Comparing the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Kia Soul

The McFarland Chevrolet showroom first saw the current Chevrolet Trailblazer in 2020 as a 2021 model. It represents the smallest of Chevrolet’s extensive line of SUVs and crossovers. The Kia Soul precedes the Trailblazer by ten years. It was one of several small box-on-wheels models launched in the first decade of this century, along with the Nissan Cube, the Scion xB, and, though a bit larger, the Honda Element. The Soul is the only survivor among those models and is now in its third design generation. Despite different appearances, the Trailblazer and the Soul have much in common and also much that distinguishes them. This McFarland Chevrolet blog post takes you through a quick comparison. 

Similarities

Each model is the smallest 5-door model offered by its manufacturer. Though the Trailblazer is longer and has a longer wheelbase, the cabin dimensions of the two models are very similar. The front and rear legroom, front and rear shoulder room, and front headroom are all mere fractions of an inch apart. The Soul has a little over an inch more rear headroom. Cargo space behind the rear seats is also close, with the Trailblazer having an edge at 25.3 cubic feet compared to 24.2 for the Soul.

Drivetrain Differences

Despite their size similarity, Chevrolet and Kia take very different routes under the hood.  All 2024 Souls are powered by a normally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-4 producing 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm and 132 lb-ft of peak torque @ 4,500 rpm. The engine is combined with a CVT, which sends the power strictly to the front wheels. AWD is not available.

The Trailblazer’s base engine is notably smaller but has turbocharging to make up for it.  The 1.2-liter inline-3 engine produces 137 hp @ 5,000 rpm and 162 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm. That is about 23% more torque, peaking at a little more than half the rpm, and adds a swift response in round-town driving that the Soul just does not have. In standard form, this Trailblazer engine is also connected to a CVT that drives the front wheels. 

All Trailblazer trim levels offer all-wheel drive (AWD), and all AWD models are accompanied by a larger 1.3-liter turbocharged inline-3 engine producing 155 hp @ 5600 rpm and 174 lb-ft torque @ 1600 rpm. The larger engine is also paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission.  This engine and transmission combination is also standard on front-wheel drive ACTIV and RS grades. 

Efficiency

Efficiency is something you expect from models of this size. Another similarity is that the Soul and Trailblazers with the smaller engine have the same EPA-estimated combined mpg of 30. In city driving, the Soul is rated at 27 to the Trailblazer’s 29, while on the highway, the Soul gets 33 to the Trailblazer’s 31. The Trailblazer’s larger engine actually improves the TrailBlazer’s fuel economy on FWD models with EPA-estimated mpg of 29 city / 33 / 31. AWD models get 26 / 29 / 27.

Interior Features

The base Soul has an 8-inch touchscreen, upgrading to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation on the rest of the model line. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility is across the Soul model line but requires a wired connection. Upgrading from the base model also gets you a remote start, a wireless phone charger, as well as remote access functions through the Kia app. 

The Trailblazer features an 11-inch touchscreen across the model line, which is also wirelessly compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An 8-inch configurable digital driver’s information center is also standard. Tastes differ, but we find the Trailblazer dash to have a more upscale design than the oval-themed Soul dash.

Safety and Driver Assist

The base Soul has some but not all of the Kia Drive Wise suite of safety and driver-assist features. Standard are:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist w/ Pedestrian & Cyclist Detection
• Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist
• Intelligent Speed Limit Assist
• Driver Attention Warning
• Rear Occupant Alert

Stepping up to the S grade includes rear sensors, and with them come:

• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane Change Assist

The base Trailblazer LS has the same standard Safety and driver-assist features as the rest of the model line, which includes:

•  Automatic Emergency Braking
• Forward Collision Alert
• Front Pedestrian Braking
• Following Distance Indicator
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning

Available options include:

• Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert
• Rear Park Assist

In terms of crash protection, the Trailblazer can claim an overall 5-star NHTSA safety rating, while the Soul has a 4-star rating. 

The Trailblazer costs a little more, with a starting MSRP of $24,395 and rising to $28,395 for either the rugged-themed ACTIV or the sport-themed RS.  The Soul’s base MSRP starts at $20,190 and tops out at $24,490 as the base MSRP for top EX models. 

With more standard features and higher-torque engines, the TrailBlazer covers a lot of ground for anyone looking for a small, efficient, and versatile crossover model, including the traction optimization of all-wheel drive. The fact that you are still reading this means you must have an interest in this category, so the next step is to visit McFarland Chevrolet and test drive a Trailblazer for yourself.