New Kia Soul 2014 prices revealed

The new Kia Soul crossover is on sale now and Kia has released official prices for the car that is intended to wrestle sales away from cars like the Nissan Juke, Skoda Yeti and the Renault Captur.

The car has not changed massively from the old one, with all models featuring the same boxy van-like styling and practical layout. A 1.6-litre petrol or 1.6-litre diesel engine is available and there are five different trim levels, beginning with entry-level Start, moving up through Connect, Connect Plus, Mixx and top-of-the-range Maxx.

Inside, the new car uses higher quality materials for the interior and better soundproofing for improved comfort on long motorway journeys. There are plenty of soft-touch materials, and the buttons are logically laid out.

The new Kia Soul is based on the excellent Kia Cee’d hatchback, meaning it's more fun to drive on country roads as well as more comfortable around town. The upgraded suspension setup means the Soul deals better with lumps and bumps in the road too.

Kia Soul 2014 price & specs

Not only is the new Kia Soul a more appealing car to drive, it’s also more practical than ever before. The new car is slightly larger, while the distance between the front and rear wheels has been extended to improve both head and legroom. The boot is up from 340 to 354 litres, and is now nearly 100 litres larger than the compact Nissan Juke. The Soul benefits from under-floor storage, too.

The 126bhp 1.6-litre CRDi diesel engine is capable of emissions of 132g/km of CO2 and will do 56.5mpg - with an automatic gearbox, economy drops to 47.1mpg with emissions of 158g/km of CO2. The 130bhp 1.6-litre petrol version produces 170g/km of CO2 and will do 38.7mpg in the higher spec Mixx and Maxx models and slightly less in the other cars.

If those relatively high economy figures make your eyes water, there will also be a fully electric version of the Kia Soul, which will be launched in autumn this year. It's expected to cost just over £20,000 before the £5,000 government subsidy on electric car purchases. Yaser Shabsogh, Kia's UK commercial director, said: "It is not going to be priced to try to stimulate demand," Shabsogh says. "We won't be selling hundreds of them - maybe a couple of hundred, mostly in the key metropolitan areas. But the biggest question at the moment is not where we will be selling them but the support for these cars - the servicing and charging networks."

Every new Kia Soul comes with a digital radio, a tyre pressure monitoring system, keyless entry, air conditioning, electric door mirrors and windows, steering-wheel mounted controls, USB connectivity and six airbags as standard.

Extra kit on the Connect model includes 17-inch alloy wheels, front foglamps, cruise control, Bluetooth, reversing camera, leather steering wheel and extra storage. Connect Plus models add an upgraded sound system and sat nav.

Mixx models get even more equipment, including 18-inch alloy wheels, an urban styling pack for a more sporty look, a contrasting colour roof, glossy black bumpers, LED rear lights and heated front seats. Kia adds leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, and a smart-entry key with engine start/stop button to range-topping Maxx models.

The entry-level 1.6-litre petrol Soul Start costs £12,600, with prices for the mid-range Connect and Connect Plus cars ranging from £14,800 to £19,000. The most expensive Kia Soul Maxx is priced at £21,550.

For the full Kia range, visit the CarBuyer Kia reviews page.