All Things To Know About The Upcoming Kia Soul SUV

The first product of the Korean automaker in India is the SP concept-based SUV, which will also share the platform with Hyundai Creta. Another vehicle to be launched in India by Kia is the Kia Soul, a compact SUV, which will compete with a wide range of already popular SUVs in the Indian auto market. The SUV, which has been Kia’s bestseller all over the world, has been spotted testing many times and is expected to go on sale in India soon.

The Kia Soul was spotted when undergoing a test in West Bengal. Kia is also establishing its production plant in Andhra Pradesh with a manufacturing capacity of 300,000 vehicles each year.

The Kia Soul will be locally assembled in India

Read on to discover more things about this vehicle.

1. 2019 Kia Soul General will be the second SUV launched by Kia in India

The Soul compact SUV is the top seller of Kia, which will soon appear in the Indian auto market in the near future. The dealer network establishment has been underway recently.

Realizing the high demands of the SUV segment in India, Kia has a strong desire to penetrate into this segment with the first products being SUVs, one of which is Kia Soul. Although by now, its exact launch date has not been confirmed by the Korean automobile manufacturer, it is expected to take place by the second half of 2019, after the launch of the SP concept-based SUV.

The Kia Soul is expected to be launched in India in the second half of 2019

2. 2019 Kia Soul will have a muscular appearance

With an aim to attract young Indian buyers, Kia will make its product outstanding from other cars in the same segment with contemporary features. Despite the similar window lines to the Maruti Swift and the Mini Cooper, the boxy dimensions will lend SUV looks to the car.

Dimensions

The Kia Soul will have a length of 4,140mm; a width of 1,800mm; and a height of 1,600mm with a 2,570mm wheelbase and a 180mm ground clearance. The long wheelbase will ensure a spacious cabin and a comfortable travel experience for all the passengers.

Exterior features

• Blinkers attached on the two-tone ORVMs

• Multi-reflector headlights

• Chrome matte black grille

• LED Front fog lights

• Chrome dual exhaust pipes

• LED tail lamps

• Matte black bumpers in the front and the rear

Despite the boxy design, Kia Soul wil have a SUV-imbiding silhoutte.

Colours

The Kia Soul is expected to be available in appealing exterior paint schemes: grey, black, silver, orange, white and red.

3. 2019 Kia Soul will have a spacious cabin with top-notch features

The Soul interior will come with a simple design with a classic styling. The expected feature list consists of

• 3-pod instrument cluster

• Heated multi-functional driving wheel

• 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Car Play, Android Auto, MirrorLink, voice recognition and navigation connectivity.

• Kardon/Harman audio system

• Automatic temperature control

• 6-way adjustable driving seat

• Reverse camera

• Smart speed control

• Smart key with start bush button

• Engine immobilizer

• Power controlled windows

• Armrest in the front and rear

• LED lighting

Safety features include standard dual airbags and ABS with EBD across all variants.

The 2019 Kia Soul is anticipated to be packed with an impressive list of high-quality features

4. 2019 Kia Soul will be powered by a petrol and diesel engine and also have an electric version

Engine and transmission

The power provision duties in this compact SUV will be carried out by both a 1.0L turbocharged petrol motor and a 1.4L diesel unit. While the petrol engine can produce 85bhp of max power and 115Nm of peak torque, the diesel unit can generate 100bhp and 220Nm. While the petrol variants will be available with both the 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions, the diesel variants are anticipated to be offered with only a 6-speed manual gearbox. In terms of the mileage, the petrol engine is good for about 12kmpl in the city and approximately 17kmpl on the highway; the diesel unit can churn out a fuel efficiency of 14kmpl and 21kmpl in the city and on the highway, respectively.

Expecting a high demand for EVs in India due to the serious air pollution in the future, Kia is also intending to introduce an electric version of the Kia Soul to India. With a 360V electric motor, the EV version of Kia Soul can deliver a max power of 109bhp and a peak torque of 285Nm with a travelling range of 150km on a full charge. With the electric Soul SUV, Kia is putting the first step into the potential Indian EV segment to respond to the plan of the Indian government to electrify all the vehicles in the future.

Braking and suspension system

While the braking system consists of disc brakes and ABS, the suspension system includes Gas shock absorbers with stabilizer bar and MacPherson Struts in the front; twin tube gas-charged shock absorbers and Couple torsion beam axle in the rear. All of these features contribute to excellent handling and riding quality of the vehicle.

5. 2019 Kia Soul will have a competitive price in India

As mentioned before, the Kia Soul will be locally assembled in India, which allows the Korean automaker to aggressively price it. Once introduced to the Indian auto market, the Kia Soul is expected to have a price range from Rs 7.5 lakhs for the base variant and Rs 12 lakhs for the top variant (on-road). There has been no information revealed as to the price of the EV version of the SUV. 

With such a competitive price and a wide range of features on offer, the Soul can effectively take on the likes of the Ford Ecosport, the Honda WR-V, the Maruti Vitara Brezza, the Tata Nexon and the Hyundai Carlino.

The Kia Soul is a promising vehicle in India with multiple engine options and a list of features

Besides the sibling Hyundai, the American automobile manufacturer Ford and the domestic automaker Tata, etc. Kia is also proving that it has the ability to share the teeming EV segment with these giant SUV producers with its upcoming SUVs in the Indian auto market. What's special is that both of the two Korean carmakers are planning to produce electric versions of their SUVs in India. They are reported to be producing numerous car parts together, which means that the two companies are cooperating with each other to increase their sales in this emerging but potential auto market.

What do you think about the new Kia Soul and its future in India? Can it become a popular compact SUV with Indian auto buyers? Please share with us in the comment section below.

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