For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota C-HR have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Kia Soul doesn't offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The Toyota C-HR has a standard driver's side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Soul doesn't offer knee airbags.

The C-HR's standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Soul and is only available on Soul X-Line/S/EX/GT-Line/Turbo.

The C-HR has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle's blind spots where the side view mirrors don't reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Soul's blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the C-HR has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Soul.

Compared to metal, the C-HR's plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Kia Soul has a metal gas tank.

Both the C-HR and the Soul have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights and rearview cameras.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota C-HR is safer than the Kia Soul:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota C-HR is safer than the Kia Soul:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The C-HR's 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Soul runs out after 100,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the C-HR for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the Soul.

There are over 62 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the C-HR's warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the C-HR's reliability 22 points higher than the Soul.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Kia is ranked 15th.

The C-HR's 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (139 vs. 132) than the Soul's standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

For better stopping power the C-HR's standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Soul:

The C-HR stops shorter than the Soul:

For better traction, the C-HR has larger tires than the Soul (225/50R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The C-HR's tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Soul LX/S' standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the C-HR has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Soul LX/S.

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota C-HR has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Kia Soul has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The C-HR has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the C-HR flat and controlled during cornering. The Soul's suspension doesn't offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the C-HR's wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the Soul (103.9 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

For better maneuverability, the C-HR's turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Soul's (34.2 feet vs. 34.8 feet).

The C-HR's power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Soul has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The C-HR's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Soul's power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver's window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the C-HR the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Soul can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the C-HR's headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Soul's headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the C-HR detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Soul doesn't offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the C-HR Limited has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Soul doesn't offer cornering lights.

The C-HR's standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia only offers heated mirrors on the Soul EX/Turbo.

The C-HR has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won't have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Soul EX/Turbo.

The C-HR will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the C-HR will retain 56.66% to 57.4% of its original price after five years, while the Soul only retains 48.44% to 52.07%.