The 2025 Kia Soul and 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer are small, budget-friendly SUVs that overdeliver when it comes to interior space and feature content.
Do you want smartphone connectivity, a prominent touchscreen, an adult-friendly second row, and plenty of safety-minded driver aids? And how about generous cargo space, good fuel economy, and sporty trim levels added to the mix, too?
The Soul and Trailblazer have all of the above and the benefit of affordable pricing, even when adding options or selecting upper trims. Each is fresh (Soul: 2023 and Trailblazer: 2024) from a midcycle update that added improved tech touches and exterior tweaks to keep them looking youthful.
Let’s take a closer look at the highlights of the Kia Soul and Chevrolet Trailblazer.
2025 Kia Soul
The funky and boxy Kia Soul can be had in four trims: LX, S, GT-Line, and EX. That upright shape pays off when it comes to interior space; there’s loads of headroom and legroom in the first and second rows. Cargo space is also ample, with about 24 cubic feet of room behind the rear seat.
Pricing starts at $21,665, including the factory-to-dealer destination charge. Every variant comes with a 147-horsepower 4-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The Soul is front-wheel drive (FWD); all-wheel drive (AWD) is not available.
Kia Soul Highlights
Outstanding warranty: SUV shoppers eager to avoid expensive hassles down the road will love knowing the Soul comes with the class-leading 5-year/60,000 basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Roadside assistance is also included for the duration of the basic warranty coverage.
Harman Kardon stereo: Optional on the GT-Line is a 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system that allows a Soul owner to do more than pump up the volume. The system comes with adjustable interior LED lighting that will pulse to the beat of your chosen tune. Yes, it’s silly — and we love it.
Optional infotainment system: A 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard in all but the entry-level LX trim. It has features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, three USB ports, navigation, and satellite radio.
Sporty GT-Line: Starting at $25,265, the GT-Line is the sportiest of the Soul’s various trims. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, a center-exit exhaust, restyled front and rear bumpers, and a flat-bottom steering wheel. While it’s not quicker than the other models, the design flourishes work nicely with this Kia’s fun-loving attitude.
Read our Kia Soul Expert Review or see 2025 Kia Soul models for sale near you.
2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer
The Chevrolet Trailblazer starts at $24,395 and has four available trims: LS, LT, Activ, and RS. Similar to the Kia Soul, the price spread between the lowest and highest trims is very reasonable at around $4,000. Serving duty as the standard powertrain is a 137-hp turbocharged 1.2-liter 3-cylinder paired to a CVT. A more potent turbo 3-cylinder is optional, as is all-wheel drive.
Chevrolet Trailblazer Highlights
Impressive infotainment system: Chevrolet equips every Trailblazer with an 11-inch touchscreen. Attractive and a breeze to use while driving, this system comes with niceties like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also features an equally handsome and user-friendly 8-inch digital instrument cluster.
Chevrolet Safety Assist: Just because it doesn’t cost a bundle of cash doesn’t mean this small Chevy SUV is stingy on safety equipment. The Chevrolet Safety Assist suite of driver aids is standard. It includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights.
Activ model: This is the Trailblazer for anyone who wants a go-anywhere attitude in their little cute-ute Chevy. The Activ model has an upgraded suspension for (modest) off-road adventures, black-painted 17-inch alloy wheels, and an underbody skid plate to avoid rock-meet-engine encounters. Inside, it’ll keep you toasty thanks to heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
Optional engine, AWD: We think the optional 155-hp turbocharged 1.3-liter engine is worth serious consideration. True, based on pure numbers, it doesn’t seem much more powerful than the base powertrain. Yet the added muscle and a traditional 9-speed automatic transmission make themselves apparent when you need an extra jolt of acceleration for passing and highway merges. It can also be paired with all-wheel drive. This stronger engine is optional on the LS and LT and standard on the Activ and RS.
Read our Chevrolet Trailblazer Expert Review or see 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer models for sale near you.
Similarities
The Soul and Trailblazer are stylish and perfectly sized for zipping around urban traffic. They’re practical, too, with lots of passenger space and cargo volume, given their modest proportions. Each also comes with an extremely intuitive infotainment system that wouldn’t look out of place in a more expensive vehicle.
Specifications
| 2025 Kia Soul | 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | Turbo 1.2-liter 3-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 137 hp @ 5,000 rpm |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm | 162 lb-ft @ 2,500 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | CVT |
| Fuel economy MPG | 27 city/33 highway/30 combined | 30 city/31 highway/30 combined |
| Also Available | Turbo 1.3-liter 3-cyl, 9-speed automatic, AWD | |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 4 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 102.4 inches | 103.9 inches |
| Overall Length | 165.2 inches | 173.5 inches |
| Width | 70.9 inches | 71.2 inches |
| Height | 63.0 inches | 65.2 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 34.8 feet | 36.8 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.9 inches | 40.0 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 39.5 inches | 38.4 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.1 inches | 40.9 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 38.8 inches | 39.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 55.5 inches | 55.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 54.7 inches | 53.8 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 24.2 cubic feet | 25.3 cubic feet |
Conclusion
These are very entertaining SUVs for anyone who wants a personality-driven vehicle with a low price tag. The Soul stands out thanks to its excellent warranty and interior quality that doesn’t look like Kia cut corners to keep this little SUV affordable.
The Trailblazer enjoys the advantage of offering all-wheel drive and a choice of two engines. Its ride is firmer than what you get in the Soul, however, so keep this in mind if a cushier suspension is a top priority.
