Kia Soul vs Honda HR-V

Style: Which Model Makes a Better Entrance?

The 2021 Kia Soul is a one-of-a-kind model with its distinctly boxy exterior that sets it apart from every other set of wheels on the road. This is also due in part to the unique exterior color options this model offers, including an earthy Undercover Green.

The Honda HR-V, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a similar green color. It’s also less distinct on the road with a somewhat round body that doesn’t provide quite the same arrival as the Soul. If you want to make a statement when you’re on the road, you may want to consider the Soul.

Kia Soul vs Honda HR-V: Infuse Your Journeys With Excitement

The 2021 Kia Soul keeps the customizability going with two capable engine options to choose from. Standardly, you'll get a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, which provides 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. It delivers an impressive driving response.

For a bit more pep in your step, you can swap this engine out for a 1.6L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. With this engine, you'll enjoy a whopping 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque.

With the 2021 Honda HR-V, you'll get one engine option: a 1.8L 4-cylinder i-VTEC®. While similar in size to the Kia Soul, the HR-V only gives you 141 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque.

Transmission Options

Your engine isn’t the only feature that determines how well your machine performs. The Kia Soul and Honda HR-V both offer transmissions to you save as much fuel as possible—an Intelligent Variable Transmission in the Soul and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) in the HR-V. This technology does away with traditional gears and utilizes a variable set of ratios to manage your crossover’s power.

For more versatility, the Kia Soul offers more transmission options, so you can equip your set of wheels with the performance that suits your tastes. Want more control over your Kia vehicle? Consider the standard 6-speed manual transmission. With the ability to switch gears on demand, the key to exhilarating acceleration is in your hand and foot.

Want smooth automatic shifting? The available 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is designed to provide seamless shifting between gears for a sporty and responsive ride. If you’re a connoisseur of design, you’ll love this feature.

Unfortunately, drivers who choose the Honda HR-V will only be working with a CVT. Drivers who like to have fun on their commutes won’t have as much to work with in that set of wheels.

Safety Features for Peace of Mind

The Kia Soul provides you with a slew of driver-assistive systems with the Kia Drive Wise suite. With this suite, you'll get many available features, like:

• Blind-Spot Collision Warning
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane Keeping Assist
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance
• Smart Cruise Control

You’ll find similar technology inside the Honda HR-V; however, one feature you won’t find inside the HR-V is the Driver Attention Warning system. In the Kia Soul, you can upgrade your model with this system, which will warn you if you’re showing signs of inattentiveness on the road.

Additionally, the Kia Soul is designed to help you keep your eyes on the road with the available Head-Up Display. This feature projects information from your dashboard onto your windshield so it’s in front of you. There’s no need to look away from the road. Unfortunately, if you’re looking at the Honda HR-V, you won’t find a similar feature.

Your Mobile Entertainment Center

Both the 2021 Kia Soul and the 2021 Honda HR-V offer similar infotainment features. In the center console of either model, you'll find an intuitive touchscreen system with Bluetooth^®, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration, navigation, and more. Smartphone integration is standard in the Soul and only an available feature in the HR-V.

However, if you’re a music lover looking to bring out the finest details in your favorite music, the Kia Soul is here to impress with its available 10-speaker Harman Kardon® Audio System. This technology makes full use of your ride’s acoustics to deliver an all-encompassing listening experience.

Looking at the Honda HR-V, you won’t find similar audio technology. The best you can upgrade to is a 6-speaker audio system, so you won’t work with as many premium speakers inside your ride.