Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2021 Kia Soul

small car / 4-door wagon

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

2021 Kia Soul 4-door wagon
2020 Kia Soul shown

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
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Optional system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

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 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Kia Soul S wagon

The Kia Soul was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Driver-side small 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
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN1909
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Footrest (cm) 3
Left toepan (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 1
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 3
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Upper dash (cm) 4
Lower instrument panel (cm) 4

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN1909
Head
HIC-15 254
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm) 27
Femur (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 0.9
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.44
Right 0.32
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.7
Right 1.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52
Right 72

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Kia Soul S wagon

The Kia Soul was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Hyundai/Kia.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP1916
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Footrest (cm) 7
Right toepan (cm) 4
Center toepan (cm) 2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 3
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 1
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 3
Right lower dash (cm) 4

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP1916
Head
HIC-15 115
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 22
Maximum Nij 0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 1.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 7
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.43
Right 0.47
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.5
Right 1.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52
Right 46

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP1916
Head
HIC-15 134
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm) 34
Femur (kN)
Left 0.3
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.21
Right 0.21
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 49
Right 52

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Kia Soul LX wagon

The Kia Soul was redesigned for the 2020 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 VTF1912
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 8
Left (cm) 15
Center (cm) 13
Right (cm) 5
Brake pedal (cm) 7
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 1
Rearward (cm) -1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1912
Head
HIC-15 235
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 14
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 32
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.2
Femur force - right (kN) 1.1
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.38
Maximum tibia index - right 0.28
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.2
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 46
Right 84

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Kia Soul LX wagon

The Kia Soul was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Side 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
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 VTS1914
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -21.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1914
Head HIC-15 161
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 28
Lateral force (kN) 1.2
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 33
Average deflection (mm) 31
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.15
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.68
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.8
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.5
Combined force (kN) 5.2
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.7
L-M moment (Nm) 148
A-P moment (Nm) 23

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1914
Head HIC-15 195
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.2
Compression (kN) 1.0
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 50
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34
Average deflection (mm) 27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.69
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.63
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.9
Combined force (kN) 1.9
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.8
L-M moment (Nm) 113
A-P moment (Nm) 80

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Kia Soul S wagon

Overall evaluation
Curb weight2,860 lbs
Peak force17,851 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio6.24

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 18
Distance below top of head (mm) 5
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.5
Head contact time (ms) 52
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 281

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

Headlights

Ratings are given for 4 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • GT-Line Turbo trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
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 High-beam assist credit

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

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • GT-Line Turbo trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 89.4 m None
Straightaway left edge 55.1 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 77.4 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 53.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 61.9 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.7 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 161.1 m
Straightaway left edge 145.0 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 83.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 65.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 63.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 52.9 m

Trim level(s)

  • S trim
  • GT Line trim
  • X-Line trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
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 High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate 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.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on the gradual right curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • S trim
  • GT Line trim
  • X-Line trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 59.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 37.5 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 49.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 38.2 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 43.5 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 36.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 136.5 m
Straightaway left edge 106.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 55.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 54.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 41.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 41.4 m

Trim level(s)

  • EX trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
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 High-beam assist credit Some glare

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

The low beams created some glare.

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.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • EX trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-21 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 117.3 m 52.8%
Straightaway left edge 50.4 m 52.8%
250m radius right curve, right edge 50.0 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 42.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 39.6 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 36.9 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 131.3 m
Straightaway left edge 115.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 49.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 50.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 38.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 41.7 m

Trim level(s)

  • LX 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 inadequate 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)
  • LX trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 59.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 37.5 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 49.5 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 38.2 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 43.5 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 36.4 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 136.5 m
Straightaway left edge 106.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 55.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 54.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 41.2 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 41.4 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

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

System details

  • Optional Forward Collision Avoidance-Assist with Pedestrian Detection

Package name

  • Optional - standard on Turbo trim

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-22 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, this vehicle avoided a collision.

System details

  • Optional Forward Collision Avoidance Assist

Package name

  • Optional (standard on S, GT-Line, X-Line, and EX trims)

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-22 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, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • optional Forward Collision Avoidance-Assist with Pedestrian Detection (FCA-Ped)

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to 2020-22 models of the following trim lines: GT-Line Turbo trim

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 24 mph.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 34 mph. A warning was issued 1.8 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimS
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 trimS
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) 2-4
Force (lbs) 24
Clearance angle (degrees) 67
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 76
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
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 Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
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) 25
Clearance angle (degrees) 63
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 17
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation