2024 Kia Soul vs. 2024 Honda HR-V Comparison

The 2024 Kia Soul and 2024 Honda HR-V are subcompact SUVs with low starting prices, solid fuel economy, and cabins that deliver far more space than you expect from vehicles of their size.

Starting with the 2024 Soul, this generation dates back to the 2020 model year. Last year, the Soul got a subtle exterior freshening and more standard safety features, and the previously optional turbocharged engine was dropped from the lineup. Every Soul is now motivated by a 147-horsepower 4-cylinder engine that sends power to the front wheels courtesy of a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).

The 2024 Honda HR-V was majorly updated for the 2023 model year when it moved from the platform used by the discontinued Honda Fit to the one underpinning the latest Civic sedan and hatchback. This has brought added refinement in HR-V ride and handling. Under the hood, you’ll find a 158-hp 4-cylinder that, like the Kia Soul, is paired to a CVT. Unlike its pint-size front-wheel-drive rival, the HR-V is offered with a choice of FWD or all-wheel drive.

Let’s see how the 2024 Kia Soul and the 2024 Honda HR-V compare.

2024 Kia Soul

The Soul is either a high-riding hatchback or an SUV someone kept in the dryer for too long. This subcompact Kia certainly blurs the lines, though we think its combination of affordability, fuel economy, and class-leading warranty coverage make the Soul a compelling choice.

For 2024, the Soul is available in five trims: LX, S, GT-Line, and EX. They all have the same powertrain, so differences are limited to comfort, tech, and safety features. The Soul LX starts at $19,990, with the range-topping EX commanding $24,290. 

Kia Soul Highlights

10.25-inch touchscreen: Except for the base LX, every Soul comes with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen. We love the usability and quick response of this system. It comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, three USB ports, navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging. This is why we think it’s worth upgrading to at least the Soul S trim.

Passenger space; cargo volume: You wouldn’t expect the Soul to have such an adult-friendly degree of space in the first and second rows. But that familiar boxy shape translates to tons of headroom and legroom wherever you’re seated.

Value and warranty coverage: Sneaking in at just under $20,000, the 2024 Kia Soul is one of the most affordable small SUVs. Even a well-equipped Soul EX is priced at around $25,000. The icing on the cake is a class-leading warranty, which includes a 5-year/60,000 basic coverage and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Soul models for sale near you.

2024 Honda HR-V

The Honda HR-V is available in three trims: LX, Sport, and EX-L. Like the Kia Soul, the differences among this trio boil down to standard and available features. An HR-V LX, with an asking price of $24,100, comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, keyless entry, and remote start.

In addition to the Kia Soul, the 2024 Honda HR-V competes with the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross, Subaru Crosstrek, Hyundai Venue, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and Mazda CX-30.

Honda HR-V Highlights

Safety: Every HR-V comes with Honda Sensing, a suite of driver-aid features consisting of forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and more. The HR-V has earned top marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for its excellent performance in crash tests.

Cabin quality: After spending considerable time with some of these rivals, stepping into the HR-V cabin quickly reminds us why this SUV leaves us so impressed. The quality of the trim and design of the cabin is a cut above most other subcompact SUVs. A clever design flourish is a mesh-pattern trim panel (also seen in the Civic and Accord) that spans the width of the dashboard and neatly hides the air vents.

Driving refinement: Having moved to the highly regarded Honda Civic platform, the HR-V feels much smoother and more refined. The ride is better composed over rough surfaces, and the steering inspires confidence with its excellent response.   

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the HR-V models for sale near you.

Similarities

The Soul and HR-V are both practical and affordable means of transportation. Both are powered by 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engines. Neither is especially quick. Given their compact overall size, there’s a surprising amount of passenger space and trunk volume in both. Each has a CVT, which helps to deliver solid EPA fuel economy figures.

Conclusion

As stated, the Kia Soul and Honda HR-V offer plenty to shoppers on a budget. One does, though, have the advantage.

While the Soul is more affordable, slightly roomier, and has that killer warranty, it doesn’t quite match the refinement and sophistication of the HR-V.

Also in the Honda’s favor are smoother suspension, a higher quality interior, a better overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the fact that the HR-V can be had with FWD or AWD. The latter isn’t offered on the Kia Soul. The Honda HR-V is pricier, but it’s the more well-rounded choice.