The Kia Soul has been immensely popular in the subcompact SUV segment for years now, but it’s not for everyone. Some people may want to venture out of the Kia bubble, or perhaps want something that’s new and different. For many, the Hyundai Kona is the obvious next choice, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other options out there. In fact, here are four non-Hyundai Kia Soul alternatives that you can consider before making a purchase.

Don’t sleep on the Jeep Renegade

The 2022 Jeep Renegade has a starting price of around $23,695. The 1.3L engine can generate 177 hp and 210 lbs-ft of torque. There is room for five passengers, and up to 100 cu ft total. There is 50.8 cu ft of cargo room in the back. 

In comparison, the Kia Soul has fewer horsepower and torque. The Soul’s 2.0L 4-cylinder engine generates only 147 hp and 132 lbs-ft of torque. It does have more room inside, however.

There is room for five passengers, but with 120.9 cu ft of room, there is 20.9 extra cu ft which makes the ride much more comfortable for taller passengers. The cargo space has a total of 62.1 cu ft, giving it 12.1 cu ft more than the Renegade.

In the case of the Jeep Renegade vs the Kia Soul, it really boils down to whether you want more horsepower and torque, or more room. 

Stay within the brand and checkout the Kia Seltos

If you simply must have a Kia, then you actually have another subcompact SUV to choose from besides the Soul. The Seltos comes equipped with a 2.0L engine which generates 146 hp and 132 lbs-ft of torque. 

There is 53.2 cu ft in the front and 46.4 cu ft in the back for passengers. In total, there is 99.6 cu ft. As for the cargo room, there is 26.6 cu ft and 62.8 cu ft when the passenger seats are laid flat. The MSRP starts at $23,140, which is slightly more expensive than the Soul. 

In comparison, the Soul has one more horsepower than the Seltos. The Soul also has 21.3 extra cu ft when compared to the Seltos.

The Nissan Kicks compares favorably to the Kia Soul

The 2023 Nissan Kicks has a 1.6L four-cylinder engine that can generate 122 hp and 114 lbs-ft of torque. There is 43.7 cu ft of legroom in the front and 33.4 in the back. This gives the Nissan Kicks a total of 77.1 cu ft of legroom in total. In the back, there is 35.4 cu ft of cargo space with the seats up, and 53.1 cu ft with the seats down. It has a starting MSRP of $20,290.

In comparison, the Soul has a more powerful engine thanks to more horsepower and torque. There is also greater legroom, and cargo space. It’s also $500 cheaper than the Kicks.

Is the Toyota C-HR a diamond in the rough?

The Toyota C-HR is a favorite among critics, but how does it compare to the Kia Soul? To begin, it comes equipped with a 2.0L engine that generates 144 hp and 139 lb-ft of torque. This isn’t much different than the Soul.

There is 43.5 cu ft of legroom in the front and 31.7 in the back for a total of 75.2 cu ft of legroom in total. The Soul has more room. 

As for the cargo space, there is 19.1 cu ft with the rear seats up and 37.0 with the seats down. In comparison, the Soul has 25.1 more cu ft of space than the C-HR. The biggest difference is probably in the price. The C-HR starts at around $24,280.