2025 Kia Soul vs 2026 Subaru Crosstrek

$20,490 · Wagon

$26,995 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Deciding between the pragmatic, boxy charm of the 2025 Kia Soul and the slightly more robust, albeit pricier, 2026 Subaru Crosstrek often comes down to prioritizing budget versus capability. The Soul immediately jumps ahead on sticker price, starting at just $20,490 compared to the Crosstrek's $26,995, a $6,505 difference that buys a lot of gas money or insurance coverage. While both deliver similar fuel economy, achieving a combined 30 MPG in the Soul versus 29 MPG in the Crosstrek, the power discrepancy is noticeable: the Crosstrek offers 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque versus the Soul’s 147 hp. Interestingly, the slightly shorter Soul (165.2 inches long) beats the Crosstrek (176.4 inches long) on usable space, boasting 24.2 cu ft of cargo capacity to the Subaru's 19.9 cu ft, proving size isn't everything in the utility department.

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 lower starting MSRP of $20,490 and slightly better combined fuel economy at 30 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Kia Soul

Car1 offers superior cargo flexibility with 24.2 cu ft versus the Crosstrek's 19.9 cu ft, making packing easier despite the smaller exterior footprint.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Subaru Crosstrek

The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek provides significantly more power, delivering 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque compared to the Soul's 147 hp.

💰 Best Value

2025 Kia Soul

With a $6,505 lower entry price and essentially matching MPG figures, the Kia Soul offers substantially better value for money.

Choose the Kia Soul if...

Your budget is firm, as the 2025 Kia Soul starts $6,505 cheaper than the Crosstrek.
You need maximum accessible cargo volume, as the Soul offers 24.2 cu ft versus the Crosstrek's 19.9 cu ft.
Your daily drive consists mostly of city commuting where the 27 MPG city rating is well utilized.

Choose the Subaru Crosstrek if...

You regularly encounter challenging weather or light off-road situations requiring standard All-Wheel Drive.
You prioritize performance, benefiting from the Crosstrek's 180 horsepower output.
You prefer a longer vehicle (176.4 inches vs. 165.2 inches) that might feel more stable on the highway.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Soul	Subaru Crosstrek
Length	165.2"	176.4"
Width	70.9"	70.9"
Height	63.0"	62.8"
Wheelbase	102.4"	105.1"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Subaru
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	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Brake Preparation System	—	✓
LED Headlights	—	✓
Adaptive Headlights	—	✓
Daytime Running Lights	—	✓
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Subaru
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	flat 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	147 hp @ 6200 rpm	180 hp @ 5800 rpm
Torque	132 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm	178 lb-ft @ 3700 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	Subaru
Transmission Type	continuously variable-speed automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip
Hill Descent Control	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Subaru
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	27/33 MPG	26/33 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	30 MPG	29 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	386.1/471.9 mi.	431.6/547.8 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.3 gal.	16.6 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Subaru
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	—	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	—	✓
Rear Cupholders	—	✓
Front Seatback Storage	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Subaru
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	7.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	4
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Audio/Video Remote Control	✓	—
Auxiliary Audio Input	—	✓
Satellite Radio	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Length	—	4 months

Power Feature

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

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Subaru
Front Head Room	39.9 in.	39.8 in.
Front Leg Room	41.1 in.	42.9 in.
Front Shoulder Room	55.5 in.	56.8 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	—	55.1 in.

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Subaru
Rear Head Room	39.5 in.	38.0 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.8 in.	36.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	54.7 in.	55.3 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Rear Hip Room	—	53.2 in.

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Subaru
Wheel Material	Steel	—
Wheel Cover Type	✓	—
Wheel Size	16 x 6.5 in	17 x 7.0 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P205/60R H	P225/60R17
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Subaru
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.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Soul and 2026 Subaru Crosstrek.

How much more powerful is the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek than the 2025 Kia Soul?

The Crosstrek definitely packs a bigger punch; it generates 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. This is 33 hp more than the Kia Soul, which provides 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque.

Is the higher price of the Crosstrek justified by better fuel economy?

Not really, as the fuel economy is nearly identical. The Kia Soul achieves 30 MPG combined, while the Subaru Crosstrek gets 29 MPG combined, meaning the Soul saves you money at the pump too.

Which vehicle is better for hauling gear, given their cargo differences?

The 2025 Kia Soul is surprisingly better for hauling gear, offering 24.2 cubic feet of cargo space. The 2026 Subaru Crosstrek trails slightly behind with 19.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats.

Does the Crosstrek's AWD system warrant the $6,505 price hike over the FWD Soul?

If you need All-Wheel Drive for snow or slick roads, then yes, that capability justifies a significant portion of the cost difference. If you only drive on dry pavement, the front-wheel-drive Soul at $20,490 is the more financially sensible choice.

Are these vehicles similar in size, even though one is a wagon and the other a crossover?

They are similar in width (both 70.9 inches), but the Crosstrek is considerably longer at 176.4 inches compared to the Soul's 165.2 inches. Their height profiles are almost identical.

Do I need premium fuel for either of these base models?

No, fortunately, both the 2025 Kia Soul and the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek are specified to run on regular unleaded fuel, helping keep ownership costs down.