Wednesday, August 28, 2013

2014 Kia Soul Details

2014 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul has been a big hit with consumers. Now, Kia hopes to grow that success (literally) with its new, larger 2014 Soul. So how much larger is the new model? Not much. According to Kia, the wheelbase and overall length have grown less than an inch. The '14 Soul is actually narrower by .60", shorter in height by .40", and passenger volume is down by 1.3 cu. ft. Rear cargo capacity with the rear seat up, however, has grown by nearly 5 cu. ft.; that number increases by 7.9 cu. ft. to 61.3 cu. ft. (without the under tray) when the seats are folded down. Weight is up by 100–200 lbs., depending on the model.

2014 front end vs 2013 Kia Soul
Note the front fascia differences between the 2014 Kia Soul at left and 2013 Kia Soul at right.
2014 Kia Soul vs. 2013 Kia Soul rear
Rear end differences: 2014 Kia Soul at left; 2013 Kia Soul at right.
As you can see in the pictures above, there have been some significant reworks to the Soul's sheet metal. This is most noticeable at the rear, where the taillights, lift gate, and rear bumpers are totally different.

The basic price of admission, $14,700 + $795 destination/handling fee, will get you privacy glass, hill-start assist, four-wheel disc brakes, A/C, power everything, a stereo with USB/Aux port, and Bluetooth. Base Souls will be equipped with a 1.6-liter direct-injected four cylinder making 130 hp and 118 ft/lbs of torque and mate to either a six-speed auto or six-speed manual transmission.

 For $18,200, buyers can step up to the Soul Plus, which includes 17" wheels, some different trim bits, and various options. Kia will also offer its ECO package with the company's Idle Stop and Go System (e.g. start/stop technology). "Plus" models will get a direct-injected 2.0-liter mill making 164 hp and 151 ft/lbs of torque. The only transmission available is a six-speed automatic.

Pony up $20,300 and buyers can get into a Soul Exclaim, which has 18" wheels, body-colored front and rear bumper "tusks," LED positioning lights, as well as the aforementioned 2.0-liter engine and six-speed auto tranny.

2014 Kia Soul rear 3/4

There will be optional packages associated with each trim level, so if buyers want navigation, leather, an Infinity sound system, or other accouterments, Kia will be happy to oblige.

The car's minor size increase likely won't affect its success, since its overall shape has been preserved. This is unlike the story of Scion's xB redesign in 2007 in which the company took a fun, edgy subcompact wagon and turned it into what might be described as the love child of a Toyota Camry and a shipping container.

Full 2014 Soul press release below.



KIA MOTORS AMERICA ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR THE ALL-NEW 2014 SOUL
Kia’s Iconic Soul Starts at a Low MSRP of $14,700

• The all-new Kia Soul now comes with more premium features and improved driving dynamics
• The fun and funky form stays true to the roots of its iconic design

IRVINE, Calif., August 28, 2013 – Kia Motors America (KMA) is pleased to announce pricing for its iconic urban passenger vehicle, the all-new 2014 Soul. When it goes on sale during the fourth quarter, the Soul will be offered in three unique trim levels: Base, Plus and Exclaim, with the Base trim starting $14,700 MSRP, not including destination charges of $795. Since going on sale in 2009, the Soul has become one of KMA’s top-selling models and the all-new Soul is poised to continue its sales success by offering tremendous value and convenience while providing more premium features and content and improved driving dynamics. The new design sits on a stiffer, longer and wider chassis allowing for more passenger and cargo room while reducing NVH levels.

“With a starting price below $15,000, the outstanding value customers have come to expect with the Soul remains firmly intact,” said Michael Sprague, executive vice president of marketing and communications at KMA. “What will come as a pleasant surprise is the level of refinement and sophistication the 2014 Soul brings to the segment at such an appealing price point.”

Starting at $14,7001, the Soul Base comes with privacy glass, Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), and offers the option to add 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control with steering-wheel-mounted controls, center console armrest and storage, rear center armrest with cup holders and remote keyless entry. The array of standard features include a 1.6L I-4 DOHC gasoline direct injection (GDI), four wheel disc brakes, rack-ready roof with integrated mounting points, air conditioning, power door locks, power windows with driver-side one-touch auto-down, SiriusXMTM Satellite Radio2, USB/auxiliary input jacks, Bluetooth® wireless technology3 and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM).

The Soul Plus, starting at $18,2001, allows upgrades to 17-inch alloy wheels, gloss black with chrome bezel front upper grille and outside mirrors with turn signal indicators. The Plus also offers a series of option packages. The UVO eServices Package includes Rear-Camera Display4 and auto on/off headlights for an additional $400. At $1,400, the Audio Package offers navigation with an 8-inch display, HD RadioTM5, Infinity® Audio system6 with center speakers, subwoofer and external amplifier, speaker lights and automatic temperature control with cluster ionizer. For $3,000, the Primo Package gives buyers a panoramic sunroof with power shades, leather trimmed seats, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, push-button start with Smart Key and front fog lights. The ECO Package includes Idle Stop and Go System (ISG), low rolling resistance tires and 16-inch alloy wheels at $400.

Starting at $20,3001, the Soul Exclaim includes additions such as 18-inch alloy wheels, body-colored front and rear bumper tusks, LED positioning lights, LED taillights with LED high-mounted stop light, power folding outside mirrors, UVO with eServices and a Rear-Camera Display. At $2,600, the Sun and Sand Package provides navigation with an 8-inch display, Infinity Audio system with center speakers, subwoofer and external amplifier, speaker lights and automatic temperature control with cluster ionizer. For an extra $2,500, buyers can get The Whole Shabang which adds leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, push-button start with Smart Key and LED positioning lights.

2 comments:

Ducati Scotty said...

The Soul is a lot of car for the money. I rented one for a few days and liked it very much with two exceptions: SUPER sensitive brakes and handling that doesn't hold it's line over a bump. If they could fix those issues this would be on my short list.

Anonymous said...

I drive an '08 xB and it's a great vehicle and it is more versatile than anything else below $20k. But it's not the original xB or that concept, which the Soul has taken up the banner and run away with subcompact class. Think how different Scion could be if they were actually selling 70k units a year, rather than 7k. Kia had more foresight then Toyota and Scion is dying as a result.