Honda HRV or Kia Soul?

[ms.yt]

Honda will last longer than a Kia. If you keep your car until they die, buy Honda.

Everyone I know that has a Kia would love to trade it in because it is constantly in the shop.

We have had our SOUL for 6 years and have 165,000 miles on it- never had it in the shop for anything other than scheduled maintenance. We love ours and plan on driving it for at least another 5 years. It has been the most reliable car we have ever owned.

My husband's 2012 Soul has been very reliable as well, but I know Honda is known for their reliability. This is part of my problem making a decision. I guess it's going to come down to me driving both and seeing which dealership will make me a better offer.

 

[xlxo]

but we're wanting to reduce our car payments from what we had with our minivan

fyi.... the amount of fuel savings each month when stuck in congestion..... covers the car payments on my Prius.

 

[Poohbug]

I have a Honda Fit which was recently recalled and was given a Kia Soul as a loaner. The cars were very similar to drive and comparable passenger space but the cargo space seemed very small in the Kia compared to the Honda. The HRV should be a bit bigger than a Fit. So if cargo space is important, I would go with the Honda.

 

[ms.yt]

I have a Honda Fit which was recently recalled and was given a Kia Soul as a loaner. The cars were very similar to drive and comparable passenger space but the cargo space seemed very small in the Kia compared to the Honda. The HRV should be a bit bigger than a Fit. So if cargo space is important, I would go with the Honda.

That's great information, thanks!

 

[MrsDuck]

Absolutely a Honda over a Kia.

 

[Tinijocaro]

I am in the same boat as the OP. Currently driving a 2001 Odyssey, 201,000 miles on it. The check engine light has been on (and off) for four years. We are going to drive it till it dies and are planning what car to get next. I will have three kids in college in two years (one grad school and two undergrad) so I'll need to be able to move the kids and their stuff. Our other vehicle is a Prius.

 

[MomofKatie]

I will say that the Soul doesn't have a great amount of cargo space in the back unless the seats are folded down. That is one of the few things we don't absolutely love about it. The other is the gas mileage- we average about 28-30mpg based on if we are driving around town or more on the interstate. Not bad mileage, but we actually expected a bit better.

A big pro for us is the size- parking is a breeze, even in those tight "compact car" spots. The tight turning radius is also a great thing. It is a small car, but doesn't "seat small"- we feel like we have a lot of head and leg room.

Overall, we would definitely buy another Soul, no question. We are seriously considering purchasing a slightly used one for DD in the next year or so.

 

[ms.yt]

I drove both the HRV and Soul today, and I'm more confused than ever. I liked everything about the HRV except for the road noise when driving it. The Soul was quieter, but I felt kind of cramped in it. Both dealers are giving me a great trade in on my Honda Odyssey, so I can get either for a significantly lower payment than I've been used to. Now I just have to make a final decision!

 

[indygirl99]

I will say that the Soul doesn't have a great amount of cargo space in the back unless the seats are folded down. That is one of the few things we don't absolutely love about it. The other is the gas mileage- we average about 28-30mpg based on if we are driving around town or more on the interstate. Not bad mileage, but we actually expected a bit better.

A big pro for us is the size- parking is a breeze, even in those tight "compact car" spots. The tight turning radius is also a great thing. It is a small car, but doesn't "seat small"- we feel like we have a lot of head and leg room.

Overall, we would definitely buy another Soul, no question. We are seriously considering purchasing a slightly used one for DD in the next year or so.

Do you use the eco button. I get 30 city and up to 35 highway on both my 2010 and 2013 using the eco button.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

I drove both the HRV and Soul today, and I'm more confused than ever. I liked everything about the HRV except for the road noise when driving it. The Soul was quieter, but I felt kind of cramped in it. Both dealers are giving me a great trade in on my Honda Odyssey, so I can get either for a significantly lower payment than I've been used to. Now I just have to make a final decision!

Have you looked into the service departments? Maybe that will help you with your decision. I know service departments can be spotty with great service. I have always loved Honda service departments, but I didn't care for our Toyota service department. The Toyota said it repair our car, but they didn't repair it with a new part. I forget how we found out it was a used part, but I will never forget that they did it.

 

[MomofKatie]

Do you use the eco button. I get 30 city and up to 35 highway on both my 2010 and 2013 using the eco button.

