Compare the2025 Kia SoulVS 2024 Subaru Crosstrek

Both the Soul and Crosstrek 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 Crosstrek’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Soul and the Crosstrek have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 Crosstrek’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 Subaru covers the Crosstrek. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Crosstrek ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 23 percent more Kia dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Soul’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Soul third among small suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Crosstrek 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 Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 12th.

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 Subaru 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, Subaru is rated below average.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Soul is faster than the Subaru Crosstrek:

On the EPA test cycle the Soul gets better mileage than the Crosstrek:

The Soul stops much shorter than the Crosstrek:

For better traction, the Soul GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Crosstrek (235/45R18 vs. 225/60R17).

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 Crosstrek Sport/Limited’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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Soul handles at .91 G’s, while the Crosstrek Limited pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Soul executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Crosstrek Limited (26.8 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The Kia Soul may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 400 pounds less than the Subaru Crosstrek.

The Soul is 11.2 inches shorter than the Crosstrek, making the Soul easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Soul has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more rear headroom and 2.3 inches more rear legroom than the Crosstrek.

The front step up height for the Soul is 1.3 inches lower than the Crosstrek (16.2” vs. 17.5”). The Soul’s rear step up height is .6 inches lower than the Crosstrek’s (17.4” vs. 18”).

The Soul has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crosstrek with its rear seat up (24.2 vs. 19.9 cubic feet). The Soul has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crosstrek with its rear seat folded (62.1 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Soul easier. The Soul’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.8 inches, while the Crosstrek’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

The Soul uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Crosstrek 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 offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Crosstrek doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer a heads-up display.