A CAR that Jeremy Clarkson once described as a “very nice place to be” can be bought for just £5,000, it has been revealed.
The Grand Tour host praised the model as a “serious player” for a “surprisingly low” price.
The car hasn’t necessarily been the first thing that springs to mind when Brits think of SUVs, but it comes with excellent references from the former Top Gear man.
First produced in 2008, the Kia Soul was an early entry into the now-exploding compact crossover market.
Interestingly, the model reportedly takes its name from the similar-sounding pronunciation of Seoul, the South Korean capital and home to Kia’s HQ.
The initial version received some criticism from reviewers for its interior design and comfort, but a 2012 facelift and the introduction of a Mk II version in 2013 seemed to address these issues.
Reviewing the 2014 Soul for The Sunday Times, Clarkson wrote: “When the first incarnation of this car went on sale in 2008 it looked unusual.
“[Kia decided] that this time there would be rather more than some silly styling.
“There would be some depth.
“This is a very nice place to be.
“And the prices are low….Surprisingly low, in fact.”
Despite that glowing review, that particular model year only sold 10,261 units in Europe.
It proved much more popular in the US, with 145,316 sold but they remain relatively sparse on the UK second-hand market.
That makes it perhaps all the more amazing that they are available for so cheap.
A listing on Auto Trader has a 2014 soul with 87,000 miles on the clock for just £5,000 miles.
And if you’re willing to go a bit older and accept a higher mileage, you can get a 2013 model with 109,000 miles on it for under £2,500.
It comes after an expert shared their top ten used cars for new drivers which can all be had for under £5,000.