Yes. I will have to check now that I am the main driver- DH was the one who got lower gas mileage, but he drives much faster than me (I think that affects it, yes?).

 

[leebee]

I know that everyone says "buy Honda" but I had to go with the bottom line financially and that was with the Soul. I love mine, as I pointed out up-thread. Just for info on storage space, yesterday I had me, DH, DD23 riding in the car. looking at a 2+ hour drive home. I put down the smaller part of the rear seat (I think it's a 60/40 split) and managed to fit a coffee table, bedside bookcase, cooler, 2 large suitcases, 2 bags of groceries, 3 backpacks, and 2 duffle bags into the back end. It was somewhat Tetris-like, fitting it all in, but we made it with space to spare!

I am getting 30mpg in the city, 36 on the highway. Not sure what the Soul is rated for, but it's WAY better than the 17mpg I was getting with my Grand Caravan (although I do miss my minivan some days- yesterday was one of them!)

 

[indygirl99]

Yes. I will have to check now that I am the main driver- DH was the one who got lower gas mileage, but he drives much faster than me (I think that affects it, yes?).

Yes how fast you drive does affects it. DH drives the 2010 and I have him trained that if the green light goes out that it is really, really bad and now he drives much better.

The 2013 adjusts automatically unless you go over 75.

Love that eco button.

 

[DawnM]

I would buy a Honda. I have two friends with Kias and they have had issues right around the 8 year mark and on.

I prefer Honda but we have Toyotas. The last 2 cars we have purchased (Sequoia in '04 and Camry Hybrid in '14) we looked at Honda and Toyota and Toyota offered a significantly better discount (we were looking at the Accord hybrid but they were scarce at the time and you had to order and wait and due to supply and demand there was no discount.)

Anyway, that is my long way of saying I vote for the Honda if you plan to keep it more than 7 or 8 years.

 

[MariMama]

Yes how fast you drive does affects it. DH drives the 2010 and I have him trained that if the green light goes out that it is really, really bad and now he drives much better.

The 2013 adjusts automatically unless you go over 75.

Love that eco button.

The eco button also significantly reduces your engine power, so if you need to get up to highway speeds on a ramp or pass on a 2 lane highway, make sure it is off.

 

[tvguy]

BREAKING NEWS. KIA has best quality of any brand according to JD POWER report just released..
http://www.startribune.com/car-qual...urce=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link

 

[indygirl99]

The eco button also significantly reduces your engine power, so if you need to get up to highway speeds on a ramp or pass on a 2 lane highway, make sure it is off.

Actually the eco makes it easier to get up to speed whether it is the ramp onto the highway or passing. I have had no problem at all even in the mountains on my last vacation.

I have had my Soul since April of 2009 when the first ones rolled of the line. I do a considerable amount of highway driving, getting on and off those ramps and have actually done my study of one and can tell you the eco button makes a huge difference for me.

YMMV how long have you had your Kia Soul?

 

[MariMama]

Actually the eco makes it easier to get up to speed whether it is the ramp onto the highway or passing. I have had no problem at all even in the mountains on my last vacation.

I have had my Soul since April of 2009 when the first ones rolled of the line. I do a considerable amount of highway driving, getting on and off those ramps and have actually done my study of one and can tell you the eco button makes a huge difference for me.

YMMV how long have you had your Kia Soul?

Our Honda has an eco button and the salesman told us not to use the eco button to pass or on highway ramps to get up to speed. I can immediately tell the difference in power when I turn it off.

 

[indygirl99]

Our Honda has an eco button and the salesman told us not to use the eco button to pass or on highway ramps to get up to speed. I can immediately tell the difference in power when I turn it off.

Well I can't speak for the Honda as I have never driven one but I can tell you that for the Kia Soul it DOES work like it is supposed to when you leave it on all the time. No loss of power at all.

Having to remember do I turn it on or off and then remember to do the opposite at the right time would drive me up the wall and definitely make me a distracted driver. That is probably why I also don't drive a stick.

 

[xlxo]

I drove with ECO 98% of the time to save fuel.... especially in the city and stuck in congestion.

• Standard mode on highways
• Power Mode for 15 to 30 seconds to pass slow traffic before reverting back to Standard or Eco mode.