Before Kia Soul goes on sale worldwide, several agancies, such as EuroNCAP, IIHS and American NHTSA will conduct some crash tests to confirm the Soul to meet the latest automobile safety standards. We have absolutely no doubts the Soul will pass those safety test successfully, but is the Soul safe enough to become the second Kia car to achieve the highest 5-star crash ratings? Let’s take a look what safety equipment does it offer…

While developing the Soul, Kia engineers worked hard to ensure the Soul to be among the safest cars on the market. To fully satisfy consumer expectations, the Soul will be available with highest levels of active and passive safety.

Passive safety equipment
Starting with the robust bodyshell, the Soul features a high-strength steel in key areas to offer occupants good protection in front, side, rear and roll-over accidents. State-of-the-art computer-aided design was employed by engineers, together with “closed loop” engineering techniques, to create the Soul five-door bodyshell structure.

Special strengthening measures adopted for the Soul’s structure include annular (ring shaped) B-pillar bracings, extended side sill reinforcements in 120kg high-tensile strength steel, dual floor cross members behind the B-pillar and stronger gussets in the B-pillar/roof joint zone!

Every Kia Soul will also have:

- dual front airbags
- front side airbags
- full-length curtain airbags -to protect the occupants in both seat rows
- height-adjustable front seatbelts with pretensioners and belt load-limiters
- three 3-point seat belts for rear seat occupants
- optional “active” front seat head restraints

The passenger side front airbag has an “off” switch so it can be deactivated if small children in a safety-seat occupy that position in the car. Every Kia Soul will also be fitted with two ISOFIX anchor points and Top Tether anchorages in the outside positions of the rear seat for the attachment of appropriate child safety seats and restraints.

Active safety equipment
Among all of the aforementioned safety options, you’ll also find several other active safety boosting options that will help to avoid potential accident situations and handle the hazards of everyday motoring. Every model in the Soul line-up will be equipped with a powerful braking system featuring ABS anti-lock and EBD electronic brake force distribution.

Kia Soul can also be equipped with ESP -Electronic Stability Program. Depending on market, ESP will be a part of standard equipment or available as a factory installed option.

ESP is a fully automatic safety system and operates at all times, while offering a multitude of benefits. It counters excess oversteer and understeer, improving stability under heavy braking, restoring directional control during a potential skid, enhancing grip in wet and icy conditions, and ensuring superior traction during hard acceleration.

The ESP system comes together with TCS -Traction Control System, working at all speeds and BAS -emergency Brake Assistance System.

Other safety equipment
- The all-new Kia Soul will also come available with other safety features, such as TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System). Air pressure sensors within each tire transmit the tire’s status every three minutes to the instrument cluster display – alerting the driver to “low pressure” if any tire suffers a pressure drop of more than 25 %.

- rear parking assist system, with four bumper-mounted sensors, enhances safety during low-speed parking manoeuvres by alerting the driver to an obstruction with an audible alarm while reversing.

- Reversing Camera mounted just below the hatchback’s handle.  This camera is fitted with a 130 degree wide-angle lens and transmits images to a 3.5-inch LCD display panel set within the cabin’s auto-dimming rear view mirror.  The system, which only operates when reverse gear is selected, enables the driver to check the rear view and the blind spot below the rear window simultaneously.