Jeep Renegade Vs. Kia Soul

SUVs have mostly given way to crossovers, but some buyers still miss the boxy rigs of yesteryear. Compact models like the 2019 Jeep Renegade and 2020 Kia Soul are happy to inject some of this boxiness into their modern styling, giving them standout looks and tons of interior space. Which of these boxy crossovers is better for our Orange Park buyers? Continue reading to find out.

Exterior

The 2019 Jeep Renegade and 2020 Kia Soul are card-carrying members of the rolling-toaster association, as they are both tall and boxy and look like… well… toasters on wheels. Though that may sound like a bad thing, there are tons of buyers who love this look. Plus, this boxy design is great for cargo.

The 2019 Jeep Renegade is a little long in the tooth, as its last redesign came in 2015, but this year’s model has a mild facelift that keeps things modern. The Renegade also sets itself apart with its 2-inch-higher ride height in the surprisingly capable Trailhawk model. Skewing toward the SUV side is the Renegade’s black body cladding and higher-sidewall tires.

The 2020 Kia Soul is all-new, but it retains the look that made it loved (and hated) by many. It was the crossover that started the boxy design language, and it has mastered this look over the years. In 2020, the Soul gets thinner headlights, an all-new front end, new taillights, and much more. While the Jeep Renegade focuses on maintaining some resemblance to SUVs, the 2020 Kia Soul boasts a more road-friendly look with sporty touches in its GT-Line and X-Line trims.

The 2019 Jeep Renegade is larger than the 2020 Kia Soul in every key measurable except wheelbase.

Advantage: 2020 Kia Soul

• Sportier looks
• Sleek and modern front end
• Smaller and easier to manage

Advantage: 2019 Jeep Renegade

• More SUV-like look
• Higher ride height in the Trailhawk model
• Rugged looking Trailhawk design

Interior

Inside, these crossovers continue with two distinct personalities. The 2019 Jeep Renegade continues its rugged ways with a simpler center-stack layout, a large grab bar on the passenger’s side of the dashboard, a higher-mounted gear shifter, squared-off trim pieces, and more.

The 2020 Kia Soul, on the other hand, shows off its sportier and more modern nature with its swoopier dash, more car-like gear shifter, massive 10.25-inch optional touchscreen, and available lighted accents around the speaker grilles and more.

In terms of standard features, the 2020 Kia Soul is better equipped with its 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and six-speaker audio system. Buyers have to move into the pricier Latitude trim to get these features in the 2019 Renegade. Plus, the Kia Soul is cheaper in its base format, adding value to buyers looking for tech over ruggedness.

As for seating and cargo room, the 2019 Jeep Renegade’s larger body gives it more room in the front seats, and more rear headroom and shoulder room. The Kia’s longer wheelbase gives it the upper hand in rear legroom and cargo room.

Advantage: 2020 Kia Soul

• Feature-packed cabin
• More stylish interior design
• Better base value in terms of tech
• More accessible advanced safety tech
• Tons more cargo room

Advantage: 2019 Jeep Renegade

• Rugged-looking cabin
• Toned down for buyers who want a simpler look
• Roomier front seats
• More headroom
• Stylish Trailhawk touches

Performance

Under their respective hoods, the 2019 Jeep Renegade and 2020 Kia Soul each have a pair of four-cylinder engine options. The Renegade gets a leg up in the standard power department with its 33-horsepower advantage, but its more off-road-focused powertrain leads to a much slower 0-to-60 time.

Both models’ optional powertrains are turbocharged four-cylinder units. The 2019 Renegade uses a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder that cranks out 177 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. The Soul’s range-topping GT-Line Turbo trim uses a 1.6-liter boosted unit that cranks out 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Again, the Renegade’s off-road-focused ways lead to a significantly slower acceleration time.

The 2019 Jeep Renegade can tow up to a 2,000-pound trailer, whereas Kia has announced no towing ratings on the 2020 Soul.  

