Comparing the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Kia Soul

The current Chevrolet Trailblazer is a fairly new model, having first entered our Chevrolet of Spring Valley showroom in 2020 as a 2021 model. It is the smallest of Chevrolet’s extensive line of SUVs and crossovers. The Kia Soul has been one of its brand’s smallest vehicles since 2010. It is the sole survivor, if you will, of the box-on-wheels models of that time, which included the appropriately named Nissan Cube, the Scion xB, and, on a larger scale, the Honda Element. The Soul is now in its third generation. Despite very different appearances, the Trailblazer and the Soul have much in common. And there are some distinct differences. Let’s look at the two together.

Similarities

Though the Trailblazer is longer and has a longer wheelbase, the cabin dimensions are very similar. The front and rear legroom, shoulder room, and front headroom are all 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

Chevrolet and Kia take two different routes to propel these small models. There once was a turbocharged Soul, but now all 2024 Souls are powered by a 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 to the front wheels. There is no AWD option.

The Trailblazer starts with a smaller 1.2-liter inline-3 engine but turbocharges it, resulting in 137 hp @ 5,000 rpm and 162 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm. The greater torque accessing at little more than half the rpm adds a punch to the Trailblazer that the Soul just does not have. This engine is also connected to a CVT that drives the front wheels. 

All Trailblazer trim levels offer all-wheel drive, 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, which is standard on front-wheel drive ACTIV and RS grades. 

Efficiency

Efficiency is one of the calling cards for models of this size. In another similarity, the Soul and Trailblazers with the smaller engine have the same EPA-estimated combined mpg of 30. They trade off on how they get there, with the Soul getting 27 in the city to the Trailblazer’s 29, while on the highway, the Soul gets 33 to the Trailblazers 31. The larger engine improves the FWD TrailBlazer’s fuel economy with EPA-estimated mpg of 29 city / 33 / 31. AWD models get 26 / 29 / 27.

Interior Features

Both models seat five. 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 model line but requires a wired connection. Upgrading from the base model also gets you remote start, a wireless phone charger, and 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. Also standard is the 8-inch configurable digital driver’s information center. It is a matter of taste, but the Trailblazer dash has 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

A step up to the S grade includes rear sensors, which bring:

• 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

Also, the Trailblazer can claim an overall 5-star NHTSA safety rating, while the Soul has a 4-star rating. 

With its higher level of features, the Trailblazer costs a little more, with a starting MSRP of $24,395 compared to the Soul’s $20,190. Both model lines include four grades, with the Soul topping out at $24,490 as the base MSRP for top EX models and the Trailblazer having the same starting MSRP of $28,395 for the rugged-themed ACTIV or the sport-themed RS model. 

The TrailBlazer ticks all the boxes for someone looking for a small, efficient, and versatile crossover model. It has added attraction for those seeking the traction optimization of all-wheel drive. Now that you know the basics, pay a visit to Chevrolet of Spring Valley and test drive a Trailblazer for yourself.