2019 Kia Soluto: A true bang for the buck?

‘The more the merrier’, this is somewhat like the current situation of the subcompact sedan segment in our country. Over the last few years, this segment has become overcrowded with cars by various automakers.

Earlier it was mostly the Japs who had control over this segment but now that’s not the case thanks to the growing competition. To participate in the subcompact sedan competition, Kia has also signed up with its latest 2019 Soluto. Launched earlier this year, the Soluto was Kia’s first car in the Philippines after the automaker joined hands with Ayala Corporation.

The 2019 Kia Soluto price starts at Php 625,000 and goes up to Php 735,000. This is a range where most of the popular cars in the segment fall in. So picking the right one becomes a tad more difficult. So, is the new Soluto is a true bang for the buck? Let us find out. If you’re looking to buy a subcompact sedan,

then having the most powerful engine should not be your priority. These cars aren’t meant to break lap records, so don’t bother about the 0-100 kmph figures and all. What you need is a refined, smooth, and fuel-efficient engine. And that’s what you’d find on the 2019 Kia Soluto specs sheet.

The Soluto is powered by a 1.4-litre engine that has been tuned to churn out a maximum power of 95 PS and a peak torque of 134 Nm. These are the common numbers that you will generally witness in this segment. The engine comes mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic gearbox.

It’s most likely that you’d get the automatic one which works well in city driving but shows an inconsistent behaviour on the highways. You’d be spending most of your time in the city though, won’t you?

As far as the looks are concerned, the Soluto is one of the more elegant sedans in the segment. It features a unique and subtle front grille and a sporty front bumper. The headlamp design isn’t ground-breaking but it’s not bad either. Perhaps,

it’s the combination of all this that makes the Soluto look elegant. But we can’t say the same about the rear end of the car as it gets nothing exciting. Kia has tried to make up for that by providing some extra features like chrome door handles, projector fog lamps, electrically adjustable outside rear view mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, etc.

Interior space and comfort would be somewhere up there on your priority list, right? The 2019 Kia Soluto comes with dual tone interior theme that is quite welcoming. There is a sufficient amount of space in the cabin. The seats provide good comfort and support too. There’s even a driver’s seat armrest for that added comfort. The fit and finish levels are decent and so is the materials used. You don’t expect to get an opulent atmosphere in a subcompact sedan, right?

The Soluto offers a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system which supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. This is something which you will not find in many other cars of this segment. We also appreciate the availability of steering-mounted controls and a 2.8-inch LCD display in the instrument console. In terms of safety, the Soluto has dual front SRS airbags, ABS, rearview monitor with parking guidance, and that’s about it.

 

Having a plethora of options to choose surely is a great thing but it also makes the decision making a bit difficult process. You start overthinking. If you want to have a more youthful type car with more luxury and premium interior, look at the Swift Dzire.

If you have a tight budget then you can consider the Hyundai Reina. If safety is extremely important for you, then the Toyota Vios would be the best for you. Each and every car has its own USP and that’s how things usually work.

As a whole, the Kia Soluto is a great car. It ticks most of the boxes which one looking for a subcompact sedan has in mind. It falls somewhere in the middle of the competition and tries to keep you happy by providing the necessary features and that too at a fair price.

Also Read:- Kia Seltos: Variants explained