Road Review: KIA Soul 1.6 DSL Smart 2016

There’s a lot in a name. It’s your identity, your defining feature. Thankfully KIA got it spot on with the littlest SUV, the KIA Soul. Your soul is your very essence. So you have to have a lot of confidence in your product if it’s going to boast the ‘Soul’ nameplate.

KIA can’t seem to do anything wrong at the moment. Its products are top-notch and inspiring to drive, with good build quality which is pushing them into the premium market and against tough opposition who are not used to an attack from below.

So let’s take a look at KIA’s Soul. Having won a variety of awards both locally and globally, the car looks funky, as the designers refined what you can do with a ‘cube’. The upright body begins with the now familiar tiger-nose front grille that distinctly highlights its KIA DNA.

This generation KIA Soul has been around for some time now and has won critical applause from consumers. Those who own it, love it. But what makes our test mule, which we spent a week with, that much more appealing is the newly added dual clutch gearbox that is paired to the oilburning engine.

Heading out onto the streets in our new KIA Soul 1.6 AT DSL Smart, the powertrain gives strong pull and is pleasant to drive. The 94kW/260Nm of power and torque is sufficient to shuffle the Soul along, my only gripe was the heavy turbo-lag lowdown can influence your decision to turn quickly at an intersection.

The new DCT gearbox in the KIA Soul is smooth and shifting is effortless. While it’s new and revolutionary for the Korean brand, it is something that has existed in the industry for a while between German brands – but rarely outside of it.

I welcomed the new technology with open arms. It somehow adds to the already well rounded package but more than that it, this new gearbox will do remarkable things for the brand’s future. We’re confident the next generation KIA Sportage (due late this year) will be equipped with the same setup which will be the catalyst for that faint touch of sportiness that it hasn’t quite achieved before.

It’s a perfect everyday vehicle that’s easy to live with. From the sexy styling that resonates with me, to the stylishly fresh lay out of the cabin. Offering spaciousness and practicality, it will suit most lifestyles from the adventure junky to the young family or even the trendy businessman. You’ll be surprised just how refined this vehicle is and the new transmission merely adds to the package.