Kia Soul vs Chevrolet Trax
The Kia Soul is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 114 mpg combined versus 30 mpg for the Chevrolet Trax, a 84 mpg advantage and costs about $1,400 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Kia Soul leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
Chevrolet Trax
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 23 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Kia Soul | Chevrolet Trax |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 114 mpg ✓ | 30 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 127 mpg ✓ | 28 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 101 mpg ✓ | 34 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $650 ✓ | $2,050 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 287 g/mi ✓ | 296 g/mi |
| Engines offered | 2.0, SIDI | SIDI, SIDI; FFV, 1.4 |
| Transmissions | Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic (AM-S7), Manual 6-spd | Automatic 6-spd, Automatic (S6) |
| Drivetrains | Front-Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular, Electricity | Regular, Gasoline or E85 |
| EPA class | Small Station Wagons | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2025 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 43 | 23 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Soul vs Trax: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Kia Soul or the Chevrolet Trax?
The Kia Soul is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 114 mpg combined versus 30 mpg for the Chevrolet Trax, a 84 mpg advantage and costs about $1,400 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Kia Soul runs about $650 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,050 for the Chevrolet Trax — a difference of roughly $1,400 per year.
What engines do the Soul and Trax offer?
Kia Soul: 2.0, SIDI. Chevrolet Trax: SIDI, SIDI; FFV, 1.4.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Kia Soul as Small Station Wagons and the Chevrolet Trax as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Soul comparisons
Comparison id: kia-soul-vs-chevrolet-trax