Before You Buy

Kia Soul: Buy Score, Reliability & Ownership Costs

Subcompact Crossover · SUV (Subcompact)

MSRP Range$20,490–$27,490
An orange Kia Soul subcompact SUV parked on a city street in daylight, shot candidly at a three-quarter angle.
Engine2.0L 4-cylinder, 147 hp; GT-Line Turbo available
DrivetrainFront-wheel drive
Cargo Volume24.2 cu ft (62.1 cu ft, rear seats folded)
Seating5

Our Verdict

Based on model-specific reliability data, ownership costs, and longevity signals.

Buy
85/100

Buy Score™

Pros

  • RepairPal ranks it 3rd of 7 subcompact SUVs, with low-severity, infrequent repairs
  • Best-in-class headroom and rear legroom for a subcompact SUV, with 24.2-62.1 cu ft of cargo space
  • Among the least expensive new SUVs in the country before production ended
  • 10 yr/100,000 mi powertrain warranty

Cons

  • Kia ended Soul production in October 2025 — only a handful of new units remain, so most buyers will be shopping used going forward
  • Some pre-2023 Souls were part of the widely reported Hyundai/Kia theft-vulnerability recall affecting vehicles without engine immobilizers
  • Base 147-hp engine feels modest, especially with a full load of passengers/cargo

Can this car reach 300,000 miles?

Likely

RepairPal's model-specific score (4.5/5.0) ranks the Soul 3rd of 7 subcompact SUVs, with low repair frequency and severity. Important buying note: Kia ended Soul production in October 2025, and only a few thousand new units remain at dealers — new buyers should confirm availability before shopping, and most Soul buying going forward will happen on the used market.

First-Time Buyer Friendly

84/100

Simple controls, predictable running costs, and forgiving handling make this an easy first car.

Reliability Timeline

What tends to need attention, and when — based on model-specific reliability data.

RoutineModerateMajor

30,000 miles

Oil changes, tire rotations

60,000 miles

Brake pads
Battery

100,000 miles

Spark plugs; turbo/dual-clutch service on GT-Line Turbo

150,000 miles

Suspension bushings

200,000+ miles

Commonly still running well with routine upkeep, per its strong RepairPal ranking

What It Actually Costs to Own

One of the cheapest subcompact crossovers to own outright — low repair costs, low insurance, and best-in-class cabin space for the footprint.

Estimated Annual Fuel Cost$1,310
Estimated Annual Insurance$1,250
Estimated Annual Maintenance$380
Estimated Annual Repairs$437
Estimated Annual Registration$170
5-Year Depreciation~42% of purchase price

Full Specifications

Engine2.0L 4-cylinder, 147 hp; GT-Line Turbo available
DrivetrainFront-wheel drive
Cargo Volume24.2 cu ft (62.1 cu ft, rear seats folded)
Seating5
Warranty5 yr/60,000 mi basic, 10 yr/100,000 mi powertrain

Check for open recalls before you buy

We don't yet have a live recall feed wired up for the Kia Soul, so we won't guess at a number here. Before you buy any specific Soul, run its VIN throughNHTSA's free recall lookup tool— it takes about 30 seconds and confirms whether that exact vehicle has any open, unrepaired safety recalls.

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Sources: RepairPal model reliability score (4.5/5.0), annual repair cost ($437), and 3rd-of-7 subcompact SUV ranking: repairpal.com/reliability/kia/soul (live lookup, 2026). Soul production ending October 2025 with limited remaining new inventory: carsfrenzy.net 2026 Kia Soul coverage cross-checked against multiple dealer research pages (live lookup, 2026). MSRP reflects the final available pricing range, not a current new-model-year figure. Cargo/seating specs: zigwheels.us and kearnymesakia.com Soul trim pages (live lookup, 2026). Hyundai/Kia theft-vulnerability recall and 2023 immobilizer standardization: nhtsa.gov press release (live lookup, 2026).