2020 Kia Soluto 1.4 EX AT - CAR REVIEW

When Kia was relaunched in the Philippines under its new distributor, the Ayala Corporation, launched the Kia Soluto subcompact sedan to try and gain back some market share for the Korean brand. While the distributor revamped the rest of the lineup with new variants, this model was completely new for the market and aims to compete in the popular segment known for the bestselling Toyota Vios, but in a smaller package.

What is Soluto anyway? It’s actually a rebadged Kia Pegas and sourced from China. Chinese car? No, it’s just made in China. At this time, we’re already seeing plenty of these Solutos plying our city streets and it should not come as a surprise as Filipino car buyers love their subcompact sedans.

Kia Philippines has lent us this unit for a week which gives us more than enough time for a proper review. Let’s see how the Kia Soluto performs and if it is really as budget as its starting price of Php 625,000 suggests.

Exterior

Styling is key in making good first impressions no matter how affordable or expensive a car is and the Soluto does not disappoint at all. Right in front is Kia’s signature tiger nose grille, flanked by a pair of multi-reflector halogen headlights. The large air intakes, chrome and piano black trims, and the fake vents on the quarter ends of the bumper all look tastefully designed. It nicely looks as if the car’s designers really thought of the design and didn’t just slap on random designs from other models just to try and make it look good.

On the side, it’s your typical subcompact sedan. A single body-line runs the length of the vehicle. Other than that you have chrome door handles, LED indicators on the mirrors, and a neat set of 14-inch alloy wheels for this EX trim. The base-LX only gets steel wheels and hubcaps. Moving to the rear, simple is the best word to describe it, if not bland. The way the trunk lid was designed is okay as it almost gives you a tiny rear spoiler for a little less monotony. Perhaps in other colors this will look better.

By the way, does the rear end of the Soluto look a bit familiar? If yes, you probably think it looks like a Hyundai Reina. That’s because the two subcompact sedans actually share the same platform and that’s the same reason why you’ll be seeing several similarities between the two vehicles.

Interior

Inside the Soluto is a whole different story compared to the exterior’s rear end. It’s still simple but it’s also obvious that the design was a bit more thought out and does feel better to be in than in other vehicles in its class. As expected, hard plastics are everywhere but I’m not complaining because build quality is excellent. With a little over 12,000 km already on the odometer, there are no rattles or squeaks anywhere as of this review. The steering wheel which is wrapped in leather also looks really good. Other chrome and silver accents around the infotainment system, aircon vents, and in the center console nicely break the black.

Also unexpected for its price is the leather seats, well leatherette. The two-tone gray and beige color combination looks good and the material does feel okay. It could be better but again, this is a 750,000 peso car. The front seats are also comfy and are adequately bolstered, giving a little bit more support which will be very helpful during long drives or even when stuck in heavy rush hour city traffic. The armrest on the driver’s seat is also a nice touch as most cars in this segment totally lack an armrest.

Another thing noticeable here (and in the Hyundai Reina) is the placement of the window switches in front. On the door? No, it’s under the climate controls. It’s not bad, but it’s something you’ll need to get used to. Also, it lacks a one-touch up and down function for the driver which is a slight inconvenience especially when pulling out of a mall parking lot after paying at the booth, at least you can tell your passenger to close your window for you. It’s actually quite funny that when I got back to driving my own car and our next media unit, I would always look for the window switches in the center when they are in their usual spot on the doors.

The rear seats are probably another area of importance for this sedan. The subcompact sedan segment in particular is quite popular for TNVS drivers so they’ll want their passengers to be comfy. If ever one decides to use the Soluto for such service, passengers will definitely not have problems at the back. Legroom is plentiful especially for the average Filipino and two can sit at the back without issue. Three small adults should also fit just right.

Storage

Storage isn’t usually a strong point for smaller sedans, the Soluto does have a handful of cubbies and cupholders spread around. Just in the center console you have places to put your phone, wallet, keys, coins, anything. There are also cupholders here and on the doors as well. The placement of the window switches on the dashboard also provide a little bit more storage cubbies on the doors.

Trunk space in the Soluto is also surprisingly good. Measuring at around 475 liters, it can easily fit our camera equipment, two backpacks, and two pieces of small luggage with space for another large one as well. There’s also some extra space for more items.

Technology and Safety

Technology is one of the Kia Soluto’s strongpoints. Standard on both LX and EX variants is a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display with bluetooth, USB, AUX, and even connectivity options Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is nothing bad to say about this infotainment system as it is extremely responsive, and easy to use and read. It does get a bit washed out in the sun at times but that’s a minor issue. Sound is sent through six speakers which have really good sound quality for what it is by the way.

Other than that, the Soluto is also equipped with headlight leveling controls, steering wheel mounted controls, and a 2.8-inch LCD display in the instrument cluster which shows important driving information such as your fuel economy and odometer.

The Kia Soluto isn’t short on safety features. Two front airbags, three-point seatbelts for all five occupants, anti-lock braking system, and ISOFIX childseat anchor points are standard.

Engine

Under the hood of the Soluto is a 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. It produces 94 horsepower and 132 Newton-meters of torque. This powertrain is actually shared with the Hyundai Reina. It is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission but a 5-speed manual is also available. These figures may sound conservative but they’re pretty good for a subcompact car. Consider the fact that 7-seater MPVs such as the Toyota Rush and Mitsubishi Xpander have similar power and torque figures and it definitely shows when you start driving the Soluto.

Driving and Comfort

Once you get on the road, driving the Kia Soluto is actually a bit of a surprise. It isn’t something that would wow you but it does get moving nice and quickly. Acceleration is quick and stepping on the accelerator gives immediate feedback. As a sedan that is really made for city use, steering is extremely light making driving through city streets a pleasant experience. Ride quality is not excellent but it’s fine and typical of most subcompact sedans, especially on roads like EDSA and other bumpy streets of Manila.

On the highway, the Soluto continues with its good driving characteristics. Acceleration is definitely good for overtaking cars on the slow lane and steering remains very much stable at high speeds. Reaching 100 kph is no problem for the Soluto and it is a comfortable highway cruiser. Where the Soluto can improve is NVH insulation. Road noise while non-existent at low speeds can be disturbing at higher speeds. Also, while driving during heavy rainfall it can get quite noisy.

In this segment, fuel economy is a key selling point. The Soluto of course does not disappoint. In the city, we were able to average anywhere between 10 to 15 kilometers per liter in both heavy and light traffic. Some runs on the highway helped us achieve a maximum of 20 kilometers per liter which is excellent. We mostly averaged 19 km/l at an average speed of 100 kph.

Conclusion

This Kia Soluto in its top-spec EX variant is priced at Php 755,000 which is definitely a bargain considering what you get. It could actually be a perfect city commuter car especially considering it’s class-leading infotainment system, good comfort, smart exterior looks, and excellent interior quality. With its affordability and bargain price tag, the Kia Soluto is definitely a good choice even for first time car buyers. Definitely a step in the right direction for AC Motors as the brand’s new distributor as well.

Overall, while there are some flaws, the Kia Soluto is the perfect example of a budget-friendly city commuter car that will get you from point-A to B but at the same time will give you a comfortable experience after a stressful day at work.