2025 Kia Soul vs 2025 Toyota RAV4

$20,490 · Wagon

$29,800 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the affordable 2025 Kia Soul and the dominant 2025 Toyota RAV4 often comes down to budget versus space. The immediate $9,310 price gap is the biggest hurdle, as the Soul starts at just $20,490 while the RAV4 begins at $29,800. Despite this, both front-wheel-drive vehicles deliver an identical 30 MPG combined, though the RAV4 pulls ahead slightly with 35 MPG highway compared to the Soul’s 33 MPG highway. Power is another key difference: the RAV4 boasts 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, significantly overshadowing the Soul's 147 hp and 132 lb-ft. However, the Soul’s compact 165.2-inch length makes it nimbler. Ultimately, buyers must weigh the RAV4's substantial 37.6 cu ft of cargo capacity against the Soul’s excellent entry price.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Soul

The 2025 Kia Soul wins for commuters due to its significantly lower starting MSRP of $20,490.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Toyota RAV4

The 2025 Toyota RAV4 is better for families thanks to its significantly larger 37.6 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Soul's 24.2 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Toyota RAV4

The 2025 RAV4 offers better performance metrics with 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque.

💰 Best Value

2025 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul provides exceptional value by offering the same 30 MPG combined efficiency for nearly $9,310 less.

Choose the Kia Soul if...

Your budget is firmly under $21,000, as the Soul starts at $20,490.
You prioritize maneuverability, given the Soul’s shorter length of 165.2 inches.
Daily running costs are primary, benefiting from the lower entry price point.

Choose the Toyota RAV4 if...

You need maximum hauling ability, supported by the RAV4's 37.6 cu ft of cargo space.
You prefer stronger acceleration provided by 203 hp versus the Soul's 147 hp.
You want a traditional 8-speed automatic transmission over a continuously variable transmission.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Soul	Toyota RAV4
Length	165.2"	180.9"
Width	70.9"	73.0"
Height	63.0"	67.0"
Wheelbase	102.4"	105.9"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	—
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Multi-Adjustable Headrests	✓	—
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Fixed Headrests	✓	—
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	—
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
LED Headlights	—	✓
Daytime Running Lights	—	✓
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	147 hp @ 6200 rpm	203 hp @ 6600 rpm
Torque	132 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm	184 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	—	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Transmission Type	continuously variable-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	27/33 MPG	27/35 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	30 MPG	30 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	386.1/471.9 mi.	391.5/507.5 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.3 gal.	14.5 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Cruise Control	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	—	✓
Rear Cupholders	—	✓
Front Seatback Storage	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	8.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	6
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Audio/Video Remote Control	✓	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓
Satellite Radio	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	—	3 months

Power Feature

Feature	Kia	Toyota
One-Touch Power Windows	1	4
Remote Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Front Head Room	39.9 in.	39.5 in.
Front Leg Room	41.1 in.	41.0 in.
Front Shoulder Room	55.5 in.	57.8 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	6-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	4-way
Front Hip Room	—	54.3 in.

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Rear Head Room	39.5 in.	39.5 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.8 in.	37.8 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	54.7 in.	56.4 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Rear Hip Room	—	47.7 in.
Folding Center Armrest	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Wheel Material	Steel	Steel
Wheel Cover Type	✓	Full
Wheel Size	16 x 6.5 in	17 x 7.0 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P205/60R H	225/65R17
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted

Suspension

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Front Suspension Type	Independent	—
Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	—	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	—	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	2 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	—	2 yr./ 25000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Soul and 2025 Toyota RAV4.

How much more spacious is the 2025 RAV4 compared to the 2025 Soul?

The RAV4 offers substantially more room for your gear, boasting 37.6 cu ft of cargo capacity. The Kia Soul provides 24.2 cu ft, meaning the RAV4 offers over 13 cubic feet more storage volume.

Since the MPG is the same, is the RAV4 more powerful for highway merging?

Yes, the RAV4 is much stronger on the highway; it produces 203 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, significantly outpacing the Soul's 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque, which will make passing easier.

What is the actual price difference between the base models?

The difference is substantial; the 2025 Toyota RAV4 starts at $29,800, making it $9,310 more expensive than the $20,490 starting price of the 2025 Kia Soul.

Do both vehicles require regular unleaded fuel?

Both the Kia Soul and the Toyota RAV4 are designed to run efficiently on regular unleaded gasoline, which helps keep ongoing fuel costs predictable for both models.

Which vehicle handles city driving better?

The 2025 Kia Soul is likely better for tight city maneuvering because it is physically shorter in length at 165.2 inches, compared to the bulkier 180.9-inch RAV4.

Are the transmissions very different between these two FWD models?

They use very different setups; the Soul uses a continuously variable-speed automatic (CVT), while the RAV4 utilizes a conventional 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission.