With power up from 94kW to 100kW and torque increased from 260Nm to 300Nm both sprint times and top speed have improved and the diesel feels considerably more spirited than its sleepier petrol siblings.
The new transmission is smooth and pleasantly responsive, particularly in manual mode, and a marked improvement over the auto shift of the two other six-speed automatics in the range. The new transmission even adjusts to the driver’s style by changing down under braking or up during spirited acceleration.
Over and above the transmission and engine improvements, the Soul’s quirky looks such as its stubby bonnet, large alloy wheels and moulded body lines (particularly in the bright two-tone colours of our test car) have strong pulling power, even in a crowded parking lot with a scattering of competitors such as Citroen C Cactus, Renault Captur and Nissan Juke.
Launched in 2014, the second-generation Soul matches anything its its class when it comes to living quarters design and features such as leather seats (powered for the driver), cruise control, park distance sensors with rear view and infotainment system.
Out on the hop the Soul handles well, combining performance with comfort, showing hardly any body lean even when being pushed along. With its large 18-inch wheels I expected progress to be quite thumpy and bumpy but the suspension copes well, even on worn tar patches.
As to be expected from a family-carrier, the Soul is richly kitted out in the safety department including airbags and ABS brakes with EBD and EBA.
The Soul steps into the ring against top-notch competitors but other than a steep price tag of R418,995 and relatively compact luggage space, it has a lot going for it, not least of all a price-inclusive five-year/150,000km warranty, three-year roadside assistance and a four-year/90,000 service plan.
