2016 Kia Soul vs. 2016 Mazda CX-3

It hardly seems like a fair fight. Though they both qualify as crossover vehicles with hatchbacks and nice fuel economy, one model stands a cut above. We're talking about the 2016 Kia Soul vs. 2016 Mazda CX-3, both nice vehicles, to be sure, but let's see which has the best features and value.

The 2016 Mazda CX-3 has fairly standard design for a crossover, with a long, lean look, while the 2016 Kia Soul is a paragon of pulchritude with its smooth-yet-boxy exterior and its spacious interior, which can handle both passengers (to the tune of 101 cubic feet worth) and cargo with equal panache. The 2016 Soul's cargo room is 61.3 cubic feet, which easily tops the CX-3's 44.5 cubic feet – that could make the difference between packing those extra blankets for a camping trip or freezing inside the tent instead. And that's not the only place where the 2016 CX-3 doesn’t measure up – the crossover's tech setup has a maximum touchscreen size of seven inches, while the Soul tops out at eight inches which will make it easier to see your options as well as make music or navigation selections while you're on the go.

2016 Kia Soul	Vs.	2016 Mazda CX-3
$11,670 (Friendly Kia VIP)	Price	$20,478 (The Competition)
61.3	Cargo Room (cubic feet)	44.5
Yes (7th consecutive year)	2016 IIHS Top Safety Pick?	No
10-yr/100k-mile powertrain, 5-yr/60k-mile bumper-to-bumper	Warranty Coverage	5-yr/60k-mile powertrain,3-yr/36k-mile bumper-to-bumper
8	Inches of Available Touchscreen Display	7
Yes	Best Urban Vehicle (Active Lifestyle Vehicle Awards)	No
Yes	2016 Best Cars for Families (U.S. News & World Report)	No

Ride on the Soul Train in the Tampa Clearwater St. Petersburg Area

We'll pass the mic to the experts for a bit and let them chime in on how versatile and valuable the 2016 Kia Soul is. The 2016 Kia Soul was named "Highest Ranked Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle in Initial Quality" by J.D. Power in its 2016 Initial Quality Study*. In addition, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates how well vehicles handle crash impact, and this prestigious group has deemed the Kia Soul a Top Safety Pick for seven years in a row, which will keep you feeling safer than in the 2016 Mazda CX-3, which was not named a 2016 Top Safety Pick. In addition, Kia's industry-leading 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain and five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty means the 2016 Soul's parts will be replaced for years after the 2016 CX-3's will.

The 2016 Kia Soul has more cargo room, better design and a sturdier construction than the 2016 Mazda CX-3, not to mention nice fuel economy at 24 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. Good news – we carry the Kia Soul at Friendly Kia, 5819 US Highway 19 in New Port Richey, FL. We also serve the Tampa, Clearwater and St. Petersburg area, as well as Trinity, Tarpon Springs and Spring Hill. Call us at 877-544-6706 or come visit us so you can take the Kia Soul for a test drive and fall in love today. If you plan on purchasing a new or used car, please take advantage of our trade-in policy and our exclusive partnership with Kelley Blue Book KBB.com's Trade-In Marketplace/Buying Center.

*Disclaimer: The Kia Soul received the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles among compact MPVs in the J.D. Power 2015-2016 Initial Quality Study. 2016 study based on 80,157 total responses, evaluating 245 models, and measures the opinions of new 2016 vehicle owners after 90 days of ownership, surveyed in February-May 2016. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com