Advantage: 2020 Kia Soul

• Huge fuel economy advantage
• Quicker to 60 mph
• Potent 1.6-liter turbo engine
• Super-smooth right

Advantage: 2019 Jeep Renegade

• Big-time off-road capability
• Light towing capabilities
• Traditional automatic transmissions

Pricing and Features

The 2019 Jeep Renegade comes in four trim levels — Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk — its prices range from $18,750 to $26,390.

The 2020 Kia Soul’s lineup includes six trims — LX, S, GT-Line, X-Lin e, EX, and GT-Line Turbo — and their starting prices range from $17,490 to $27,490.

2019 Jeep Renegade Key Features and Pricing by Trim

Sport: $18,750

• 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine
• Nine-speed automatic transmission
• Front-wheel drive
• Electric power steering
• Electronic parking brake
• 16-inch black steel wheels
• Black door handles
• Black front fascia
• Black grille surround with chrome rings
• Black, manual-adjust mirrors
• Daytime running lights
• Halogen headlights
• Power windows with one-touch-up/down front windows
• Variable intermittent windshield wipers
• Rear wiper
• Four cargo-area tie-down loops
• Full-length front console with armrest
• 3.5-inch driver-information center
• Front and rear carpeted floor mats
• Outside temperature display
• 12-volt power outlet in the center stack
• Premium cloth seating with mesh insert
• Accent stitching
• Six-way manual driver’s seat
• Four-way manual passenger’s seat
• 60/40 split-folding rear seat
• Urethane steering wheel
• Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
• Bluetooth
• USB port
• Six-speaker AM/FM audio system
• Uconnect 3 infotainment system
• 5-inch color touchscreen
• Keyless ignition
• Hill-start assist
• Rearview camera with dynamic guidelines
• Trailer-sway control

Latitude: $22,095

• All Sport features, plus
• Body-color door handles
• Tinted windows
• Automatic headlights
• Cornering lights
• Body-color, power mirrors
• Black roof rails
• 16-inch polished aluminum wheels
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• LED ambient lighting
• Cruise control
• Illuminated vanity mirrors
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Uconnect 4 infotainment system
• 7-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• USB port behind the center console
• SiriusXM

Limited: $26,390

• All Latitude features, plus
• 18-inch polished aluminum wheels
• Windshield wiper de-icer
• Silver metallic grille surrounds with chrome rings
• Silver metallic mirror accents
• Bright roof rails
• Vinyl-trimmed door panel
• 7-inch full-color driver-information center
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• 115-volt power outlet
• Premium-leather seating
• Premium-leather steering wheel
• Heated seats
• Six-way power driver’s seat
• 40/20/20 split-folding rear seat
• Leather-wrapped shift knob

• Keyless entry
• Remote ignition

Trailhawk: $26,390

• All Latitude features, plus
• 1.3-liter turbocharged engine

• Four-wheel drive
• Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud and Rock drive modes
• Hill-descent control
• 0.8-inch higher ride height
• 21-to-1 crawl ratio
• Unique front and rear fascias
• 17-inch black-painted aluminum wheels
• Skid plates
• Front and rear tow hooks
• Red body accents
• Black grille surrounds with neutral gray rings
• Low-gloss-black hood decal
• Mirror-integrated turn signals
• Neutral-gray-accented mirrors
• Black roof
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Ruby-red-and-black interior
• Vinyl-trim door panel
• 7-inch full-color driver-information display
• 115-volt power outlet
• Premium cloth with topographic inserts
• Ruby Red accent stitching
• Leather-wrapped shift knob

2019 Kia Soul Key Features and Pricing by Trim

LX: $17,490

• 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine
• Six-speed automatic transmission
• Four-wheel disc brakes
• Front-wheel drive
• Electric power steering
• 16-inch steel wheels with hubcaps
• Roof rack mounting points
• Black-painted power mirrors
• Auto-on/off headlights
• Multifocus reflector headlights
• Positioning lights
• Tinted glass
• 7-inch touchscreen
• Six-speaker AM/FM/MP3 audio system
• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• Bluetooth wireless connectivity
• Steering-wheel-mounted controls
• USB input/charging port
• Tilt and telescoping steering wheel
• Power windows with one-touch-down driver’s side
• Power door locks
• Single-zone manual climate control
• Overhead sunglasses holder
• Woven-cloth seating
• Six-way manual-adjust driver’s seat
• Four-way manual-adjust passenger’s seat
• 60/40 split-folding rear seat
• Soft-touch dash and upper front door panel
• Rearview camera

