Compare the2024 Kia SoulVS 2024 Hyundai Kona

Both the Soul and the Kona 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, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 Kona has not been tested, yet.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 4 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

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

The Soul has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona’s standard fuel tank (14.3 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Soul has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kona N Line/Limited’s standard fuel tank (14.3 vs. 13.2 gallons).

The Soul is 6.1 inches shorter than the Kona, making the Soul easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Soul has 1.2 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear hip room than the Kona.

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 Kona doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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