2025 Kia Soul vs 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander

$20,490 · Wagon

$29,995 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the compact, efficient 2025 Kia Soul and the larger, newer 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander often comes down to balancing initial cost against sheer space. If your biggest headache is stretching your budget, the Soul is the clear frontrunner, starting at just $20,490 compared to the Outlander's $29,995—a massive $9,505 difference. However, if you need more presence, the Outlander offers 177 hp versus the Soul's 147 hp. Surprisingly, the smaller Kia dominates fuel efficiency, achieving a combined 30 MPG, while the larger Outlander’s efficiency figures were not specified against it, although generally larger vehicles consume more. For daily solo driving or short city commutes, the Soul's practical dimensions (165.2 inches long) make parking easier than the 185.8-inch Outlander. Ultimately, this comparison pits supreme budget sensibility against incremental gains in power and size.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul wins for commuters due to its superior fuel economy rating of 30 combined MPG and lower entry price.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Mitsubishi Outlander

The 2026 Outlander, being a crossover, offers a larger overall presence and superior passenger/towing capability implied by its greater size and higher torque (207 lb-ft).

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Mitsubishi Outlander

The Outlander offers more immediate performance appeal with 177 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque compared to the Soul's 147 hp.

💰 Best Value

2025 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul provides outstanding entry value, costing $9,505 less while still delivering practical transportation.

Choose the Kia Soul if...

You prioritize saving money upfront, as the $20,490 MSRP is significantly lower than Car 2.
You need excellent fuel mileage, benefiting from the Soul’s 30 combined MPG rating.
Maneuvering and parking in tight urban areas is crucial, thanks to its compact 165.2-inch length.

Choose the Mitsubishi Outlander if...

You need extra size, as the Outlander is over 20 inches longer than the Soul.
You desire stronger acceleration, evidenced by the Outlander's higher torque output of 207 lb-ft.
You require a vehicle with a higher stance, indicated by the Outlander's 68.7-inch height versus the Soul's 63.0 inches.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Soul	Mitsubishi Outlander
Length	165.2"	185.8"
Width	70.9"	74.7"
Height	63.0"	68.7"
Wheelbase	102.4"	106.5"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Mitsubishi
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	✓	✓
Blind Spot Monitor	—	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
LED Headlights	—	✓
Daytime Running Lights	—	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Mitsubishi
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	1.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	mild hybrid
Horsepower	147 hp @ 6200 rpm	177 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	132 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm	207 lb-ft @ 3600 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	Mitsubishi
Transmission Type	continuously variable-speed automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Mitsubishi
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	27/33 MPG	—
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	30 MPG	—
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	386.1/471.9 mi.	0/0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.3 gal.	14.5 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Mitsubishi
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	✓	—
Push Button Start	—	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	—	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	—	✓
Rear Cupholders	—	✓
Front Seatback Storage	—	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Mitsubishi
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	8
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	—	With Real Time Traffic
Satellite Radio Trial Period	—	3 months

Power Feature

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

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Mitsubishi
Front Head Room	39.9 in.	40.6 in.
Front Leg Room	41.1 in.	41.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room	55.5 in.	57.9 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	—	54.0 in.
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Mitsubishi
Rear Head Room	39.5 in.	39.1 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.8 in.	39.9 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	54.7 in.	55.9 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Rear Hip Room	—	53.3 in.
Folding Center Armrest	—	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Mitsubishi
Wheel Material	Steel	Alloy
Wheel Cover Type	✓	—
Wheel Size	16 x 6.5 in	18 x 7.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P205/60R H	P235/60R18
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	—
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	—

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Mitsubishi
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ 100000 mi.	7 yr./ 100000 mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Soul and 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander.

What is the price difference between the 2025 Kia Soul and the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander?

The 2025 Kia Soul starts at $20,490, which is substantially less than the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander's starting MSRP of $29,995. This results in a significant initial savings of $9,505 by choosing the Soul.

Which vehicle is better for long highway trips based on available fuel data?

The 2025 Kia Soul is mathematically superior for fuel efficiency, rated at 33 MPG on the highway and 30 combined MPG. While the Outlander's MPG wasn't specified, the Soul's smaller engine size suggests lower overall fuel consumption.

If I haul a lot of gear, how do the cargo capacities compare?

The Kia Soul offers a primary cargo capacity of 24.2 cubic feet, which is more than double the space offered by the 2026 Outlander, which lists 10.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

Is the 2026 Outlander notably more powerful than the Kia Soul?

Yes, the Outlander has a noticeable advantage in performance metrics, producing 177 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque compared to the Soul's 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque.

Are these two vehicles dramatically different in physical size?

They are quite different; the Outlander measures 185.8 inches long and 74.7 inches wide, making it much larger than the nimble 165.2-inch long and 70.9-inch wide Kia Soul.