So what do you think of Kia's new Soul? Great name, no? I saw the production version in São Paulo, Brazil, at the largest

Kia will customize its Soul, as shown here at the São Paulo Auto Show. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

auto show in the South American region last month, and the Soul was a major hit there, as the concept was when I watched it roll onto the Kia stage in Frankfurt the year before, and Detroit's North American International Auto Show in 2006, where I took in its official debut. 

Hardly changed from concept form, it's really the ideal car for the current market situation. Compact, yet extremely roomy inside for five in comfort, with a little luggage to boot, thrifty on fuel yet apparently sporty enough to be enjoyable on the open road, and extremely stylish in its cubic configuration. Still, it's unfair to dub it a “cube” as it's more gracefully penned than the Nissan that goes by that boxy name, and much more alluring than the Scion XBOX… er… xB, or Honda's rather odd Element. No, while totally cool in its own right, I think that the Soul will attract a wide range of buyers from all over the spectrum, and not just among the young and hip crowd. It makes sense, really. The same attributes that make a vehicle attractive to ski and surf minded

Here is Kia's Soul Concept rolling across the stage during the LA media days in 2007. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

young adults make it ideal for empty nesters hitting the nursery (horticultural nursery… of course) on weekends or picking up the grandkids for a day at the cottage.

“The Soul is for those who love individuality but don't like to be categorized by finding the next best thing,” offered Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA.  “Indicative of the new design direction of KMA, Soul is an attractive and customizable vehicle for those looking for something with a little more personality than other vehicles on the market today.”

I've taken the opportunity to sit inside and look around at the various auto shows the Soul has shown up at, and it offers stylish seating fabrics complementing its bright, fun exterior colours, while a clean, uncluttered dash ensconces attractive three-dial instrumentation and LCD illumination. A stylish floating centre

Cool looking Soul lives up to its name. (Photo: Kia)

stack design shows off a straight-forward, simple to operate HVAC system and high-grade stereo interface.

That audio system gets an AM/FM/CD/MP3 head unit enhanced with satellite radio, plus USB input jacks can be found in the centre stack with full iPod controllability through the stereo or via the steering wheel controls. Now, that's what I like. Even better, an Audio Upgrade Package can be had on top-trim levels that adds a centre speaker, a subwoofer and a 315-watt external amplifier. Ooh, I like this even more. Good audio is the way to my heart, and pocketbook, unfortunately.

The more powerful stereo can only be had in the two nicest trim levels, Soul! and Soul

Upright rear profile allows for great stowage space. (Photo: Kia)

sport (lower case intentional). The little compact people mover is available in two other trims too, mind you, the base model simply designated Soul and the second-rung version Soul+. Even in base guise it gets plenty of standard features, including black door handles and side mirrors, body-coloured bumpers, a rear wiper/washer and 15-inch steel wheels wrapped in P195/65R15 tires. Not a bad start. A little more money will get you a Soul+, which adds keyless remote entry, solar glass, privacy glass on the rear side and rear windows, body-colour handles and power side mirrors along with 16-inch alloy rims covered in P205/55R16 rubber. The Soul+ also boasts standard air conditioning, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and tweeter speakers to enhance the stereo's sound. Soul+ buyers can opt for an audio upgrade package, a

Message boards and forums are filled with people wanting to get their hands on the first Souls to hit Kia dealers. (Photo: Kia)

power moonroof and floor mats that are standard on the Soul! Additionally, that third-rung Soul! gets fog lights, 18-inch alloy wheels riding on P225/45R18 tires, plus it benefits from a special beige and black interior with cloth seats and metal-finish accents. The abovementioned audio option can be added on, and is also extra with the Soul sport which additionally ups the ante with a sport-tuned suspension, metal foot pedals, red and black interior trim with sport cloth seats and metal-finish accents throughout, extended side sills, a rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels and unique front and rear fascias. It's the ultimate in Korean Soul.

I mentioned that it seats five, which is hardly unusual, but Kia's put together a truly flexible seating and storage system that should intrigue buyers. The seats fold in a variety of ways for optimizing people and cargo carrying duties,

Kia serves up a fresh and unique interior design... (Photo: Kia)

the rearmost split 60/40, while the car features fourteen “storage zones” for stowing all of your knickknacks.

Kia introduced the Soul to North America at the Los Angeles auto show, not far from where it was initially designed, and again it stole the hearts of show goers. The metallic green colour chosen for the photo release that preceded its LA intro is more subdued than Kia has shown other markets, although it is expected a full palette will be available wherever it is sold.

