The Kia Soul is a car that made a name for itself with the help of a crew of anthropomorphic hamsters. They could be seen rolling around town, pumping the bass, crashing an opera, and doing whatever else bipedal hamsters with an ad deal for the trendiest compact SUV are wont to do. This year, they slimmed down to introduce the new, streamlined version of their costar, the 2014 Soul.
Car and Driver recently took the 2014 Soul on a road test, and they report that while the hamsters have lost weight, the Soul has shown a marginal gain on the scale, coinciding with a slight increase in the size of its frame. This allows for a more spacious ride in a much more luxurious interior. With the update, the Soul finally looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside. There are options for leather upholstery in the front and back, replete with heated and ventilated seats. You can also build your Soul with an 8-inch LCD touch display in the center console and a 4-inch LCD display on the instruments panel.
This year’s version of the Soul also offers a 2.0-liter direct-inject engine paired with a six-speed automatic, which clocks in at 164 horsepower and a 23/31 mpg fuel economy. Even if you don’t notice much change under the hood, you’re definitely in for a much smoother ride. Improvements to the Soul’s chassis and suspension will keep you from noticing those bumps in the road, and Car and Driver also notes how much quieter the driving experience is. The new FlexSteer power steering system also makes the 2014 Soul a very nimble creature.
All in all, the 2014 Kia Soul is a fun car that matches its lighthearted ad campaign. To read more, check out the full results of the road test at Car and Driver. If you have any questions about the 2014 Soul, leave us a comment, email us at comments@leithmail.com, or talk to our team at Leith Autopark Kia.