Compare the2024 Kia SoulVS 2024 Buick Envista

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Kia Soul are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Buick Envista doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Soul and Envista offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Soul with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning also has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Envista’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Soul’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Envista doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Soul and the Envista have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available blind spot warning systems.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Soul the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 231 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Envista has not been tested, yet.

The Soul comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Envista’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Soul 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Envista. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Envista ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Soul’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Envista’s camshafts. If the Envista’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Soul has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Envista’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Soul second among small suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Envista isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked second.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 2 places higher in reliability than Buick.

The Soul’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (147 vs. 137) than the Envista’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Soul EX 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder gets better fuel mileage than the Envista (29 city/35 hwy vs. 28 city/32 hwy).

The Soul has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envista (14.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Soul has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Envista doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better maneuverability, the Soul’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Envista’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The Soul’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the Envista Avenir’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Soul is 1 foot, 5.4 inches shorter than the Envista, making the Soul easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Soul has 4.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Envista (102.2 vs. 97.5).

The Soul has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom, 7 inches more rear hip room and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envista.

The Soul has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envista with its rear seat up (24.2 vs. 20.7 cubic feet). The Soul has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envista with its rear seat folded (62.1 vs. 42 cubic feet).

The Soul Turbo has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Envista doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Smart Key standard on the Soul S/EX/GT-Line allows you to unlock the driver’s door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Buick Envista’s Pushbutton Start doesn’t unlock the doors or the cargo door.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Soul has a standard rear wiper. The Envista doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Soul S/EX/GT-Line’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Envista doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The Soul S/EX/GT-Line’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Envista’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Soul, based on reliability, safety and performance.