2016 Kia Soul vs Nissan Versa Note
2016 Kia Soul
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Fuel Economy: |
24 city / 30 highway (mpg) * * |
Torque |
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Transmission: |
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Horsepower: |
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118 @ 48502016 Nissan Versa Note
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Fuel Economy: |
31 city / 40 highway (mpg) * * |
Torque |
107 @ 4400 |
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Transmission: |
Continuously Variable-speed Automatic |
Horsepower: |
109 @ 6000 |
2016 Kia Soul vs 2016 Nissan Versa Note
Serving Kings Mountain, Shelby, Clarksville, Salisbury, and Gastonia
A recent development in the automotive industry is the emergence of subcompact vehicles that incorporate the interior space of hatchbacks. One of the first ones is the Kia Soul, which debuted in 2008, which actually started as a larger vehicle and consequently looked a little more like an SUV. Four years later, Nissan brought the Note—a hatchback version of its subcompact Versa vehicle—to U.S. shores. Both in their second production cycles, the 2016 Kia Soul and the 2016 Nissan Versa Note have their share of strengths. However, in the end, the Kia vehicle is clearly a superior vehicle to the Note.
Performance and Economy
First, the 2016 Soul has the upper hand in terms of performance. The vehicle comes with two inline four-cylinder engine (I4) choices: the 1.6-liter Gamma II, which belts out 130 horsepower at 6,300 revolutions per minute (RPM) and 118 foot- pounds of torque at 4,850 RPM; and the 2.0-liter Nu, which produces 164 horsepower at 6,200 RPM and 151 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 RPM. By comparison, the 2016 Nissan Versa Note is stuck with just one I4: the 1.6-liter HR16DE, which produces 21 less horsepower and 11 less foot-pounds of torque than the Soul’s base-level engine.
Value
Finally, the aforementioned advantages that the 2016 Kia Soul has over its Nissan counterpart increases its overall value. U.S. News & World Report, which ranks vehicles based on an aggregation of review and rating data, places the Soul in the Top 5 in its Affordable Small Cars category, with an overall score of 8.5 out of 10. The publication brings particular attention to the Soul’s generosity with its optional features and powertrain warranty, as well as the premium feel and ample space of its cabin. Moreover, the 2016 Soul has a J.D. Power rating of 3.5 out of 5 possible Power Circles, which makes it more reliable than most vehicles in its class. By contrast, the 2016 Nissan Versa Note is ranked dead last in the U.S. News & World Report’s Affordable Small Cars category, with an overall score of 6.6 out of 10. The publication cites the vehicle’s loud transmission, numb steering and braking, cheap-feeling interior materials, and a paucity of standard features as reasons for its low ranking. Plus, it has a J.D. Power rating of 2 out of 5, which indicates a mediocre level of reliability.
Safety
Second, the 2016 Kia Soul is the clear choice when it comes to safety. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) made the vehicle a 2016 Top Safety Pick for getting the best possible rating of “Good” on all portions of its crashworthiness test, as well as scoring an acceptable “Basic” rating on its front crash prevention test. Also, the 2016 Soul has a better- than-average “Acceptable” rating in the ease of use of its LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system. The 2016 Nissan Versa Note does not have a Top Safety Pick designation, nor did it perform as well as the Kia vehicle in IIHS’s crashworthiness and front crash prevention tests. Similarly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reached the same conclusions. The 2016 Soul got a perfect 5-star rating for overall safety—with 5 stars for frontal crash and side crash performances, and 4 stars for rollover prevention. Save for rollover (4 stars), the Note has no ratings at all from the NHTSA.
Prepared to make that move on the 2016 Kia Soul as the far better choice over the 2016 Nissan Versa Note? Then come visit us at Renaldo Kia. Located in Shelby, North Carolina, Renaldo Kia has been providing customers from far and near with great Kia vehicles. Give us a call today to set up a time to stop by and meet with one of our sales professionals.
* MSRP excludes destination and handling charges, taxes, title, license, options, and dealer charges. Vehicles shown with optional equipment. Actual price set by dealer and may vary.
* * EPA estimated MPG may vary by transmission, trim and individual driving behavior.
