A top safety pick by the US-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Soul now adds as standard equipment VSM or Vehicle Stability Management. Previously only found on high-end luxury cars, this active safety feature is being introduced in both the Soul and the Rio in 2012. While Electronic Stability Control (ESC) can detect a loss of traction and, within a fraction of a second, apply the brakes as required and reduce engine power to prevent a loss of control, VSM goes one step further, employing the electric power steering to actually assist steering effort when sensors detect the vehicle is in a split traction situation, ploughing (understeer) or skidding (oversteer). The amount of steering assist is not overpowering, so you don’t feel like the car is steering itself.
     2012 Kia Soul Eco. Click image to enlarge |
The Kia Soul also has anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), the latter modifying brake force distribution based on the weight transfer of the vehicle during braking; brake assist (BAS) which applies maximum braking force when needed during panic stops; Traction Control (TCS) which helps acceleration on slippery surfaces; and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) which prevents the car from rolling backward on a hill by retaining braking grip until the accelerator is applied. This latter technology answers concerns many people have about driving a manual transmission car. Six airbags are also standard including front seat active head restraints, dual front advanced airbags, and front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags.
The 2012 Kia Soul is available in seven trim levels – 1.6, 1.6 ECO, 2U, 4U, 4U Retro, 4U Burner, and 4U Luxury – with prices ranging from $16,595 for the base 1.6 to $25,395 for the 4U Luxury. Even the base trim offers numerous standard convenience features including tilt and telescopic steering column, power windows, door locks and mirrors, heated front seats and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity. Also standard are front fog lights, auto-off headlamps, body-coloured door handles and outside mirrors, rear wiper/washer, variable intermittent windshield wipers, privacy glass on the hatch and rear side windows, four-wheel disc brakes and 15-inch steel wheels fitted with P195/65R15 tires. Air conditioning is standard on 1.6 models with automatic transmission
The fully loaded 4U Luxury has a good compliment of luxury features such as leather seat trim, automatic climate control, navigation system, and push-button start with smart key.
A new voice-activated infotainment system powered by Microsoft is standard on 4U models with automatic transmission. The system has a 4.3-inch color touch-screen and rear camera display matched to an all-new eight-speaker Infinity audio system that enhances the sound with a centre speaker, subwoofer, external amplifier and speaker lights in a rainbow of colours that pulse to the beat of the music or add mood lighting.
As well the Soul 4U Burner and Luxury models have attractive – and bright – LED rear tail lights and daytime running lights.
Even Base models have steering wheel-mounted audio controls to operate the 4-speaker standard system with AM/FM/CD/MP3 and auxiliary and USB input ports. The ports are conveniently located at the base of the centre stack where there is a shelf to place your audio device. The focal point of the uncluttered dashboard is a new three-pod instrument cluster with large, bright white on black gauges. The other key visual feature is the floating centre stack design that brings both heating and air conditioning controls and audio controls close to hand.
Exterior changes include wider front and rear fascia, larger fog lights, new side mirrors with integrated turn signal repeaters, redesigned headlights, the new LED treatments on upper models and a new selection of 15-inch, 16-inch and 18-inch wheels.
The Soul is an important vehicle for Kia and the company is counting on its popularity to continue to propel its sales upward in Canada. The 2012 Kia Soul is on sale now in Canada.