S: $20,290

• All LX features, plus
• Drive Mode Select
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Continuously variable transmission
• Body-color mirrors
• Cruise control
• Remote keyless entry
• Front-seat center console with armrest
• Premium Tricot cloth seating

• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane-keep assist
• Driver-attention warning
• Blind-spot monitor
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane-change assist

GT Line

• All LX features, plus
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Unique front and rear bumper fascia with sporty appearance
• Unique side sills with red accents
• Silver rear skid plate
• Hot-stamping grille
• Fog lights
• High-gloss-black outside mirrors
• Center console with dual charging USB ports
• Cruise control
• Remote keyless entry
• Front-seat center console with armrest
• Illuminated vanity mirrors
• 12-volt power outlet in cargo area
• Premium Tricot cloth upholstery
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped shift knob
• D-shaped steering wheel

• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane-keep assist
• Driver-attention warning

X-Line: $21,490

• All LX features, plus
• Exclusive 18-inch wheels
• Fender cladding
• Unique roof rails
• Silver mirror caps
• Fog lights
• Cruise control
• Remote keyless entry
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped shift knob
• Blind-spot monitor
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Lane-change assist

EX: $22,690

• All S features, plus
• Hot-stamping0type front grille
• Heated mirrors
• Projector-beam headlights
• Fog lights
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• UVO link infotainment
• 10.25-inch touchscreen
• Premium navigation
• SiriusXM
• HD Radio
• Dual charging USB ports in center console
• Wireless charging pad
• Keyless unlock and ignition
• Illuminated vanity mirrors
• Dual-level cargo board
• Cargo cover
• 12-volt power outlet in cargo area
• 10-way power driver’s seat
• Heated front seats
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Illuminated vanity mirrors

GT-Line Turbo: $27,490

• All EX features, plus
• 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine
• Seven-speed dual-clutch transmission
• Sport-tuned suspension
• 18-inch GT-Line wheels
• Unique front and rear bumper fascia with sporty appearance
• Unique side sills with red accents
• Silver rear skid plate
• Hot-stamping grille
• Chrome-tipped center exhaust
• High-gloss-black outside mirrors
• Mirror-mounted LED turn signals
• LED headlights
• LED fog light
• LED positioning lights
• LED taillights
• Power sunroof
• Harman/Kardon audio system with center speaker
• Speaker lights
• Head-up display
• One-touch-up/down power driver’s window
• LED interior
• Leatherette and cloth seating with GT-Line red accents
• D-shaped leather steering
• Heated steering wheel
• Piano-black air-vent bezels and touchscreen trim
• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Adaptive cruise control

Who Should Buy the 2020 Kia Soul?

The 2020 Kia Soul is a great buy for Orange Park area shoppers who don’t need an off-road-ready crossover and prefer something more road-friendly. Plus, buyers who want a little performance in their lives will appreciate its GT-Line Turbo model.

Who Should Buy the 2019 Jeep Renegade?

Buyers who want a small crossover that can handle some off-roading will love the Jeep Renegade. Sure, it is no Wrangler, but it can do more off the beaten path than most others in its class while still delivering a smooth ride on your commute.

Ready to see what the 2019 Jeep Renegade can offer you and your family? Swing by Garber Automall serving the Orange Park area today to test drive it for yourself. Can’t make it to our Jacksonville Jeep showroom today? You can also navigate to our online inventory page to see what 2019 Renegade models we have in stock in the Fleming Island area. From there, you can choose a few models that suit your needs and schedule a test drive.