The hatchback car body style used to be seen as stuffy and boring. Now, thanks to modern styling, hatchbacks are chic and can make a bold statement. They are also pretty affordable. Two of the coolest hatch-type cars in 2020 are the Kia Soul and the Toyota Corolla hatchback. So, which one should you choose?

The 2020 Kia Soul has tons of personality

Starting price: 17,490

What we love about the Kia Soul is that it’s expressive. With the help of some risky marketing involving some spunky hamsters, we associate this hatch-type car with fun, excitement, and just the right amount of freakiness. The model has been completely redesigned for 2020 and is part of the third Soul generation.  Whether you like its boxy style or not, the overall exterior design of the Soul makes us feel something, and that’s one of the ultimate goals for a carmaker.

Overall, the Kia Soul is well-rounded. On the road, its agile and animated, making it easier to maneuver corners and bumps. You’ll appreciate its sharp handling and steering capabilities, plus its braking. 

For 2020, the model has a combined 31 mpg, which is up 2 mpg from its predecessor.  The interior is also pretty spacious and its roominess is one of its more notable features. Its super fun to drive, but at times it can feel a bit rigid.

Advanced safety doesn’t come standard on the 2020 model, but trims like the turbocharged GT-Line Turbo offer a suite of safety features and so does the lower tier Soul S model.

2020 Toyota Corolla hatchback is surprisingly sporty

Starting price: $20,290

Toyota has been trying to up the ante with its Corolla line to be even more competitive. We connect the Corolla with reliability first, and style, not so much. The Corolla hatchback option, however, offers more style and fun. It is smooth-natured, which makes driving easier and more enjoyable.

Fuel efficiency is a huge selling point for the Corolla hatchback. It has a 36 mpg and that helps it stand out in its class. It performs well on the road and is no trouble to control.  As far as the interior comfort goes, the model is so-so. It’s not bad by any means and there are multiple material options, but the finishings are a tad cheap.

Unlike the 2020 Kia Soul, advanced safety features come standard on the Corolla hatchback. The suite of advanced safety features is termed Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 and it includes helpful assists like forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Its angled design makes it easier to see out of which also helps with maintaining safety. 

The final verdict

The Kia Soul and the Corolla hatchback are both cool and affordable options for 2020. The remixed Corolla is sporty and practical, and we love that advanced safety comes standard on the model. On the flip side, we admire the Soul for its versatility and its compelling style. The Soul offers more customizations and lots of technology features for its price; because of this, the Soul is the winner of this battle.