Nissan Kicks vs Kia Soul: Which Compact SUV Is Right for You?
Nissan Kicks vs Kia Soul: Which Compact SUV Is Right for You?
Posted on June 2, 2025
Looking to choose between the Nissan Kicks vs Kia Soul? This article compares these compact SUVs in key areas like pricing, features, fuel economy, performance, and safety to help you make an informed decision.
Key Takeaways
- Nissan Kicks is slightly pricier but packed with safety tech, while Kia Soul is more budget-friendly with strong infotainment features.
- The fuel efficiency is similar, but the Kia Soul offers more horsepower and a sportier driving experience.
- Both models excel in safety features, but Kia Soul has better warranty coverage and more advanced safety options.
Pricing and Value
The Nissan Kicks comes at a higher initial cost than the Kia Soul, but offers an impressive suite of features alongside a reliable, smooth driving experience.
When it comes to pricing and value, both the new Nissan Kicks and Kia Soul are solid contenders in the compact SUV market here in Calgary.
The Kicks comes loaded with a great set of standard safety features, giving it good bang for your buck. Its starting price strikes a nice balance between cost and what you get. On the other hand, the Kia Soul is a bit easier on the wallet, offering a more affordable option without skimping on quality or features.
Starting just under $30,000, the Nissan Kicks is a bit pricier compared to the Kia Soul, which kicks off around $23,000. For Calgary drivers keeping an eye on their budget, that price difference could definitely sway your decision when looking for a feature-packed yet affordable compact SUV.
The base Nissan Kicks impresses with a 7-inch touchscreen, automatic emergency braking, and a rearview camera, offering excellent value right from the start. Meanwhile, the Kia Soul’s base model features a larger 8-inch touchscreen along with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a rearview camera, making it a strong choice for those who prioritize connectivity and infotainment on the go.
Fuel Economy and Performance
The Kia Soul offers slightly higher MPG for city driving, making it a great option for a daily commuter vehicle.
Fuel economy and performance are key factors for Calgary drivers when choosing between the Nissan Kicks and Kia Soul. Both vehicles are designed to deliver efficient fuel consumption and a smooth driving experience. The Kicks offers a combined fuel economy of 31 MPG, while the Soul is recognized for its balanced handling and stability, especially around city corners and highway curves.
In city driving, the Nissan Kicks gets an estimated 28 MPG, and 36 MPG on the highway. The Kia Soul closely follows with 29 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway. Both SUVs run on regular unleaded fuel, making them budget-friendly choices for daily commutes and weekend getaways around Calgary and beyond.
Under the hood, the Nissan Kicks comes with a 1.6L 4-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque, providing enough pep for urban and suburban roads. The Kia Soul steps it up with a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine delivering 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, giving drivers a bit more power for highway merging and hill climbs in the Calgary area.
When it comes to handling and responsiveness, both the Nissan Kicks and Kia Soul offer a great driving experience tailored for city life in Calgary. The Nissan Kicks shines with its nimble handling and quick steering response, making it easy to navigate busy urban streets. It also comes with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that ensures smooth acceleration whether you're cruising down Deerfoot Trail or weaving through downtown traffic.
On the other hand, the Kia Soul delivers a sportier feel with balanced handling that’s perfect for both city driving and those weekend trips out of town.
Exterior Design and Dimensions
The Nissan Kicks and Kia Soul both catch the eye of Calgary drivers with their distinctive styles that appeal especially to a younger crowd. The Nissan Kicks sports a sleek silhouette highlighted by its unique floating roof design.
Size and Ground Clearance
When it comes to size and ground clearance—key for tackling Calgary’s varied roads—the Nissan Kicks measures about 169.1 inches long, while the Kia Soul is a bit shorter at roughly 165.2 inches. The Kicks offers a ground clearance of 177 mm, which helps when navigating rougher patches or snowy conditions.
The Kia Soul sits a little lower, with a ground clearance around 6.7 inches, giving it a more stable feel on smoother city streets.
Design Highlights
Both SUVs come equipped with LED headlights, which not only improve visibility during those long Calgary winters but also add a modern touch to their looks.
The Nissan Kicks features sharp, refined LED headlights that boost nighttime driving confidence and complement its sporty exterior, as well as a flashy new front grille to turn heads on the street.
Interior Comfort and Space
What the Nissan Kicks might lack in cargo space, it more than makes up for with ample passenger space in both the front and back seats.
Comfort and space inside the cabin play a big role in making every drive enjoyable. The Nissan Kicks offers generous shoulder and hip room along with ample rear legroom, ensuring passengers have plenty of space to stretch out. The Kia Soul boasts a roomy interior with plenty of headroom and legroom, making it comfortable for everyone on board.
