2025 Kia Soul vs 2026 Ford Maverick

$20,490 · Wagon

$28,145 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The 2025 Kia Soul bursts onto the scene with its quirky, upright wagon design and an accessible starting price of $20,490, offering a zippy, city-friendly 27/33 MPG split. Excitement here lies in maximizing every dollar spent. Conversely, the 2026 Ford Maverick brings raw utility and surprising efficiency to the forefront, boasting a robust 191 hp and an astounding 42 MPG city rating, justifying its $28,145 MSRP with capability. The Maverick's 199.8-inch length offers significantly more footprint than the Soul’s 165.2 inches, yet the Maverick achieves superior fuel economy despite having 44 more horsepower than the Soul's 147 hp. While the Soul prioritizes compactness and budget, the Maverick clearly targets buyers needing more power, superior highway cruising, and utility inherent in its crossover body.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul wins for daily commuting due to its lower MSRP of $20,490 and better city maneuverability afforded by its smaller 165.2-inch frame.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Ford Maverick

The 2026 Ford Maverick is better suited for families because its significantly larger 68.8-inch height and 199.8-inch length provide greater perceived space and utility.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Ford Maverick

Enthusiasts will prefer the Maverick due to its superior 191 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque, offering a much punchier driving dynamic compared to the Soul's 147 hp.

💰 Best Value

2025 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul offers unbeatable initial value with a $7,655 lower price point, even though the Maverick offers 8 MPG better overall efficiency.

Choose the Kia Soul if...

Your primary concern is minimizing upfront cost, as the Soul starts $7,655 lower at $20,490.
You prioritize a more nimble city experience derived from its shorter 165.2-inch length.
You prefer the straightforward operation and efficiency tuning of a traditional FWD setup with a CVT.

Choose the Ford Maverick if...

You require a powerful highway cruiser needing the Maverick's 191 hp output.
Maximizing fuel efficiency is key, especially in urban environments where the Maverick achieves 42 MPG City.
You need superior hauling capability, indicated by its larger dimensions (e.g., 68.8 inches high vs. 63.0 inches).

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Soul	Ford Maverick
Length	165.2"	199.8"
Width	70.9"	72.6"
Height	63.0"	68.8"
Wheelbase	102.4"	121.1"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Ford
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	✓	✓
Brake Preparation System	—	✓
LED Headlights	—	✓
Daytime Running Lights	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Ford
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	hybrid
Horsepower	147 hp @ 6200 rpm	191 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque	132 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm	155 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable

Drive Train

Feature	Kia	Ford
Transmission Type	continuously variable-speed automatic	electrically variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Ford
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	27/33 MPG	42/35 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	30 MPG	38 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	386.1/471.9 mi.	579.6/483.0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.3 gal.	13.8 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Ford
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	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	—	✓
Front Seatback Storage	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Ford
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	13.2 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	✓	—

Power Feature

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

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Ford
Front Head Room	39.9 in.	40.2 in.
Front Leg Room	41.1 in.	42.8 in.
Front Shoulder Room	55.5 in.	57.3 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	—	55.4 in.

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Ford
Rear Head Room	39.5 in.	39.6 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.8 in.	35.9 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	54.7 in.	55.6 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Rear Hip Room	—	54.1 in.
Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Ford
Wheel Material	Steel	—
Wheel Cover Type	✓	—
Wheel Size	16 x 6.5 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P205/60R H	P225/65R17
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Underbody Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Steel
Wheel Diameter	—	17 in

Suspension

Feature	Kia	Ford
Front Suspension Type	Independent	Independent
Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Front Stabilizer Bar	—	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Ford
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.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Soul and 2026 Ford Maverick.

How much more powerful is the 2026 Ford Maverick than the 2025 Kia Soul?

The 2026 Ford Maverick packs a significant punch advantage with 191 horsepower compared to the 2025 Kia Soul’s 147 horsepower, equating to a difference of 44 hp for superior acceleration.

Which vehicle is the more efficient option for long road trips?

The 2026 Ford Maverick is the better choice for efficiency on long drives, achieving 35 MPG Highway, whereas the 2025 Kia Soul trails slightly with 33 MPG Highway.

Why is the Kia Soul significantly cheaper than the Ford Maverick?

The 2025 Kia Soul has an MSRP of $20,490, making it $7,655 less expensive than the 2026 Ford Maverick's starting price of $28,145, reflecting the difference in performance and utility focus.

Does the Kia Soul offer competitive cargo space?

The 2025 Kia Soul provides 24.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity, which is respectable for its compact size, though the larger 2026 Ford Maverick crossover will likely offer more usable space due to its greater overall volume.

What does the difference in body style mean for driving dynamics between these two?

The Kia Soul is categorized as a wagon with a lower 63.0-inch height, suggesting a car-like ride, while the taller 68.8-inch Maverick crossover hints at a higher seating position and potentially more robust handling capabilities inherent to its crossover structure.