Compare the2022 Kia SoulVS 2022 Cadillac XT4

The Soul’s optional 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 XT4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Soul and the XT4 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 crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems 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 Kia Soul is safer than the Cadillac XT4:

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Soul the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 121 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT4 has not been fully 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 XT4’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Soul 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Cadillac covers the XT4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the XT4 ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 14th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked fifth.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 6 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Soul 4 cyl. is faster than the Cadillac XT4:

On the EPA test cycle the Soul Turbo Auto turbo 4 cyl. gets better fuel mileage than the XT4 FWD (27 city/32 hwy vs. 24 city/30 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Soul uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT4 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

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 XT4 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Soul offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The XT4 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Soul stops much shorter than the XT4:

The Soul X-Line handles at .91 G’s, while the XT4 Sport AWD pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Soul Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XT4 Sport AWD (26.8 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Soul’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the XT4’s (34.8 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Kia Soul may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 850 pounds less than the Cadillac XT4.

The Soul is 1 foot, 3.9 inches shorter than the XT4, making the Soul easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Soul has 1.2 inches more rear headroom and 3 inches more rear hip room than the XT4.

The Soul has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XT4 with its rear seat up (24.2 vs. 22.5 cubic feet). The Soul has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT4 with its rear seat folded (62.1 vs. 48.9 cubic feet).

The Soul has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The XT4 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Insurance will cost less for the Soul owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Soul will cost $1000 less than the XT4 over a five-year period.

The Soul will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Soul will retain 51.21% to 55% of its original price after five years, while the XT4 only retains 41.8% to 41.95%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Soul is less expensive to operate than the XT4 because it costs $300 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Soul than the XT4, including $195 less for a water pump, $529 less for a muffler, $47 less for front brake pads, $17 less for a starter, $167 less for fuel injection, $76 less for a fuel pump, $6 less for front struts and $468 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Soul will be $16675 to $18967 less than for the Cadillac XT4.