The Kia Soluto is a subcompact sedan that’s part of Kia Motors Philippines’ offensive for its return this year under AC Industrials, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala Corporation (AC). The all-new Soluto, also known as Pegas in China, is the newest rival of established nameplates like Toyota Vios, Honda City, and Hyundai Accent but at a lower price point. It sits side by side with the Rio Hatchback in Kia Philippines’ lineup.
The Kia Soluto carries the brand’s tiger-nose grille that connects to the sweptback headlamps and accentuated by faux-air intakes near the fog lamps by the lower grille. It resembles the fascia of the Picanto small hatchback. Its body gets straight character lines that point towards the simple and straightforward rear end. Inside, the range-topping Soluto gets leatherette upholstery, while the lower trim gets texturized fabric seats. Standard in its spacious interior is the 7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six speakers, rearview camera, and steering wheel audio controls, while the range-topper gets rear parking sensors as extra. Underneath the Kia Soluto’s hood is a 1.4-liter Dual-CVVT gasoline engine that produces 94 hp and 132 Nm of torque.
Launch
The Kia Soluto was launched by Kia Motors Philippines in its comeback as a brand at the start of 2019. It’s aimed to undercut staple names in the subcompact sedan segment with its affordable price tag and feature-packed spec sheet. The Soluto was launched with both manual and automatic transmissions, with two trim levels to choose from.
Platform, Chassis and Powertrain
The Kia Soluto sits on the PB platform that is shared with its Hyundai brother, the Reina. It also shares the power plant, 1.4-liter Dual-CVVT gasoline engine that produces 94 hp and 132 Nm of torque, connected to either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
As for the suspension, the Soluto has a MacPherson strut with H-type sub-frame in the front, while the rear end has aV-beam coupled torsion beam axle. Front brakes are discs while the rear wheels get drum brakes.
Chassis
Class
Subcompact Car
Body Style
4-Door Sedan
Platform
Layout
Front Engine, Front-Wheel Drive
Platform
Hyundai-Kia PB
Powertrain
Engine
1.4 L Kappa MPI Inline-4 Gasoline
Power Output
94 hp, 132 Nm of torque.
Transmission
5-Speed Manual
4-Speed Automatic
Driving Performance
Powered by a 1.4L gasoline engine with output figures that are better than mainstream subcompact sedans, the Soluto drives well and hitting speed limits on our expressways is not an issue. We noticed, however, that the transmission wants to get out of lower gears early, which is good for fuel economy but not with power delivery.
In the city, the Soluto feels light and easy to drive, especially since the electronic power steering makes it almost effortless. Potholes and road imperfections are handled well enough, and engine noise is only prevalent when getting on the accelerator hard.
Technology Features
For its class, the Kia Soluto is notable in terms of the tech features it carries. The Soluto has front and rear foglights, headlight level controls, power mirrors, and a reverse camera with parking sensors. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls are also standard. You also get a neat 2.8-inch LCD driving display nestled at the center of the gauges, and things like trip meters, range until empty, and fuel consumption.
At the center of the dashboard, the Kia Soluto has a 7-inch touchscreen that dominates the dashboard and offers Bluetooth, AUX, and USB inputs, plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, making the smartphone integration of the Soluto the best in class.
Exterior
The Soluto carries Kia’s proprietary tiger-nose grille that connects the sweptback headlights. It has face intakes on the bumper, which is accentuated by fog lamps on the range-topping variants. In profile, the Soluto has a typical sedan shape accentuated by subtle character lines and safe-looking 14-inch alloys. The rear, on the other hand, is a bit of deviation from the typical Kia styling.
The Kia Soluto is available in these colors: Clear White, Titanium Silver, Aurora Black Pearl, Blue Stream, and Marcato Red.
Interior
Kia elevates the Soluto’s cabin experience. Yes, plastic is found all over, but the execution and finish is nice and tight. A two-tone gray with beige leatherette upholstery is found on high variants while bits of chrome are available across the range. The overall cabin dimensions is fine for four people but adding a fifth occupant would be tight. Trunk space is relatively large for this car’s overall size.
Safety
The Kia Soluto comes with a decent range of safety features that are expected for this class. Two airbags take care of the front passengers, and there are three-point seatbelts all around; even for the center passenger in the rear. ABS and ISOFIX child seat tethers are also standard.
Pros & Cons
What you’ll love about the Soluto is its seamless infotainment system. You’ll also like its impressive fuel efficiency and its overall refinement.
However, you might not like the way that its transmission shifts, which is a bit early than normal. Plus, additional safety features should be added to this car.
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The Kia Soluto positions itself in a unique sweet spot in the sedan segment as it brings to the table features you wouldn’t normally find in the segment.
Ask our team of experts any question and we will do our best to give you the best answer possible.
Is the Kia Soluto a Chinese car?
The Kia Soluto is manufactured in China by DongFeng Yueda Kia. It's known as the Kia Pegas in China.
Does the Kia Soluto come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
All variants of the Kia Soluto comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Does the Kia Soluto come with a CVT?
The Kia Soluto is available in either 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed conventional torque converter automatic gearbox.
Is Hyundai Reina and Kia Soluto the same car?
Though they're technically competitors, the Hyundai Reina and Kia Soluto share the same platform – the Hyundai-Kia PB. However, the interior of both cars greatly differs from each other.
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