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 |