Kia Soul

Funky, relatively cheap, decent dynamics and quality: just the sort of car that Kia needs to be making.

• Comfort

  The optional 18-inch wheels look brilliant, but make the ride very choppy indeed. If you go for the smaller rims you get a much better ride but less cred. Still, you can get about comfortably in any version of the Soul - though the diesel is actually easier to cruise about in thanks to a better torque curve than the weedy petrol. 

  

• Performance

  Not exactly fast it has to be said, but the Soul's got, er... more soul than that. Choose from a pair of 1.6-litre four-cylinder motors (one diesel, one petrol), with the petrol punting out 138bhp and the diesel 126bhp. Neither is blistering: the petrol takes 10 seconds dead to get to 62mph, the diesel three-tenths slower - though the diesel is better to drive because it has more torque (192lb ft vs 122). Neither gets much past 110mph. So don't race because you'll lose to anything bigger than a Mini One.

  

• Cool

  Actually very cool. The Soul isn't too try-hard (even though there are some truly horrific option packs on offer) - and the fact that it's cheap and new means that you can get away with being termed a clever early adopter rather than a skinflint.  

  

• Quality

  OK. There were a few sharp edges and slightly dodgy mouldings on the cars that TG drove, but generally OK. Nothing you wouldn't expect at this price point anyway. Don't forget, the Soul gets a pretty enormous warranty. 

  

• Handling

  Nothing to write home about, though better than you expect. Based on the i20's chassis, the Soul can hack about well enough, but it hasn't got an enormously deep well of dynamic ability. Early understeer is easily controlled and very safe though. 

  

• Practicality

  We like the Soul's practicality - there's something spacious and accommodating about the upright stance and you can get a decent amount in the boot. 

  

• Running costs

  The petrol-engined car returns 44.1mpg on the combined cycle, the diesel only a bit more at 54.3. The petrol starts at just 12-and-a-half grand and winds it's way up to about 18k. Insurance is cheap, very decent warranty - this'll be a cheap way to have some stylish fun.