Compare the2022 Chevrolet TraxVS 2021 Kia Soul

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Chevrolet Trax has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Soul doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Trax offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Soul doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Compared to metal, the Trax’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Kia Soul has a metal gas tank.

Both the Trax and the Soul 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Trax is safer than the Kia Soul:

	Trax	Soul
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	122	253
Neck Injury Risk	26%	26%
Neck Compression	12 lbs.	38 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	207	324
Chest Compression	.3 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	38%	39%
Neck Stress	122 lbs.	160 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Trax is safer than the Kia Soul:

	Trax	Soul
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	142
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	120 G’s	259 G’s
Hip Force	388 lbs.	490 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	100	422
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	73 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	707 lbs.	1090 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Trax’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Soul’s (6/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

There are almost 4 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Trax’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Trax’s reliability 23 points higher than the Soul.

Engine

The Trax’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 8 more horsepower (155 vs. 147) and 45 lbs.-ft. more torque (177 vs. 132) than the Soul’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Transmission

The Chevrolet Trax comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Soul.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Trax’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the Soul:

	Trax	Soul
Front Rotors	11.8 inches	11 inches

The Trax stops shorter than the Soul:

	Trax	Soul
70 to 0 MPH	166 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	119 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The Trax 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 Soul doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

Ergonomics

The Trax’s front and rear power windows all open fully with one touch of the switches and its driver’s window also automatically closes, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Soul’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

The Trax LT has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Soul doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Trax is less expensive to operate than the Soul because it costs $182 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Trax than the Soul, including $86 less for a starter and $159 less for fuel injection.

Recommendations

The Car Book by Jack Gillis recommends the Chevrolet Trax, based on economy, maintenance, safety and complaint levels.