INSIDE
Inside, a good mix of materials with a protruding center stack (reminiscent of the Volkswagen New Beetle) offer a good use of space. The glove box is huge, but the flat-folding rear seats and underfloor cargo tray are where the Soul earns practicality points. The rear underfloor tray is deep and large, and likely able to accommodate a shoebox at its center. Below the tray sits a spare tire.
Practicality is good for its class despite its diminutive exterior dimensions. It doesn’t look it, but the Soul is shorter than both the Dodge Caliber and Suzuki SX4. It feels more spacious inside than either, and although with the rear seats up there’s only space for two carry-ons, with the seats down it rivals the Toyota Matrix for cargo space.
See also:
A Little More Space, a Lot Better Access
Although more than a few C/D staffers would choose the Forte hatch over the
sedan based on looks alone, increased cargo capacity and easier access to your
stuff are in the pros column, too. The Fo ...
Driving
The Kia is available with 2.0-litre or 2.7-litre V6 petrol engines, but we
prefer the 2.0-litre turbodiesel. There's a fair amount of diesel clatter at
idle, but once on the move it delivers power ...
Manual transaxle
Manual transaxle operation
The manual transaxle has five forward
gears.
Press the clutch pedal down fully while
shifting, then release it slowly.
The gearshift lever must be returned to
the ne ...