OVERVIEW: 2015 KIA SOUL !

TESTDRIVENOW.COM OVERVIEW: 2015 KIA SOUL ! QUICK TAKES

2015 Soul carries over iconic design and desirable features for urban and suburban fun

Refined interior, cutting-edge technology and striking road presence maintain Soul’s iconic status
Kia’s urban hatchback continues into 2015 with subtle enhancements
Caribbean Blue Special Edition arriving in the 4th quarter

Completely redesigned for 2014, the iconic Soul now enters the 2015 model year with select enhancements focused on increasing the hot-selling urban utility vehicle’s fun factor.

The signature Soul design is instantly recognizable yet thoroughly fresh.

Honoring Soul owners’ fierce individualism, three unique trim levels remain available: Base, Plus and Exclaim.

The 2015 Soul displays its own unique character through a blend of funky personality, fun-to-drive characteristics and premium interior amenities intended to set it apart from the pack.

A playful color palette, including Soul-exclusive colors such as Solar Yellow, Cloud White, Fathom Blue and Inferno Red pump up the dynamic equation that has made Soul such a dominate competitor in the “boxy” car segment.

Arriving in the 4th quarter is the Caribbean Blue Special Edition option package, which continues the long line of limited production Soul variants.

The Caribbean Blue option package includes unique Caribbean Blue exterior paint, blue cloth seat inserts and blue interior door panels and center console surround, special-edition 18-inch alloy wheels, Infinity premium audio system with integrated navigation and rear-view camera.

Also arriving in late 2014 is the Red Zone 2.0 Special Editon option package.

Available exclusively in black with destinctive red trim inserts in the grille, side skirts and lower valance, the Red Zone 2.0 stands apart from the crowd. Along with the unique body kit, the Red Zone 2.0 includes unique 18-inch wheels, rear spoiler, projector beam headlights, interior trim accents and sport pedals.

The panoramic roof is available optionally.

Enhancements to packaging for the Base model include a new UVO1 eServices Package. UVO eServices is a free subscription telematics service available for 10 years/100,000 miles. For 2015, UVO eServices offers four new features: Geo-fencing, Speed Alert, Curfew Alert and Driving Score2. Additionally, with the introduction of the Kia App store, select apps can be downloaded for free from iTunes®3 or Google Play4.

The Kia app connector is now available for partnership with the content community, including Pandora®5, iHeart Radio and Yelp®6. Many more new technologies for comfort and convenience are featured in the new UVO system, including Siri® “Eyes Free7” and Local Search – powered by Google – for finding locations, addresses and points of interest. Sirius XM Travel Link8, offering access to traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports scores, stock information and movie times, makes the Soul the perfect companion for those who live their lives on the road with family and friends.

Many of the UVO eServices functions are accessible through the owner’s Smartphone when equipped with the UVO eServices app which is available at no charge.

Also included with the package is a rear back-up camera display9, auto on/off headlights and front fog lights. UVO eServices is standard on the Exclaim.

The Plus model is unchanged for the 2015 model year.

New for 2015 on the Exclaim model is an available interior Umber Color Package which is available with either the Fathom Blue or Cloud White exterior colors.

Included with the option package is premium Nappa leather seating surfaces and door armrest accents. Outside, Gloss Black wheel inserts further set the Umber Color Package apart.

Motivation for the Base Soul is delivered by a gasoline direct injection (GDI) 130-horsepower (at 6,300 rpm) 1.6-liter all-aluminum DOHC four-cylinder engine. The GAMMA engine produces 118 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,850 rpm. The Plus and Exclaim models enjoy the more powerful 2.0-liter NU power plant with GDI technology.

Power is rated at 164 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 151 lb.-ft. of torque at a 4,000 rpm. The 1.6-liter engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic. The Plus and Exclaim models are available exclusively with the six-speed automatic gearbox.