While it was previously reported that the North American Soul would deliver more power than the base models of other markets with only the 140+horsepower 2.0-litre four-cylinder being offered, fuel efficiency has been given top priority and a 120-horsepower 1.6-litre four will be the standard engine in the base five-speed manual-equipped model. Soul+, Soul! and Soul sport

.... with the sport model cool enough to rival a Mini Cooper. (Photo: Kia)

models will get the peppier powerplant, which should also deliver thrifty mileage in the neighbourhood of 7.8 L/100 km (30 mpg). Additionally, a five-speed manual will be standard equipment, with a four-speed automatic optional. I've tried similar powertrain combinations in other Kia models, and the 2.0-litre makes for sporty performance and thrifty fuel economy, while the latter should be more than adequate for those more price sensitive.

Rather than build the Soul on an existing platform, Kia has developed an all-new front-drive architecture with an especially long wheelbase for optimizing interior room. It measures 2,550 mm (100.4 inches) wheel to wheel, while the entire car stretches 4,105 mm (161.6 inches) in length. It's also 1,786 mm (70.3 inches) wide and 1,610 mm (63.4 inches) tall.

With a long wheelbase, the concern would always be torsional rigidity, or the lack thereof. Kia offset this problem with more than seventy-percent high-tensile steel, for maintaining overall structural strength without adding weight,

No problem getting connected in the Soul. (Photo: Kia)

so the handling, ride quality and overall refinement is good, as is crash worthiness.

Such safety concerns can be left curbside as over and above its rigid body structure the Soul will be well prepared for any potential accident. Each model, regardless of trim level gets front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).  What's more, ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESC), and rear discs are standard on Soul+, Soul! and Soul sport models. The base Soul gets drums.

A car's handling, making it capable of avoiding an accident in the first place, can often be its most important safety consideration. On that note, the Soul mounts a fully independent suspension setup on a front sub-frame, with MacPherson struts and coil springs that should deliver good response to steering

Loads of room for people and cargo... it's the ideal car for our economically challenged age. (Photo: Kia)

input. In the rear, a sub-frame is the basis for a transverse torsion beam axle with trailing arms, optimizing ride quality and maximizing the cargo area.

Hauling things in mind, Kia will offer a number of OEM-backed add-ons available at the dealer level so that Soul customers can personalize their vehicles. Items include the usual stuff that a Scion dealer would offer its xB customers, such as aerodynamic body kits and exterior garnishes that Kia calls Soul Essentials, plus roof rails, an exterior cargo box, two different bike carriers, a ski rack, various floor mats, a cargo mat, car net, trailer hitch, sunroof visor, and many more typical accessory items. But then there are a few oddities like an SUV-like roof-top basket, like something off of Land Rover Defender, a stylish red and silver engine shroud, a B-pillar appliqué, and body decals. Performance accessories can be had from the dealer level too, such as anti-sway bars, lowering springs, a cold air intake system, chromed cat back exhaust system, billet aluminum oil cap, aluminum fuel door, a set of aluminum foot pedals, and wheels of course, in silver and black plus red and black designs. The accessories shown are exclusive to Canada, although other markets should get similar options.

The Soul is expected to arrive in Kia dealerships across the country in the spring of 2009, with the South Korean brand hoping to attract an entirely new type of customer, in similar fashion to how Toyota widened its reach with Scion. Expect to see a lot of Souls on the streets next year, as it's the right kind of car for the times, combining great styling, endless personalization options, excellent fuel economy and no shortage of interior room for all your gear, all for a price that is bound to lure in would-be buyers.

Preliminary Specifications (2010 Kia Soul):

• Body Type: 5-door liftback
• Layout: front engine, FWD
• Base Engine (est.): 120-hp, 115 lb-ft of torque, 1.6L, 16-valve DOHC I-4
• Opt. Engine (est.): 140-hp, 136 lb-ft of torque, 2.0L, 16-valve DOHC I-4
• Transmission: 5-spd manual (opt. 4-spd auto)
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/drum (opt. disc/disc ABS, EBD, traction and stability control)
• Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 4,105 / 1,786 / 1,610 / 2,550 mm (161.6 / 70.3 / 63.4 / 100.4 in)
• Curb Weight (est.): 1,428 kg (3,150 lbs)
• Tires: P195/65R15 (opt. P205/55R16; P225/45R18)
• Capacity (trunk/folded): TBA
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy): TBA
• Warranty (mo/km): 60/100,000 comprehensive
• Competitors: Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Element, Mazda5, Nissan Cube, Scion xB
• Website: www.kia.ca