Compare the2023 Kia SoulVS 2022 Ford EcoSport

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Soul are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Soul has standard Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The EcoSport doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The Soul’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

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

Both the Soul and the EcoSport 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available 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 Ford EcoSport:

	Soul	EcoSport
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	26%	36%
Neck Stress	168 lbs.	403 lbs.
Neck Compression	38 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	49/286 lbs.	495/441 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	324	325
Neck Stress	160 lbs.	200 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	237/154 lbs.	329/236 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, results indicate that the Kia Soul is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	Soul	EcoSport
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	611 lbs.	685 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Soul is 4.4% to 5.7% less likely to roll over than the EcoSport.

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 Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The EcoSport has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

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 EcoSport’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 Ford covers the EcoSport. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the EcoSport ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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 Soul’s reliability 17 points higher than the EcoSport.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 10th.

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 Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 9 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Soul is faster than the Ford EcoSport:

	Soul	EcoSport
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	9.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.3 MPH	77 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

		MPG
Soul
	EX 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/35 hwy
	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/33 hwy
EcoSport
	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Soul higher (7 out of 10) than the Ford EcoSport (5). This means the Soul produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the EcoSport every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

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 EcoSport doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Soul stops much shorter than the EcoSport:

	Soul	EcoSport
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	186 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Soul GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the EcoSport (235/45R18 vs. 205/60R16).

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 EcoSport’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Soul GT-Line has standard 18-inch wheels. The EcoSport’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The Kia Soul’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford EcoSport only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Soul’s wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer than on the EcoSport (102.4 inches vs. 99.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Soul is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than on the EcoSport.

The Soul handles at .91 G’s, while the EcoSport Titanium pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Soul executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the EcoSport SE (26.8 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

Chassis

The Kia Soul may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 400 pounds less than the Ford EcoSport.

Passenger Space

The Soul has 11.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the EcoSport (102.2 vs. 91.1).

The Soul has 1.9 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear legroom, 1.9 inches more rear hip room and 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the EcoSport.

Cargo Capacity

The Soul has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the EcoSport with its rear seat up (24.2 vs. 20.9 cubic feet). The Soul has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the EcoSport with its rear seat folded (62.1 vs. 50 cubic feet).

The Soul’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The EcoSport’s swing out door blocks loading from the driver’s side.

Servicing Ease

The Soul uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The EcoSport 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.

Ergonomics

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 EcoSport doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 EcoSport doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Soul detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The EcoSport doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Soul S/EX/GT-Line’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The EcoSport doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Soul GT-Line offers an optional Smart Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The EcoSport doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia Soul S/EX/GT-Line has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) on the dashboard. The EcoSport doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Soul owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Soul will cost $335 less than the EcoSport 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 46.79% to 50.48% of its original price after five years, while the EcoSport only retains 44.94% to 46.13%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Soul is less expensive to operate than the EcoSport because typical repairs cost much less on the Soul than the EcoSport, including $56 less for a muffler, $20 less for front brake pads, $157 less for a fuel pump, $117 less for front struts, $397 less for a timing belt/chain and $52 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Soul will be $1238 to $4818 less than for the Ford EcoSport.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Soul, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Ford EcoSport isn't recommended.

The Kia Soul outsold the Ford EcoSport by almost two to one during 2022.