Affordable Price Meets Unique Style: Kia Soul vs Hyundai Venue

The Kia Soul and Hyundai Venue are small crossovers with an economical price tag, good fuel efficiency, and a unique style. They’re also under the same parent company, so they compete for the same segment of buyers. Despite this, both models manage to do things a little differently.

Hatchbacks In Crossover Cladding

Even though the Kia Soul and Hyundai Venue are commonly called crossovers or SUVs, they’re more like lifted hatchbacks. Neither model offers AWD, and despite more ground clearance than your average hatchback car, they can’t match a regular crossover or SUV. However, the slightly elevated ride height over a car means it’s easier to get in and out of these two models.

Kia Soul Keeps the Cube Car Going

The Kia Soul dates back to the 2010 model year when there were a few other cube-shaped vehicles available. These included the Honda Element, Scion xB, and the Nissan Cube. Despite this competition, the Soul scraped its way to the top and remains a fixture in the market while the rest have disappeared.

The latest Kia Soul features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes a reasonable 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. That power is sent to the wheels via a CVT. The Kia Soul starts at just over $20,000 MSRP, making it one of the most affordable new vehicles you can buy. Even the top trim clocks in just under $25,000.

By using the larger Hyundai/Kia K3 platform, the Kia Soul offers quite a lot of cargo space and passenger volume.

The Hyundai Venue Offers a More Compact Package

The Hyundai Venue is based on the smaller Hyundai/Kia K2 platform, making it the smaller vehicle overall compared to the Kia Soul. Unlike the Soul, it’s not a cube car, and it looks even more like a raised hatchback. It comes with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder that makes a somewhat uninspiring 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. It also only comes with a CVT.

Compared to the Soul, the Venue gets fairly similar fuel economy, and it weighs less. However, the smaller size isn’t enough to make up for its not-particularly-powerful engine. There are three trims for the Hyundai Venue, and the base trim is even cheaper than the base Kia Soul. The base model offers similar tech features, though, such as an eight-inch touchscreen.

Hyundai sells fewer units of the Venue compared to the Kia Soul, but the automaker is sticking with it, and a new model should be out soon. On the other hand, there are rumors that the Soul may be discontinued after 2025.

Is the Kia Soul a Clear Winner?

In fact, the Kia Soul does a lot better than the Venue at a very similar price. It drives better and feels more energetic than the Hyundai Venue. It’s bigger inside and has more character on the outside. Both vehicles are surprisingly comfortable inside and are very beginner-friendly for those buying their first car. However, the Soul has the edge in many areas.

That extra horsepower around town is useful, and it’s even more useful on the highway with more passing power. The Kia is also more responsive in tight situations and around corners. For those looking for a truly compact crossover, the Soul’s larger size might be an issue, but in most areas, the Kia is the more logical choice.