The Kia Soul has made it into winning ways once more – this time taking a class victory in the 2010 Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Awards, announced today.
The Soul was victorious in the highly competitive under £16,000 category.
Entrants to Towcar of the Year awards are tested at Millbrook Proving Ground by a number of specialist motoring judges. Evaluations cover the towing ability, acceleration, braking and capability with demanding hill starts.
Then, a team of caravan specialist judges take to the controls and assess the vehicles’ suitability in everyday caravanning situations.
The judges said of the Kia Soul; ‘The Soul Shaker gives a spirited performance, has a usable bodyshape and promises low running costs’, adding that ‘As a towcar for small caravans or trailer tents, Kia’s hatchback is a worthy winner’.
Kia Motors (UK) Ltd. Managing Director, Michael Cole, said of the award; ‘Kia Motors has great history in the Towcar Awards, with Sorento having taken a number of category wins over the years. But now Kia Soul has provided towing fans with something stylish and capable to tow with. We’re pleased that Soul could take up the mantle and move forwards in such style’.
With prices starting at £10,495, the Kia Soul has braked and unbraked towing capacities of 1,300 kg and 550 kg respectively, with a ball weight of 52 kg.
The Kia Soul was first seen in production form at the Paris Motor Show in 2009, before going on sale in the UK in early 2010. The fresh-looking car was created by design teams in the US, Germany and Korea, with the deliberate aim of creating a unique looking, emotionally inspired car that appealed to a wide range of customers. In the UK, Kia Motors managed to sell 1,000 cars within 100 days of its launch. Current sales are now over 1600 since the car went on sale early this year.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I’m not surprise. if kia soul earns 2010 NACOTY award.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
If anything would win COTY, it would be the new Sorento. Soul debuted in March 09, I have no hope whatsoever for either the Forte or the Soul to win it. We can keep our fingers crossed about the Sorento or VG, though.
September 24th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
That’s great to hear about the SOUL and it’s accomplishments! I would LOVE to see KIA cater to the thousands of recreational vehicle owners, whom can buy just about anything they want to, deliver an automatic transmission vehicle that can be flat towed with all 4 wheels on the ground without much hassle. Saturn was always a vehicle of choice in this category for YEARS and now that they’re in decline an opportunity is presenting itself. When opportunity knocks you only know it’s there if you’re willing to open the door!
September 24th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I heard the Forte is in the running for COTY. Lets hope it wins.
September 25th, 2009 at 3:42 am
As far as the Soul being any sort of tow vehicle is a huge surprise to me. Although in the UK the smaller caravan and campervan, with a small tow vehicle maybe more popular than it is here in Australia. Usually because of the cost of fuel and then the shorter distances to cover to get to a holiday destination.
September 25th, 2009 at 4:35 am
Actually, the Forte AND the Soul are in the running. That is just purely shocking. I would think that since they debuted so early in the year, they would be out of the running.
September 25th, 2009 at 5:19 am
If Top Gear does another Caravaning Challenge, they should use the Soul, like the time they used that Spectra (Cerrato).