The 2025 Kia Soul and 2025 Hyundai Venue are boxy subcompact SUVs with fuel-sipping engines, outstanding warranties, and excellent outward views. Despite having starting prices under $22,000, each comes standard with smartphone connectivity and active safety systems like lane-keeping assist and a driver attention monitor.
These two small SUVs are great for car shoppers who want to keep their monthly finance or lease payments as low as possible. Tight turning circles and tidy dimensions mean the Soul and Venue are great for city driving and parking. Because of their square-shaped designs, headroom is abundant in both rows of seats, although one has a sizable advantage in legroom and cargo space.
Here’s how the Soul and Venue compare.
2025 Kia Soul
The 2025 Soul is available in four trims: LX, S, GT-Line, and EX. New for 2025 is the Soulmate edition, based on the EX trim. All are powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that sends 147 horsepower to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
Acceleration is modest, though perfectly fine for routine driving in city and highway traffic. EPA fuel economy of 30 mpg combined on most trims is average for a small SUV. The EX model scores one better at 31 mpg combined.
Kia Soul Highlights
Warranty coverage: The Soul comes with an excellent 5-year/60,000 bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. This alone might give the Soul the win, except for the fact that the Hyundai Venue has the exact same level of coverage.
Larger infotainment screen: Upgrading one trim above the base LX model nets a Soul buyer a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, satellite radio, smartphone connectivity, wireless device charging, and multiple USB ports. Depending on trim, the Soul includes or offers a power-adjustable driver’s seat, automatic climate control, blind-spot alert, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Passenger space, cargo volume: Compared to the Venue, the Kia Soul has about four inches more rear legroom and five extra cubic feet of cargo space behind its split-folding second row.
Sporty (looking) GT-Line: It’s not any quicker than the regular-brew Soul, but the GT-Line looks racier thanks to its 18-inch alloy wheels, trim-specific front and rear bumpers, flat-bottom steering wheel, and center-exit exhaust.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Soul models for sale near you.
2025 Hyundai Venue
The Hyundai Venue lineup consists of the SE, SEL, and Limited trims. Similar to the Kia Soul, the Venue is strictly front-wheel drive. There is no option to add all-wheel drive. Getting the show on the road is a 121-hp 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired to a CVT. The Venue’s powertrain is tuned for maximum fuel economy, not zero-to-60 bragging rights.
Hyundai Venue Highlights
Wireless smartphone connectivity: A Venue buyer gets wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the Venue SE and SEL trims. We love that even such low-priced trims get this highly practical feature.
Low ownership costs: Opting for the Hyundai Venue won’t just save you money at the dealership; it will save you cash in the long run. Among subcompact SUVs, the Venue has earned the top slot in our Lowest 5-Year Cost to Own rankings.
Hyundai SmartSense: Paying less for a new car or SUV doesn’t mean sacrificing safety. Every Venue comes with Hyundai SmartSense, a bundle of driver aids that includes automatic emergency braking, rear occupant alert, lane-keep assist, and more.
Limited cash for the Limited trim: Venue buyers who throw caution to the wind and choose the range-topping Limited will only spend about 25-grand or around $3,000 more than a base model without options. The Limited features LED headlights and taillights, navigation, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and wireless device charging.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Venue models for sale near you.
Similarities
These two boxy subcompact SUVs have identical warranties, and they won’t cost a bundle when you start adding options. Both of these small SUVs are targeted at car shoppers who want a lot of value but also like to have a bit of fun.
Pricing
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Kia Soul vehicles and New 2025 Hyundai Venue vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Kia Soul | 2025 Hyundai Venue | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 1.6-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 121 hp @ 6,300 rpm |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm | 113 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | CVT |
| Fuel economy MPG | 27 city/33 highway/30 combined | 29 city/32 highway/31 combined |
| Also Available | ||
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety Rating | 4-Star | 4-Star |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 102.4 inches | 99.2 inches |
| Overall Length | 165.2 inches | 159.1 inches |
| Width | 70.9 inches | 69.7 inches |
| Height | 63.0 inches | 61.6 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 34.8 feet | 33.2 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.9 inches | 39.4 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 39.5 inches | 38.6 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.1 inches | 41.3 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 38.8 inches | 34.3 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 55.5 inches | 53.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 54.7 inches | 53.7 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 24.2 cubic feet | 18.7 cubic feet |
Conclusion
These subcompact SUVs are very evenly matched, though the Soul has key advantages when you compare them side by side. It has a more powerful engine, a roomier rear seat, and a larger cargo area. The Soul also has near-identical fuel economy figures compared to the Venue, despite the fact it has 26 extra horsepower.
We like the Venue’s blend of budget-mindedness and versatility. You can get a couple of adults in the second row, though you might want to keep the journey short to maintain friendships. Seeing as how it’s six inches shorter than the Soul and has a tighter turning circle, the Venue is that little bit easier to navigate through the urban jungle.
As the Kia Soul offers slightly more vehicle for your money, we give it the edge in this comparison.
