Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2018 Kia Soul

small car / 4-door wagon

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights

2018 Kia Soul 4-door wagon

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2015-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Kia Soul wagon

The Kia Soul was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Beginning with 2015 models, the front-end and occupant compartment structure was strengthened to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained reasonably well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained reasonably well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1434
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Footrest (cm) 7
Left toepan (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 5
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 9
Upper dash (cm) 9
Lower instrument panel (cm) 8

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1434
Head
HIC-15 374
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.39
Chest maximum compression (mm) 29
Femur (kN)
Left 5.4
Right 0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 3
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 4
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.41
Right 0.56
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.7
Right 1.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 98
Right 75

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2015-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Kia Soul wagon

The Kia Soul was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Beginning with 2015 models, the front-end and occupant compartment structure was strengthened to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes.

Two passenger-side small overlap frontal tests of the Soul were conducted, one by the Institute of a 2018 model and the other by Hyundai/Kia of a 2017 model. Ratings are based on both tests.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
In both tests, the dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but then moved off toward the right side. In the Institute's test, the head moved so far forward and to the right that it hit the dashboard. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage in both tests to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed.
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the Institute's passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger's survival space was maintained well (Institute test car shown).

The dummy’s head slid off the right side of the frontal airbag and moved far enough forward to hit the dashboard hard (Institute test shown).

The passenger's space was maintained well in both tests, but forces on the right lower leg were just high enough to indicate the possibility of injuries in the test conducted by Hyundai/Kia. In the test conducted by the Institute (pictured), injury risk to both legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1704 CEP1713
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 9 9
Footrest (cm) 11 10
Right toepan (cm) 8 7
Center toepan (cm) 5 4
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 7 4
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 4 4
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 8 7
Upper dash (cm) 7 7
Right lower dash (cm) 7 7

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1704 CEP1713
Head
HIC-15 270 380
Peak gs at hard contact no contact 103
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9 16
Maximum Nij 0.26 0.28
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24 21
Femur (kN)
Left 0.7 0.2
Right 2.7 1.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 3 1
Right 4 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0 0
Right 0 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.35 0.39
Right 0.33 0.62
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.3 1.9
Right 1.2 4.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 57 60
Right 43 53

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1704 CEP1713
Head
HIC-15 289 239
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 23 13
Maximum Nij 0.23 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 31 36
Femur (kN)
Left 0.2 0.2
Right 0.3 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0 0
Right 0 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0 0
Right 0 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.24 0.32
Right 0.32 0.24
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.2 0.5
Right 1.0 0.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 43 39
Right 44 80

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2014-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Kia Soul Plus wagon

The Kia Soul was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1227
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 2
Left (cm) 11
Center (cm) 9
Right (cm) 5
Brake pedal (cm) 10
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 2
Right (cm) 2
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 4
Rearward (cm) 0
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1227
Head
HIC-15 324
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.38
Chest maximum compression (mm) 32
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.4
Femur force - right (kN) 0.6
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 3
Maximum tibia index - left 0.39
Maximum tibia index - right 0.54
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.3
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 61
Right 94

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2014-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Kia Soul wagon with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Kia Soul was redesigned for the 2014 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia. (The car tested was designated as a 2012 model but included all of the design changes of the 2014 models.)

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1234
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -13.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1234
Head HIC-15 582
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 34
Lateral force (kN) 1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 43
Average deflection (mm) 32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 5.79
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.76
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.7
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.0
Combined force (kN) 4.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 79
A-P moment (Nm) 21

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1234
Head HIC-15 136
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 1.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 48
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 32
Average deflection (mm) 28
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.22
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.45
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.8
Combined force (kN) 2.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.7
L-M moment (Nm) 161
A-P moment (Nm) 62

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2014-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Kia Soul Plus wagon

Overall evaluation
Curb weight2,905 lbs
Peak force15,304 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.27

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Cloth, manual seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Cloth, manual seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 25
Distance below top of head (mm) 6
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 11.9
Head contact time (ms) 52
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 14
Max neck tension (N) 399

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • + trim equipped with Primo Lit package
  • ! trim equipped with Technology package
Low-beam headlight typeHID projector
High-beam headlight typeHID projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left and gradual right curves and fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • + trim equipped with Primo Lit package
  • ! trim equipped with Technology package
Low-beam headlight type HID projector
High-beam headlight type HID projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2017-19 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 115.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 71.0 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 76.2 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 73.2 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 60.9 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 60.1 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 148.1 m
Straightaway left edge 133.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 76.7 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 77.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 62.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 60.9 m

Trim level(s)

  • Base trim
  • + trim
  • ! trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Base trim
  • + trim
  • ! trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2017-19 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 78.0 m None
Straightaway left edge 45.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 48.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 42.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 40.3 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 36.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 135.3 m
Straightaway left edge 62.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 55.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 49.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 43.8 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 40.5 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Optional Autonomous Emergency Braking

Package name

  • Optional Primo Lit Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2018-19 models

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 24 mph.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2015-19 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim+
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim+
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 19
Clearance angle (degrees) 66
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 18
Clearance angle (degrees) 65
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 22
Clearance angle (degrees) 70
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 25
Clearance angle (degrees) 71
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation