IT would be difficult to describe the Kia Soul as beautiful, but it is amazingly clever in its approach to everyday motoring.

The Soul was one of those cars that started a design-led revolution that changed the perception of the way we see Kia.

The manufacturer became far less a cheap and cheerful alternative to mainstream brands and more of a full-blown desirable marque in its own right and Soul was there all the way.

The Soul is a boxy-curvy compact SUV crossover featuring a remarkable mix of functional, premium and funky.

It has been around since 2008 and is now in its second generation, being larger and more roomy.

The new Soul's design cues are taken from the Kia Track'ster concept car of 2012 and it features enhanced driving dynamics thanks to a chassis based on Kia's cee'd model.

One thing that always strikes me about Kia cars is that they always strive to stand head and shoulders above the accepted and mundane and do it so successfully with the added bonus of a high degree of functionality.

All Souls are front-wheel drive and feature the semi-elevated driving position that many desire without the expense of a 4x4 option or large MPV.

As with the previous model there is a choice of efficient 1.6 petrol or diesel engines and the diesel as tested can return a fuel economy as high as 56.5mpg.

I drove the £17,500 Connect Plus version which is the highest of the three original trim options and it was a thoroughly enjoyable drive in addition to being very occupant friendly.

The seats for instance offer increased sideways and thigh support and there is more head and shoulder room for driver and front passenger, while the rear of the cabin provides generous headroom plus more knee and leg space for three people.

The step-in point and hip-point are also lower, making it easier to get in and out.

The sense of space inside is also accentuated by the fact that the windscreen pillars are now further away from the front occupants.

There are some unusual design features including the side ventilation array on the dashboard which are almost turret-like in appearance but do their job splendidly.

The engine is one of the car's best points, being a purely Kia design, developing 126bhp and is mated to a neat six-speed manual transmission, which, if employed with a degree of enthusiasm will propel the Soul from 0-62mph in a creditable 10.8 seconds to reach a claimed top speed of 112mph.

Extrovert? Yes, but also very wise in its approach, the Soul is one of the main ingredients of the amazing success story of the modern Kia - all underlined by a seven-year/100,000 mile warranty.