IT was a bit of a shame really, but Kia's quirky compact SUV Soul crossover never quite made it to the big time here in the UK.

However, things could be about to change for the fun, fun, fun model from the South Korean marque.

From next month, the new second-generation Soul will hit our showrooms, and although from the outside you may think that Kia have just given the model a serious bit of a makeover and painted it in a range of funky colours, you couldn't be further from the truth.

This is a brand new Soul from the wheel nuts up, and it's quieter, stronger and more practical than before. Sixty-six per cent of the new body is made from high strength steels, which result in it being nearly 30 per cent more rigid than the outgoing model.

The stronger bodyshell, coupled with big changes to both the front and rear suspension, means the car now offers significantly improved driving dynamics, which in turn gives for a more compliant ride coupled with better refinement.

Based on the cee'd platform, it means that it is also now bigger both in length and width, and it shows. The amount of leg, shoulder and head room inside is simply amazing. Where the designers found all the space from defies belief! And that's just for starters.

The smoother, rounded body shell gives the car a more grown-up look, but its upright stance, squared shoulders and wrap-around greenhouse-style windows, make the car instantly recognisable as a Soul.

Kia have reserved the 130bhp 1.6-litre petrol and a similar-sized126bhp turbocharged diesel engine - both already available in the Cee'd range - to power the newcomer ... and both do the job remarkably well, considering their torque figures work out at just 119lb.ft and 192lb.ft. respectively.

While they are both smooth and quiet and revel on long, flat stretches of dual-carriageways and smooth-surfaced A roads, the Soul was never meant to resemble anything like a sports car, and the petrol unit in particular needs to be worked a bit in order for it to keep up with the flow when it hits steeper inclines.

On the hoof very little engine noise crept in to the cabin to spoil the proceedings and even with the test car sitting on big 18-inch wheels, it offered a silky-smooth, relaxed and enjoyable ride.

However, the biggest surprise for me was saved for inside the car, for from the moment you jump in it just screams quality with a capital Q. The interior designers have excelled themselves with soft-feel plastics throughout, highlighted with piano-black inserts on the door panels, around the centre console and the eight-inch sat-nav screen housing.

Fabrics, too, are top notch and look like they will stand the test of time, while the leather in the top spec Maxx model is as good as you could wish for.

The new Soul will come in five trim levels, kicking off with the aptly named Start trim. This one is available in petrol guise only, but will have air-conditioning and a DAB radio fitted as standard.

Move on up to Connect trim, which adds goodies such as reversing camers, Bluetooth and 17-inch alloy wheels. It is available with both diesel and petrol engines.

The star of the show is expected to be the Connect Plus, which Kia say will be the big seller in the range. It comes with high-definition touch-screen sat-nav, premium Infinity sounds system and climate control.

The top two trim levels, the Mixx and Maxx, will want for nothing, with standard features including heated front and rear seats, full leather, front LED daytime running lights, keyless entry and push-button engine start and panoramic glass roof, while options such as smart parking assist and lane departure warning system will also be available.

Exact prices for the Soul have still to be released, but during the car's European launch in Sicily, it was strongly hinted that they would start from around the £12,600 mark, working up to £20,000 for the all-singing, all-dancing range-topping Maxx.