KIA launched the first-generation Soul globally in 2008 at the height of what one could call the ‘box wars’.



The battle for the boxiest offering was being fought by Toyota via its youth brand Scion’s xB – known to Australians as the Toyota Rukus – and Nissan with its slab-sided Cube that was huge in Japan.

Then along came Korean car-maker Kia with a fresh take on the theme thanks to its oddball Soul five-door hatch.

While it was a huge success in markets such as North America, Australian buyers proved harder to win over and the car ended up with just 1779 sales in its five years on the local market.

Improvements to the cabin, a sharper exterior design and locally tuned ride and handling should give the second-generation Soul a fighting chance, but a limited line-up and confusion about whether it is a hatch or an SUV could see it lost in a busy market if Kia isn’t careful.

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