice much difference in the way the front MacPherson struts behaved, nor how the rear twist beam axle stayed behind the front when compared to the standard suspension. What I did notice is that the ride quality didn't deteriorate into a kidney-jarring endurance campaign. This suspension does improve already good handling and it still makes the Soul a great daily driver.

If you want to be an individual, the new Soul along with its extensive list of dealer installed equipment will fit your lifestyle with fun and practicality.


Photo Credit : Charles Renny