2019 Kia Soluto Technology & Safety

The subcompact sedan category is home to a good number of nice vehicles that would appeal to first time car buyers, those looking for a second car, or for people who need a reliable city companion. Now, more than ever, vehicles under 800k need to be more than “decent”, as the segment has certainly started to shape up and become more competitive.

The Kia Soluto received high marks in our review, and is definitely a top contender in this category. It sets the bar high overall, but it’s still far from perfect. Let’s talk about the technology and safety features that the 2019 Kia Soluto in EX trim brings to the table and see if it warrants your hard earned money.

The 2019 Kia Soluto flaunts an impressive infotainment system across the board. Even the base models get a seven-inch infotainment screen with all the latest connectivity features for ease of use and integration with smartphones. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work flawlessly, and the audio comes through a set of six speakers. This currently makes the Soluto the best in segment when it comes to infotainment. Steering wheell mounted audio and bluetooth controls take care of volume adjustments, track selection, and calls while focusing on the road.

A reverse camera with rear parking sensors also puts the Soluto above its rivals, making an easy to park car almost foolproof when it comes to slotting in crowded city parking lots. You also get a comprehensive set of information courtesy of a 2.8-inch LCD driving display found in the instrument cluster, where range to empty, trip meters, fuel consumption, and an odometer are all standard. You also get projector front foglights, a rear foglight, manual levelling for a good pair of halogen headlights, and LED indicators in the wing mirrors.

The Kia Soluto comes standard with a set of two airbags, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, and ISOFIX mounts and tethering points for child seats. An immobilizer only comes with the top EX trim, and, unfortunately, an alarm system isn’t available. For all passengers, three point seatbelts are standard, and there’s even a reminder chime for the driver, so that’s a definite plus. Other than that, the Soluto is par for the course when it comes to safety. We would’ve liked to see stability control or emergency stop signal available, as those would’ve made this car every bit more safe.