New Kia Soul for 2012

The Kia Soul has had an overhaul for the 2012 model year, with increased performance and lowered fuel consumption from new or revised 1.6 litre engines, as well as the introduction of a six speed gearbox as standard.

The new Kia Soul will be available as Soul 1 and Soul 2, as well as two ‘Soul Originals’ special versions with unique styling and trim, the Hunter and Quantum.

For 2012, the Soul benefits from a sportier exterior, including revised grilles, lights, front bodywork and wheels. A new bumper with a wider lower air intake gives it a wider stance.

At 4120mm long, all new versions of the Soul are 15mm longer than before to accommodate the new powertrains under the bonnet.

The Kia Soul 1 features body-coloured door handles and mirrors and a top-tinted windscreen. The Soul 2 sees new front foglight surrounds, 16 inch alloy wheels and folding electric door mirrors complete with indicator repeaters.

The interior benefits from a redesigned centre fascia, centre console and gearshifter. The Kia Soul 2 sees the addition of a new luminous ‘Soul Shine’ cloth. For the Kia Soul Hunter, the interior is trimmed in black or beige. The Kia Soul Quantum is trimmed in black leather.

The Kia Soul is powered by two 1.6 litre engines – a new direct-injection (GDi) petrol unit developing 138hp – up 14hp on the previous 1.6-litre – and a modified 126hp turbodiesel (CRDi). The five speed transmission is replaced with a six-speed manual gearbox; the CRDi engine can be specified with a six-speed automatic.

CO2 emissions are down on the diesel manual by 8g/km to 129g/km.

Enhanced safety features of the 2012 Kia Soul include Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC).

The Kia Soul Originals now include metallic paint, LED daytime running lights, an uprated eight-speaker stereo system with external amplifier and boot-mounted subwoofer, heated door mirrors and privacy glass to the rear windows and tailgate. Cruise control is standard on automatic versions and will be available for manual versions.

The Kia Soul Hunter adds 18 inch wheels, an electrically operated sunroof and a colour reversing camera, displaying inside the rear view mirror when reverse is engaged. The Hunter is available in Olive Green metallic, with a beige and tartan interior, or Moonlight Blue metallic with black and black tartan upholstery.

The Kia Soul Quantum is only available in Titanium Silver metallic, and features 18 inch black five-spoke alloy wheels, piano black bumper inserts and chrome exterior door handles. The interior benefits from black leather upholstery, heated front seats, climate control and reverse parking sensors.

See Kia Soul for sale.