Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2014 | Page 60

MOTORING

Kia Soul

Test driven on the Island by Peter White
With every model that the
long-established Korean car
manufacturers Kia produce, they never
disappoint, and the all-new Kia Soul
range is no exception.
There are five models to choose from,
the Start, Connect, Connect Plus, Mixx
and Maxx, and I was very impressed with
the model I drove, the Connect Plus,
courtesy of Northwood Kia, Cowes.
The six-speed manual 1.6 litre diesel
CRDi provided ample acceleration and
the car produced a comfortable ride,
negotiating the winding back roads of the

Northwood Kia
341-351 Newport Road, Cowes
Tel: [phone]
www.lesliesmotorgroup.co.uk

60

www.visitilife.com

Island effortlessly on its 17-inch alloys.
But there were two things I really
noticed inside the cabin. First, was the
amount of head and leg room. I’ve lost
count of the number of times I’ve sat in
a car, and had to drop the driver’s seat so
as not to hit my head on the roof. But no
such worries in the roomy Soul, with the
slightly elevated seat positioning making
for perfect all-round viewing.
Secondly, the speedometer, fuel, rev
counter and temperature gauges are
‘stand-out’ clear and perfectly placed, as
is the impressive eight-inch touchscreen

satellite navigation and DAB radio sound
system.
There are many other extras to enhance
your journey, ranging from cruise control
and automatic air conditioning to a
reversing camera and electrically folding
door mirrors.
As with all Kia cars, the Soul comes
with a seven-year, 100,000-mile full
manufacture’s warranty, and with the
model I drove, priced at £17,500 OTR, in
my opinion represents exceptional value
for money.
For more details on the Kia Soul range
visit Northwood Kia, Cowes, PO31 8PG,
or call [phone].