The 2018 Kia Soul puts style ahead of safety features and turbo power.
Pros Looks sharp Good Uvo infotainment Turbo-4 power Versatile hatchback body Still a manual on the order sheet
Cons Engines can be noisy 6-speed automatic hunts through gears Mediocre gas mileage Top safety tech unavailable with turbo
The 2018 Kia Soul ranked #1 in Compact Cars. Currently the Kia Soul has a score of 9.1 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 45 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Comfortable, roomy cabin Considerable cargo space Upscale interior Energetic turbocharged engine available Outstanding warranty and predicted reliability rating
Cons Sluggish base engine Below-average gas mileage
Only a few changes were made to the Soul for 2018. The base Soul’s Convenience package now gets an upgraded UVO3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus automatic climate control. Midrange Soul Plus models now get the UVO3 system as standard.
Pros Funkiness on wheels, powerful and efficient turbo engine, comfortable cabin.
Cons Average cargo capacity, no all-wheel-drive option.
The 2019 Infiniti QX50 is a beautiful package of technological innovations—in places visible and not visible.
Pros Beautiful, inside and out Good standard safety tech Remarkably advanced engine Good value in top trims Whisper-quiet interior
Cons Dual-screen infotainment system Option packages are walled off in some trim levels Getting top safety packages requires top trims Finicky throttle in early, pre-production models
The 2019 Infiniti QX50 ranked #9 in Luxury Compact SUVs. Currently the Infiniti QX50 has a score of 8.1 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 13 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Lots of cargo space Great gas mileage Spacious, supportive seats
Cons Uninspiring handling Disappointing infotainment system
Infiniti’s slinky QX50 is more than just a pretty face—its creased sheetmetal is hiding a revolutionary new powertrain. A quest for increased fuel efficiency led Infiniti to develop a first-of-its-kind variable-compression-ratio turbocharged engine, good for 268 hp and, by Infiniti's estimate, 30 to 31 mpg on the highway.
Pros Invisible and novel tech; spacious, refined, quiet, and comfortable.
Cons We anticipated better fuel economy; the usual CVT complaints.