Compare the2024 Kia SoulVS 2023 Subaru Crosstrek

Both the Soul and Crosstrek offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Soul with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning also has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Crosstrek’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Soul and the Crosstrek 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 and available blind spot warning systems.

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 Subaru Crosstrek:

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

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

There are over 22 percent more Kia dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Soul’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Soul second among small suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Crosstrek isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru 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 Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 81 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 22nd.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Soul is faster than the Subaru Crosstrek (automatics tested):

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

The Kia Soul comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Crosstrek.

The Soul stops much shorter than the Crosstrek:

For better traction, the Soul GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Crosstrek (235/45R18 vs. 225/60R17).

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 Crosstrek Limited’s 55 series tires.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Soul is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Crosstrek.

The Soul handles at .91 G’s, while the Crosstrek Limited pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Soul executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Crosstrek Limited (26.8 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Soul’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Crosstrek’s (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

The Kia Soul may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Subaru Crosstrek.

The Soul is 11.3 inches shorter than the Crosstrek, making the Soul easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Soul has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more rear headroom and 2.3 inches more rear legroom than the Crosstrek.

The front step up height for the Soul is 1.3 inches lower than the Crosstrek (16.2” vs. 17.5”). The Soul’s rear step up height is .6 inches lower than the Crosstrek’s (17.4” vs. 18”).

The Soul has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crosstrek with its rear seat up (24.2 vs. 20.8 cubic feet). The Soul has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crosstrek with its rear seat folded (62.1 vs. 55.3 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Soul easier. The Soul’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.8 inches, while the Crosstrek’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

The Soul uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Crosstrek 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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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

The Soul has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Crosstrek has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Premium/Sport/Limited.

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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

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 Crosstrek doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Insurance will cost less for the Soul owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Soul with a number “1” insurance rate while the Crosstrek is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Soul is less expensive to operate than the Crosstrek because it costs $54 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Soul than the Crosstrek, including $41 less for a water pump, $5 less for front brake pads, $163 less for a starter, $143 less for a fuel pump and $213 less for front struts.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Soul and the Subaru Crosstrek, based on reliability, safety and performance.