Compare

Kia Niro vs Kia Soul

2025 Kia Niro vs 2025 Kia Soul — two rivals compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Kia Niro

2025 Kia Niro

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WDHybrid/EV
VS4 – 2Kia Niro wins 4 of 6 categories
Kia Soul

2025 Kia Soul

Small Station Wagons

Swap in a different car →

The short version

The Kia Niro is more fuel-efficient: 53 vs 31 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $1,450 a year less in fuel for the Kia Niro (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Kia Niro is the bigger car, about 9 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Kia Niro has had fewer recall campaigns (12 vs 18).

The two cars

The 2025 Kia Niro is a small SUV offered with a 1.6L 4-cyl engine, including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive. It measures about 174 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 107-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,717 lb (EV).

The 2025 Kia Soul is a small station wagon offered with a 2.0L 4-cyl engine and front-wheel drive. It measures about 165 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 102-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 2,844 lb (5dr Hatch).

Buying used? The 2021 Niro and the 2024 Soul have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2017 Niro and the 2015 Soul.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Class
Small Station Wagons
EV, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6L 4-cyl
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl
Front-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

53 MPG
Best combined MPG
31 MPG
53 city
City / highway MPG (best)
29 city
253 mi
EV range
–
$700
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$2,150

Performance & space

150 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
–
174 in
Length
165.4 in
71.7 in
Width
70.9 in
61.8 in
Height
63.8 in
3,217 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
2,844 lb

Safety & reliability

–
NHTSA overall rating
★★★★
13
Driver-assist features standard
10
1
Recalls (2025)
0
12
Recalls, all years since 2005
18
20
Owner complaints (latest year)
12

Interest

9,407
Wikipedia views, 30 days
8,254

Buying used

2021
Best used year
2024
2017
Year to avoid
2015

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Kia Niro if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (53 vs 31 MPG)
  • You want an EV with more range (253 miles)
  • You want more room (9 in longer)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option
  • You want more standard driver-assist tech
  • You put reliability history first (12 vs 18 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Kia Soul if…

  • You want something easier to park (9 in shorter)

Pros & cons of each

2025 Kia Niro

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 53 MPG combined — 83% better than the average 2025 small SUV (29 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric as well as gas.
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • Modest powerUp to 150 hp, versus about 203 hp for similar 2025 models.
  • No AWD or 4WDTwo-wheel drive only, unusual for a small SUV.

2025 Kia Soul

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 31 MPG combined — 15% better than the average 2025 small station wagon (26.9 MPG).
  • No recalls so far

Full 2025 Kia Niro specs →Full 2025 Kia Soul specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →