Compare the2023 Kia SoulVS 2022 Hyundai Tucson

Both the Soul and the Tucson 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Soul first among small suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Tucson was rated second in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 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 2 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.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Soul is faster than the Hyundai Tucson:

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

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 Tucson doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Soul stops much shorter than the Tucson:

The Soul LX/S’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tucson’s standard 65 series tires. The Soul GT-Line’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Tucson’s optional 55 series tires.

The Soul handles at .86 G’s, while the Tucson Limited AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Soul executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Tucson Limited AWD (26.8 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Soul’s turning circle is 3.8 feet tighter than the Tucson’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

The Kia Soul may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 650 pounds less than the Hyundai Tucson.

The Soul is 1 foot, 5.1 inches shorter than the Tucson, making the Soul easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

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 Tucson doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Soul will be $4353 to $5178 less than for the Hyundai Tucson.