Compare the2025 Kia SoulVS 2025 Honda HR-V

Both the Soul and HR-V 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 HR-V’s Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

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

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 HR-V’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 Honda covers the HR-V. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the HR-V ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Soul has a standard 760-amp battery. The HR-V’s 410-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Soul third among small suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The HR-V isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in long-term dependability. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated below average.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Soul is faster than the Honda HR-V:

On the EPA test cycle the Soul gets better mileage than the HR-V:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Soul’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The HR-V doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Soul stops much shorter than the HR-V:

For better traction, the Soul GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the HR-V (235/45R18 vs. 225/55R18).

The Soul GT-Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the HR-V Sport’s 55 series tires.

The Soul has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The HR-V doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Soul handles at .91 G’s, while the HR-V EX-L AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Soul executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the HR-V EX-L AWD (26.8 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Soul’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the HR-V’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.1 feet). The Soul’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the HR-V Sport’s (34.8 feet vs. 37 feet).

The Kia Soul may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Honda HR-V.

The Soul is 1 foot, 2.6 inches shorter than the HR-V, making the Soul easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Soul has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the HR-V (102.2 vs. 98.7).

The Soul has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and 5.4 inches more rear hip room than the HR-V.

The front step up height for the Soul is 2.2 inches lower than the HR-V (16.2” vs. 18.4”). The Soul’s rear step up height is .5 inches lower than the HR-V’s (17.4” vs. 17.9”).

The Soul has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the HR-V with its rear seat folded (62.1 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

The Soul uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The HR-V uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

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 HR-V doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the Soul and the HR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Soul is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The HR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Soul’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The HR-V’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Soul EX/GT-Line has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The HR-V doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Compared to the Honda HR-V, the Kia Soul eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Soul will be $2853 to $4474 less than for the Honda HR-V.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Soul and the Honda HR-V, based on reliability, safety and performance.