Compare the2022 Honda HR-VVS 2022 Kia Soul

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the HR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The HR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Soul’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

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

Both the HR-V 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 crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

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

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 Honda HR-V is safer than the Kia Soul:

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

The HR-V’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Soul runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are over 39 percent more Honda dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the HR-V’s warranty.

The engine in the HR-V has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Soul have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

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 HR-V’s reliability 72 points higher than the Soul.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 10 places higher in reliability than Kia.

For better stopping power the HR-V’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Soul:

The HR-V stops shorter than the Soul:

For better traction, the HR-V has larger standard tires than the Soul (215/55R17 vs. 205/60R16).

The HR-V’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Soul LX/S’ standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the HR-V has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Soul LX/S.

The HR-V AWD has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the HR-V AWD flat and controlled during cornering. The Soul’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The HR-V has 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.

The HR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Soul GT-Line pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The HR-V Sport/EX/EX-L uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Soul doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The HR-V has .1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room and .5 inches more rear legroom than the Soul.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the HR-V’s rear seats recline. The Soul’s rear seats don’t recline.

The HR-V’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Soul has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The HR-V’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths. The Soul’s power windows’ switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

Consumer Reports rated the HR-V’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Soul’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the HR-V EX/EX-L detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Soul doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

Insurance will cost less for the HR-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the HR-V will cost $200 less than the Soul over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the HR-V is less expensive to operate than the Soul because it costs $210 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the HR-V than the Soul, including $13 less for a water pump, $42 less for a muffler, $7 less for front brake pads, $123 less for fuel injection, $150 less for a timing belt/chain and $216 less for a power steering pump.