The Kia Soul has been a major success for the Korean automakers, playing a large part in the upswing in brand recognition they have seen in recent years.

The boxy compact car has been a big hit all over the world, but Canadians in particular seem to have taken a real shine to the cool small crossover.

That may help explain why Canadian car buyers are buzzing with excitement about the impending release of the second generation Soul, which will fall under the 2014 model year.

There is particular interest in the SX model trim, so for those folks north of the border who can’t wait for the new Soul, here are a few details that are already known about what to expect.

UPDATE: Kia Canada is launching the Soul Two-Tone special edition model.

2014 Soul Gets New Exterior Colors

Much of the conversation concerning the 2014 Kia Soul SX has been to do with the exterior of the car.

We are not just talking about the potential design changes here, but also the colors that we can expect to see.

There are a few name changes to the 4 existing colors that came on the previous model, with another 4 added to the mix for the 2014 release.

The exterior colors that will carry over are Clear White (previously Polar), Onyx, Titanium and Bright Silver (previously Sterling).

The 4 new colors will be Inferno Red, Newport Blue (this color can also be seen on the new Rondo minivan), Acid Green and Solar Yellow.

The latter of those new colors was actually on display at the New York Auto Show.

Familiar Boxy Exterior Design, Completely Restyled Interior

While some folks were looking for sweeping changes to be made to the design of the Soul, others that loved the boxy style of the original were hoping it would stay pretty much the same.

Kia had decided not to steer too far from the design that made the Soul such a success in the first place.

There are a few subtle changes to the exterior, but most of the major changes have come with the driving dynamics and interior of the car.

It was the inside that was the biggest bone of contention for most Soul drivers.

The feeling was that many of the materials used looked a little cheap and that is something that Kia definitely heard.

Higher quality materials have been used throughout the inside, but that is not the only change to the interior.

The dashboard has been completely redesigned so that it can incorporate the UVO system and navigation.

Drivers will get a real kick out of the new seats, all of which have been redesigned to deliver a higher level of support and comfort; opting for the SX trim means having the option to go with leather seating for an even more luxurious feeling of style and comfort.

Even the steering wheel has been upgraded to be thicker and softer with an enhanced grip.

All of the interior changes give the Soul a much more sophisticated look, while still maintaining the cool factor that previous owners loved so much.

New Soul Dimensions

The dimensions of the new Soul have changed a little and are now: length 4140mm, height 1800mm, height 1600mm, wheelbase 3570mm.

There is also additional cargo space to be found, which includes a nice little chunk of under floor storage.

Kia Soul SX Features (In Canada)

Just a few of the features that come standard with the SX trim model are auto climate control, aero blade wipers, 18-inch machine-finished alloy wheels, chrome door handles, push button start, smart key, supervision cluster, LED front positioning lights and much, much more.

The 2014 Soul SX also has the Luxury Package option, adding such features as a panoramic sunroof, multimedia interface, navigation system with rearview camera, cooled/ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, Infinity stereo system and a host of other great goodies.

As you can see, there is a lot for Canadian consumers to look forward to when the 2014 Kia Soul hits showrooms in the near future.

Stay tuned for more news about the new Kia cars and SUVs!