WHEN the Kia Soul launched in 2008 it was deemed to have led a design revolution with its fresh, funky and bold style combined with practicality and value.

Now the second generation has arrived and it's bigger than its predecessor and also has improved driving dynamics along with more dramatic SUV crossover styling cues.

All models are five doors and front-wheel-drive and there are three regular trim lines - Start, Connect and Connect Plus - along with a couple of rather extravagant models called Soul Mixx and Soul Maxx.

I tried the new Soul in Connect Plus trim level powered by a 1.6-litre diesel-driven engine with 126bhp and six-speed manual gearbox.

The car is instantly recognisable thanks to its upright stance, square shoulders and distinctive bumper flares, but the additional width and lowered height gives it a sportier stance than the outgoing Soul.

There is also more passenger and luggage space with a boot capacity of 354 litres with the rear seats upright which can be increased to 1,367 litres with those 60:40 split-folding seats in a flat position.

Eye-catching features include 17-inch alloys, a black high gloss and chrome radiator grille, body-coloured door handles, bumpers and mirrors, tinted glass, daytime running lights, front and rear fog lights, plus electric folding door mirrors with LED indicators.

The interior is beautifully laid out in a clutter-free manner with all controls and instrumentation dials perfectly positioned for driver usability. There are techno treats galore to be discovered such as an eight-speaker audio system which is compatible with most multi-media devices, an eight-inch colour touchscreen with sat nav, Bluetooth with voice recognition and music streaming, reversing sensors, cruise control and much more.

One funky feature of note is the audio speakers. Apart from traditionally-positioned speakers in the doors there are circular upward-facing ones each side of the dashboard above the air vents and a large round speaker on top of the dashboard. They look very striking and the sound quality is excellent too.

The driver benefits from excellent all-round visibility and all occupants are treated to top quality comfort levels with room to stretch out in the back.

So the new Soul looks the part and is feature-rich, but how does it handle? The answer is very well indeed.

For a car boasting combined fuel economy figures of 56.6mpg it is deceptively nippy with a 0-60mph sprint time of 10.8 seconds. The acceleration is smooth and responsive with a constant supply of power on tap when needed.

The car cruises effortlessly through the six-speed manual transmission and the road-holding is also impressive. The Soul is comfortable dealing with the day-to-day traffic problems associated with city centre driving but can also hold its own alongside faster motorway traffic.

Kia has packed a comprehensive range of safety features into the car, including anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, numerous airbags and plenty more besides.

All in all, the second generation Kia Soul has picked up on the success of the previous generation model and improved every aspect from design to equipment levels, driving dynamics and economy.