Kia announces MY12 Soul

Despite its funky appearance, the Soul only made it into 11 homes in October, so this MY12 upgrade sees some changes that are hoped to make it more appealing to consumers.

An all-new 2.0-litre MPI engine makes an appearance in the Soul and offers 122kW of power and 200Nm of torque, bringing the Soul engine offering up to three engines.

The other two engines available in the Soul range are the 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol Mu engine that produces 95kW and 157Nm of torque (up 4kW since the introduction Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT)) and a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine that produces 94kW and 240Nm of torque.

Two new transmissions are also available in Soul. A six-speed manual now replaces the five-speed manual and a six-speed automatic retires the outgoing four-speed automatic.

Two trim levels are available, the Soul and the Soul+. The Soul features 15-inch steel wheels, 195/65 R15 tyres, six airbags, MDPS steering with rake and reach adjustable wheel, stability control with vehicle stability management and Hillstart Assist Control, 6-function trip computer, 6-speaker audio, seatbelt reminders, streaming Bluetooth and keyless entry with folding key. The Soul is only available with the 1.6-litre Mu engine.

Soul+ turns things up a notch with 18-inch alloys with 225/45 R18 tyres, front fog lamps, luggage cover, roof rails and driver’s seat height adjustment. Soul+ comes with the option of the new 2.0-litre MPI engine or the 1.6-litre turbocharged diesel engine.

Minor design revisions include larger fog lamps (because they're a necessity for enhanced street-cred), a revised front grille, new designed 18-inch alloy wheels and a revised rear bumper.

Pricing starts from $21,490 for the six-speed manual Soul and $23,490 for the six-speed automatic Soul and then moves on to $26,990 for the 2.0-litre MPI Soul+, finally topping off at $27,990 for the six-speed manual Soul+ diesel and $29,990 for the six-speed automatic Soul+ diesel.