Kia Soul boxes on

Kia's adventurously-styled Soul hatch has been given a visual refresh and a new 2.0-litre petrol engine for 2012.

The new 2.0-litre petrol comes from Kia's Nu engine family and supplements the existing 1.6-litre (upgraded) petrol and (carryover) diesel engines.

Kia's updated 2.0-litre mill produces an impressive 122kW, along with a solid 200Nm of torque and drives exclusively through a new six-speed automatic transmission. The new auto is optionally available with the Soul's 1.6-litre petrol or diesel engines and is joined by an also-new six-speed manual transmission.

The 1.6-litre petrol engine now adds variable valve timing to lift power from 91kW to 95kW (torque is a good-for-capacity 157Nm), while the turbodiesel remains at 94kW/260Nm.

The angular Kia is readily identified by a reworked nose featuring the now-signature dog-bone grille, along with new headlight stacks and lower air intakes.

As before, the Kia comes in two guises: The base Soul is powered only by the 1.6-litre petrol engine and comes with 15-inch steel wheels, six airbags, stability control with vehicle stability management and Hillstart Assist Control, trip computer, six-speaker audio and keyless entry.

New for 2012 is reach-adjustable steering and streaming Bluetooth.

The upmarket Soul+ offers the choice of 2.0-litre petrol or 1.6-litre diesel engines and upgrades to new-design 18-inch alloy wheels. It also gains cruise control, front "fog" lights, a luggage cover, roof rails and driver's seat height adjustment.

Although fuel consumption, emissions and performance figures have yet to be supplied for the latest version of the Kia Soul, it could be assumed they will reflect the new technology in the 2.0-litre, and the improved efficiency of the 1.6-litre petrol.

Pricing for the base Soul 1.6 remains at $21,490 for the six-speed manual and $23,490 for the six-speed auto, while the 2.0-litre Soul+ jumps from $25,690 to $29,990, reflecting the new engine, gearbox and equipment upgrades.

Similarly, diesel versions have increased in price, up by $800 in manual (now $27,990) and auto (now $29,990) form.

The jury is out on the beneficial effects of the Soul's reworked nose, which attempts to marry more or less conventional styling elements with the car's individual, bravely boxy body.

The clearly-niche market Soul is the lowest-volume player in the Kia line-up although its year-to-date sales, at 397, are up on last year, when 336 Souls were registered over the same period.

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