Compare the2023 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2023 Kia Soul

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Tiguan has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Soul doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Tiguan SE R-Line Black/SEL R-Line has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Soul doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

The Tiguan SEL R-Line has a standard Area View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Soul only offers a rear monitor.

The Tiguan has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Soul’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tiguan has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Soul.

Compared to metal, the Tiguan’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.

The Tiguan has standard Car-Net, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Soul doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Tiguan 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available lane departure warning systems.

The Volkswagen Tiguan weighs 739 to 933 pounds more than the Kia Soul. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

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 Volkswagen Tiguan is safer than the Kia Soul:

	Tiguan	Soul
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	49	142
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	82 lbs.	259 lbs.
Hip Force	337 lbs.	490 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	156	422
Spine Acceleration	44 G’s	73 G’s
Hip Force	510 lbs.	611 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
Hip Force	855 lbs.	1090 lbs.

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, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tiguan its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 92 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Soul is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

The Tiguan’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Soul’s (7/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tiguan for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Soul.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Tiguan’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Soul’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Engine

The Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 37 more horsepower (184 vs. 147) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 132) than the Soul’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank has a gallon more fuel capacity than the Soul (15.3 vs. 14.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Soul (15.9 vs. 14.3 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Tiguan	Soul
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	10.3 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Tiguan has larger standard tires than the Soul (215/65R17 vs. 205/60R16). The Tiguan SE R-Line Black’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Soul (255/45R19 vs. 235/45R18).

The Tiguan SEL R-Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Soul GT-Line’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tiguan S has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Soul LX/S. The Tiguan SEL R-Line’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Soul GT-Line.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Volkswagen Tiguan has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Kia Soul has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

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

The Tiguan 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.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tiguan’s wheelbase is 7.5 inches longer than on the Soul (109.9 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

Passenger Space

The Tiguan offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Soul can only carry 5.

The Tiguan has 21.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Soul (123.9 vs. 102.2).

The Tiguan has .2 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear hip room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Soul.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tiguan’s middle row seats recline. The Soul’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Tiguan’s cargo area provides more volume than the Soul.

	Tiguan	Soul
Third Seat Folded	33 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	37.6 cubic feet	24.2 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	65.3 cubic feet	62.1 cubic feet
Max Cargo Volume	73.4 cubic feet	62.1 cubic feet

The Tiguan’s cargo area is larger than the Soul’s in almost every dimension:

	Tiguan	Soul
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	17.2”/39.7”/74.5”	n.a./26”/59”
Max Width	55”	45.6”
Min Width	39.8”	41.5”
Height	33.5”	33”

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Tiguan’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Soul doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Tiguan SE/SEL has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the Tiguan SEL R-Line, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Soul doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Tiguan has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Soul has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Tiguan SEL R-Line, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Soul doesn’t offer a memory system.

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

If the windows are left open on the Tiguan SE/SEL/SEL Premium the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the Soul can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Tiguan’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Soul’s power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Tiguan’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Soul’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Tiguan SE/SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Soul doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Tiguan SE R-Line Black/SEL/SEL Premium R-Line has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Soul doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Tiguan SEL Premium R-Line also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Tiguan’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia only offers heated mirrors on the Soul EX/GT-Line.

When the Tiguan SEL Premium is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Soul’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Tiguan SEL R-Line keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Soul doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Tiguan SEL R-Line’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Soul doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Tiguan and the Soul offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Tiguan has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Soul doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Tiguan SEL R-Line’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Soul doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Tiguan is less expensive to operate than the Soul because typical repairs cost much less on the Tiguan than the Soul, including $271 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Tiguan outsold the Kia Soul by 43% during the 2021 model year.