KIA Soluto

Soluto Overview

For the first time ever since its inception, Kia has brought a premium sedan for the Philippines market, the all-new Kia Soluto. Though it is based on the same platform as Kia Picanto, which is a hatchback model, Soluto comes with a more premium design and packaging and overall practical approach.

KIA Soluto Interior & Features

As you step inside the Kia Soluto, it will definitely give you a feel that the Koran automaker has designed the cabin space for the youth. This time, great effort has been taken by Kia to elevate the cabin experience. Plastic has been used much this time but the overall finishing is nice and feels very premium the first thing that catches your attention when you take a glance at the cabin space inside are the silver garnished three-spoke steering wheels and piano black inserts. There are also small tints of chrome at the edges of 360-degree aircon vents, infotainment cluster, and instrument binnacle. The center console looks tad and simple but is equally functional. The touchscreen infotainment system is equipped with all modern and ubiquitous features. The reverse camera is placed on the dashboard and AC buttons are also positioned below it. AC buttons this time are given a toggle like a shape that is quite interesting to see. The seats of Soluto are also elegantly draped in leather material and two-tone grey and beige contrast work really well. Keeping in mind the driver’s comfort, his armrest is a nice convenience this time. Coming to the comfort and convenience features, Kia Soluto gets tilt-adjustable steering, electrically adjustable and foldable rearview mirrors, height-adjustable driver’s seat, and steering mounted audio and Bluetooth controls.

The overall cabin dimensions are meant for a taller person as well, and it also excels in the cabin space inside with ample knee room, boot space, and shoulder room. Othe additional detailings include basic cupholders, sufficiently sized door pockets and logically defined storage compartments. 

Soluto Exterior

Kia Soluto looks very subtle and soft at first glance from outside, for which Kia has quoted the reason that this time they aimed at practicality over design, keeping the overall style very sober and not flashy. 

Talking about the front fascia, the tiger-nose grille catches our attention which is elongated at the horizontal form. This gives a wider look to the front face of the car. The headlamps look quite minimalistic and plain and there are no projector lights or LEDs. However, the front bumper looks classy with fog lamps integrated on the sides at the lower center.  

Coming to the side fascia of the car, it looks elongated enough to call this a sedan segment model. Riding on 14-inch alloy wheels which could have been styled a bit modern, looks very basic on the contrary. The only attraction on the side face of the car is chrome finished door handles. 

Similarly, the rear face of the car also looks very simple and plain with no-frills design on the boot. Hence the rear looks a little bland with a simple combination taillight with a single rear foglight and a slightly extended upper trunk. Tiny touches like the chrome, blacked-out B-pillar, and body-colored side mirrors with LED indicators are nice additions though. 

KIA Soluto Ride & Handling

Riding quality is something that Kia never compromised on and like many other siblings, Kia Soluto has perfect ride quality and handling balance to offer. Though we cannot say that Soluto is all-fit for the roughest of terrains, still, it has the capability to deliver decent performance even during then. The steering feel and suspension is not that what we get of a sporty model, but if you think you can ride it over hills, yes you can. Additionally, the braking system has also passed tests to absorb all possible undulations, with a disc brake setup at front and drums at the rear portion. 

Soluto Engine & Fuel Consumption

At the heart of Soluto lies a 1.4-liter four-cylinder petrol engine that is sufficiently powerful to generate an output rated 95 PS and peak torque of 134 Nm. Kia has offered two transmission options to choose from – a 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic gearboxes.

KIA Soluto Braking & Safety

Kia Soluto has only the basics when it comes to safety features. Equipped with dual front airbags, ABS, reverse parking cameras with sensors and engine immobilizers make sure that the Soluto does not fail under the safety category. 

Soluto Verdict

Unlike its other mass-market offerings, Kia has made the Soluto too basic when it comes to the visual appeal and plush feel. While the build quality is unquestionable, it lacks the sense of desirability usually perceived from a car from this category, owing to its very simple styling and lack of many exciting features. However, it fulfills the needs like a perfect balance of ride quality, space, handling, and ease of driving, making it a viable choice for family-oriented owners.