Compare the2026 Toyota Rav4VS 2025 Kia Soul

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Rav4 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Kia Soul doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Toyota Rav4 has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Soul doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Rav4 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Soul doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Rav4 SE/Woodland/XLE/XSE/Limited/GR Sport has a standard Parking Support Brake that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Soul doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Rav4 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Soul doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Rav4 Woodland/XSE/Limited/GR Sport has a standard Panoramic View Camera/Multi-Terrain Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Soul only offers a rear monitor.

The Rav4 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Soul’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Rav4 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Parking Support Brake on the SE/Woodland/XLE/XSE/Limited/GR Sport automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Kia charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning on the Soul.

The Rav4 has standard Safety Connect™, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Soul doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Rav4 and the Soul have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available driver alert monitors.

The Toyota Rav4 weighs 642 to 1032 pounds more than the Kia Soul. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

Warranty

The Rav4’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Soul runs out after 100,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Soul.

There are over 55 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 11th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 9th.

Engine

The Rav4’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 79 more horsepower (226 vs. 147) than the Soul’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Rav4’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 89 more horsepower (236 vs. 147) than the Soul’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Rav4’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 177 more horsepower (324 vs. 147) than the Soul’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Soul:

			MPG
Rav4
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	47 city/40 hwy
	AWD	LE/SE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	46 city/39 hwy
		XLE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	45 city/38 hwy
		2.5 4-cyl. Plug-In Hybrid	44 city/38 hwy
		XSE/Limited 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/37 hwy
		Woodland 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	41 city/35 hwy
Soul
	FWD	EX 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/35 hwy
		2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/33 hwy

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE/XSE can travel with zero emissions for 52 miles. The Soul can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Rav4’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Soul doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Rav4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Soul:

	Rav4	Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid	Soul
Front Rotors	12 inches	12.9 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.1 inches	12.4 inches	10.3 inches

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Soul are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Rav4 has larger tires than the Soul (235/65R17 vs. 205/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Rav4 LE has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Soul LX/S. The Rav4 XSE’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Soul GT-Line.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota Rav4 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Kia Soul has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Rav4 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Rav4 flat and controlled during cornering. The Soul’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Rav4’s wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than on the Soul (105.9 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

Passenger Space

The Rav4 has 1.8 inches more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Soul.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4’s rear seats recline. The Soul’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Soul with its rear seat up (37.8 vs. 24.2 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Soul with its rear seat folded (70.4 vs. 62.1 cubic feet).

The Rav4’s cargo area is larger than the Soul’s in almost every dimension:

	Rav4	Soul
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.8”	26”/59”
Max Width	60.5”	45.6”
Min Width	39.4”	41.5”
Height	36.7”	33”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4. The Soul doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Rav4 (except LE) offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the Rav4 XSE/Limited, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Soul doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Rav4 has a 1750 lbs. towing capacity. The Soul has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Rav4 uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Soul doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Rav4 XSE/Limited/GR Sport, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Soul doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Rav4’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Soul has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Rav4’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Soul’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Soul can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Rav4 has a standard Smart Key System that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Soul S/EX/GT-Line offers a Smart Key.

The Rav4’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Soul’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Rav4’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Soul’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

Both the Rav4 and the Soul offer available heated front seats. The Rav4 Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Soul.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Rav4 XSE/Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Soul doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Rav4’s optional (except LE) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Soul doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Rav4 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Soul S/EX/GT-Line.

Both the Rav4 and the Soul offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Rav4 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Soul doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to traditional radio, the Toyota Rav4’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Soul S/EX/GT-Line.

The Toyota Rav4 stands out above the Kia Soul by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and one of them provide more flexibility.

The Rav4 Woodland has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Soul doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Rav4 (except LE/SE/XLE)’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Soul doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Kia Soul by almost 9 to one during 2024.

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