Compare the 2025 Kia Soul vs the 2025 Nissan Kicks
2025 Kia Soul vs 2025 Nissan Kicks at Tempe Kia
If you want a subcompact crossover SUV that's roomy, easy to drive, and packed with useful features, the 2025 Kia Soul is a wise choice. It is being challenged by the 2025 Nissan Kicks, which offers an available all-wheel drive. Which vehicle is the better option for you? Find out in this Kia vs Nissan comparison.
Interior Comparison
Inside the Soul, you'll find a roomy cabin with enough space for five passengers. Both the front and rear seats are well-suited for adult passengers, making them excellent for longer trips or daily carpooling. The seats themselves are supportive, especially up front. While the standard setup includes cloth upholstery and manual adjustments, you can upgrade to synthetic leather, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat for extra comfort.
The Soul really stands out in cargo space. With 24.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and up to 62.1 cubic feet when folded down, it ranks among the top in its class. While there's a small hump near the rear seat base, loading up groceries, gear, or luggage remains easy thanks to the overall space and accessibility.
The Kicks, meanwhile, also seats five but places an extra emphasis on seat comfort, particularly in the front row, where well-padded seats are available. Headroom and legroom are generous up front, while the rear seats are best for shorter trips or smaller adults.
The Kicks comes standard with cloth seats and manual adjustments, but buyers can upgrade to premium cloth or a mix of cloth and synthetic leather. Heated front seats and even a heated steering wheel are available, adding comfort during colder months.
In front-wheel-drive Kicks models, you get 30 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 60 cubic feet with them folded, slightly smaller than the Soul. All-wheel-drive trims lose a bit of that space, but the Kicks still makes loading bulkier items easier thanks to its wide cargo opening.
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2025 Kia Soul |
2025 Nissan Kicks |
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Rows: Two Max Seating: Five Max Cargo Capacity: 62.1 Cubic Feet Upholstery Options: Cloth (Standard), Synthetic Leather (Optional) |
Rows: Two Max Seating: Five Max Cargo Capacity: 60 Cubic Feet Upholstery Options: Cloth (Standard), Cloth or a Mix of Cloth and Synthetic Leather (Optional) |
Power and Performance
Under the hood, every Soul is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, making 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. It's enough for errands and short trips. The engine is matched to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that delivers smooth acceleration without jerks or hesitation.
All Kicks models use a 141-horsepower 4-cylinder engine paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. Power delivery is decent for casual driving. While the CVT isn't exactly sporty, it does a commendable job of keeping the ride consistent. All-wheel drive is available, which adds an extra layer of versatility for those who drive in varied weather conditions.
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2025 Kia Soul |
2025 Nissan Kicks |
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Base Engine: 2.0-Liter 4-Cylinder Horsepower: 147 Torque: 132 lb-ft Transmission: CVT Base Engine: 2.0-Liter 4-Cylinder |
Base Engine: 2.0-Liter 4-Cylinder Horsepower: 141 Torque: 140 lb-ft Transmission: CVT, All-Wheel Drive (Available) |
Tech and Entertainment
The Soul stands out with its intuitive and responsive infotainment system. The touchscreen reacts quickly to inputs, making it easy to switch between navigation, music, or settings without fumbling around. What makes it even better is the thoughtful inclusion of physical buttons for commonly used functions, like volume and climate control. These tactile controls mean you don't have to rely on the screen for everything, which can be beneficial when you're on the move and need to make quick adjustments without taking your eyes off the road for too long.
The Kicks, on the other hand, offers a more basic tech experience in its lower trims. The standard touchscreen is simple, which makes it easy to use, but it doesn't come with many bells and whistles. If you just want the basics, this setup does the job.
However, things improve noticeably with the upgraded, larger screen, bringing better graphics and smoother software performance. The menus are straightforward, so there's no learning curve, and a few physical controls are included, helping you make quick changes without digging through digital menus.
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2025 Kia Soul Top 5 Technology Features |
2025 Nissan Kicks Top 5 Technology Features |
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8-Inch Touchscreen (LX), 10.25-Inch Touchscreen (Other Trims) 6-Speaker Stereo (LX), 10-Speaker Harman Kardon Stereo (S, GT-Line, and EX)
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7-Inch Touchscreen (S), 12.3-Inch Touchscreen (SV and SR) 4-Speaker Sound System (SR), 10-Speaker Bose Stereo (SR Trim with the SR Premium Package)
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Safety Features
The Soul has received mostly good safety scores from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). What really helps the Soul stand out is its generous suite of standard driver-assistance features, even on lower trims.
You get essentials like forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, which helps alert you if someone's in your path and even assists with braking. There's also a lane-departure warning, which nudges you if you start to drift out of your lane without signaling.
The Kicks also performs well in safety, earning good ratings from the IIHS. It comes with its own helpful mix of features designed to help you drive safely. Standard blind-spot monitoring keeps an eye on vehicles you might not see in your mirrors, while forward and reverse collision warning help alert you to possible crashes from either direction.
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2025 Kia Soul Safety Features |
2025 Nissan Kicks Safety Features |
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Tempe Kia’s Bottom Line
This 2025 Kia Soul vs 2025 Nissan Kicks comparison shows that both vehicles are excellent but cater to slightly different buyers. The Soul is best for drivers who need extra room, simple tech, and lots of storage. The Kicks is a good choice for people who want comfort, easy driving, and the option for all-wheel drive. However, the Soul stands out for its practicality.
If you think the Soul is for you, why not take it for a test drive? If you're in Tempe, AZ, visit Tempe Kia today. Let our friendly staff help you find the perfect Soul trim for your needs and budget.
Disclaimer: This content was drafted with AI assistance for initial drafting, reviewed by a subject-matter expert for accuracy, and edited by our team of writers and editors.