Front Seats
When it comes to front-seat space, the Kia Soul tends to feel a bit more spacious for passengers compared to the Nissan Kicks. In the Kicks, front headroom measures about 39.7 inches without a moonroof and 38.9 inches with one, while the Soul offers a slightly roomier 40.6 inches of headroom.
Front legroom in the Kicks is around 42.7 inches, with the Soul close behind at approximately 41.1 inches.
Rear Seat Comfort
The backseat of the Nissan Kicks is comfortable, with rear headroom measuring 38.5 inches without a moonroof and 38.0 inches with one. Rear legroom comes in at 34.5 inches, which is plenty for most passengers.
Rear shoulder room in the Kicks is 54.7 inches, matching the front seat dimensions for a balanced feel.
Cargo Space
If you need room for gear or groceries, cargo space matters. The Nissan Kicks offers up to 60 cubic feet of cargo volume when the rear seats are folded down.
The Kia Soul edges ahead here, providing up to 62.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, giving you extra flexibility for larger items. Plus, the Kicks features a flexible cargo floor that can be adjusted to fit taller items, perfect for Calgary’s diverse hauling needs.
Technology and Infotainment
The Kia Soul's stylish infotainment system includes a multitude of cutting-edge technology and connectivity features.
Both the Nissan Kicks and Kia Soul come loaded with tech and infotainment features designed to make your drive around Calgary more enjoyable. The Kia Soul includes standard goodies like a touchscreen infotainment system and easy smartphone integration. The Nissan Kicks also offers essential features like automatic emergency braking and a rearview camera as standard.
Infotainment Systems
When it comes to infotainment, both vehicles keep you connected on the go. The Kia Soul boasts a larger touchscreen than the Nissan Kicks, making it easier to navigate menus and apps. Both support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so hooking up your phone is a breeze.
While the Nissan Kicks sticks with a more basic setup, the Kia Soul steps it up with an advanced system that offers optional navigation—handy for Calgary drivers exploring beyond city limits.
Advanced Features
For those who want a bit more, the Kia Soul offers available features like lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control, adding extra safety and convenience on Calgary’s busy roads. The Nissan Kicks also has adaptive cruise control but only as an option, and it’s not available on the Soul’s base model.
Both SUVs pack a solid lineup of tech features that boost safety and make your daily drives smoother and more connected.
Safety Features
Lane departure warnings and automatic emergency braking are just a few of the standard safety features found in both the Nissan Kicks and the Kia Soul.
Safety is a top priority for both the Nissan Kicks and Kia Soul, giving Calgary drivers peace of mind on the road. The Nissan Kicks comes standard with features like automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and blind spot monitoring. The Kia Soul adds advanced options such as rear cross-traffic alert and lane departure warning to help keep you aware and safe.
Both vehicles include lane departure warning systems to alert you if you unintentionally drift out of your lane. The Nissan Kicks also offers high beam assist and rear cross-traffic alerts as part of its standard safety package, enhancing visibility and awareness during Calgary’s varying driving conditions.
Driving Dynamics and Handling
Driving dynamics and handling play a big role in comfort and confidence when cruising around Calgary’s diverse roads. The Kia Soul’s higher ground clearance gives drivers a better vantage point, which is handy for city streets and occasional rough patches.
Both the Nissan Kicks and Kia Soul come standard with front-wheel drive, boosting fuel efficiency and providing responsive handling suited for Calgary’s urban and suburban driving. The Kia Soul’s final drive axle ratio of 5.715 helps deliver peppy acceleration, perfect for merging onto busy Calgary highways.
When it comes to suspension, the Soul’s multi-link rear setup offers a smooth, stable ride, while the Kicks uses a front strut and rear beam suspension that balances comfort and control. Both vehicles have braking systems designed to keep you safe and confident behind the wheel, whether navigating downtown or heading out on weekend adventures.
Available Now at Country Hills Nissan
Whatever your choice, Country Hills Nissan has an extensive inventory of exciting models from both Nissan and Kia that are sure to impress.
To wrap things up, both the Nissan Kicks and Kia Soul bring their own strengths to the table for drivers here at Country Hills Nissan. The Kicks shines with its up-to-date safety features and solid pricing, offering great value for your money. It delivers nimble handling, a comfortable ride, and versatile cargo space that fits a variety of lifestyles. Meanwhile, the Kia Soul impresses with its lower starting price, roomy interior, and cutting-edge infotainment system.
Plus, the Soul’s longer warranty and more powerful engine options make it a standout choice in the compact SUV category. In the end, your decision comes down to what matters most to you. Whether it’s top-notch safety, the latest tech, or overall value, both the Kicks and Soul have plenty to offer drivers at Country Hills Nissan.
Why not try them both out for yourself? Contact us today to book a test drive, and our experienced team of sales advisors will help you figure out which option is the best fit for your needs and lifestyle.