Top Safety Pick

2016 Kia Soul

small car / 4-door wagon

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention

2016 Kia Soul 4-door wagon — 2015 Kia Soul shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system	Basic

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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.)

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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

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.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
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 weight	2,905 lbs
Peak force	15,304 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	5.27

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)	13
Distance below top of head (mm)	-22
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	13.6
Head contact time (ms)	47
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	0
Max neck tension (N)	218

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

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

Optional Forward Collision Warning System

Package name

Optional Premium Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2016 models

Basic

with optional equipment

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
Autobrake not available.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2015-19 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
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.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	+
Seat type	cloth

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	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

Position	Rating
1
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
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
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

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

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

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