Which is cheaper to maintain, the Kia Soul or the Kia Soul?

Based on 5-year routine maintenance labor at a $150/hr indie shop rate, the Kia Soul is cheaper to maintain — about $1,962 less over 60,000 miles. Parts cost is not included.

What's the labor difference between the 1.6L Turbo I4 and the 2.0L I4?

Across 25 common maintenance jobs, hours vary by drivetrain and engine layout. See the side-by-side table on this page for each job's labor hours and estimated cost.

Are there any active recalls on the Kia Soul or Kia Soul?

The Kia Soul has 0 open NHTSA recalls. The Kia Soul has 0 open recalls. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.

2026 Kia Soul vs 2026 Kia Soul — Labor Times, Costs & Recalls

Specifications

Year

2026

Engine

1.6L Turbo I4

2.0L I4

Drivetrain

FWD

Transmission

cvt

automatic

Fuel

gas

Cost of Ownership

5-Year Maintenance

$8,865

0.15 $/mi

★ WINNER

5-Year Maintenance

$6,903

0.12 $/mi

🏆

ADVANTAGEKia Soul — Saves you $1,962 over 5 years (22% less in routine maintenance labor)

Routine maintenance only. Cost = labor hours × $150/hr × estimated 5-yr frequency. Parts cost not included.

Maintenance Breakdown

Hours per common service. Lower is faster (and cheaper) at the shop.

Oil & filter change

0.3 hrs$1,020 / 5yr

0.4 hrs$1,200 / 5yr

Tire rotation

0.5 hrs$600 / 5yr

Rear brake pads

1.0 hrs$440 / 5yr

Front brake pads

0.8 hrs$400 / 5yr

1.0 hrs$460 / 5yr

Differential fluid

1.2 hrs$440 / 5yr

1.0 hrs$380 / 5yr

12V battery

0.3 hrs$245 / 5yr

Wiper blades

0.2 hrs$240 / 5yr

Brake fluid flush

0.6 hrs$210 / 5yr

0.8 hrs$270 / 5yr

Spark plugs

1.2 hrs$260 / 5yr

0.8 hrs$200 / 5yr

Water pump

3.5 hrs$226 / 5yr

3.2 hrs$210 / 5yr

Cabin air filter

0.3 hrs$210 / 5yr

Intake manifold gasket

4.5 hrs$230 / 5yr

3.5 hrs$185 / 5yr

Oxygen sensor

1.7 hrs$188 / 5yr

1.5 hrs$173 / 5yr

Fuel filter

0.3 hrs$150 / 5yr

0.5 hrs$210 / 5yr

Coolant flush

0.8 hrs$170 / 5yr

Oil pan gasket

4.0 hrs$163 / 5yr

3.5 hrs$144 / 5yr

Valve cover gasket

2.5 hrs$174 / 5yr

1.5 hrs$114 / 5yr

Engine air filter

0.2 hrs$120 / 5yr

Alternator

1.2 hrs$120 / 5yr

Serpentine belt

0.5 hrs$110 / 5yr

Power steering flush

0.6 hrs$110 / 5yr

0.5 hrs$95 / 5yr

Ignition coil

0.9 hrs$86 / 5yr

0.8 hrs$80 / 5yr

Starter motor

1.2 hrs$76 / 5yr

1.5 hrs$85 / 5yr

Thermostat

1.2 hrs$77 / 5yr

PCV valve

0.3 hrs$65 / 5yr

Active Recalls

Open NHTSA Recalls

CLEAR

Open NHTSA Recalls

CLEAR

✓ Both vehicles are completely clear of open safety recalls.

Fluid Capacities

Kia Soul

brake · FMVSS 116 DOT 4

coolant7.50 qt · MS 591-08

engine_oil4.50 qt · API SP / ILSAC GF-6

power_steering · N/A

transmission_auto10.00 qt · Hyundai/Kia SP-IV-RR

washer3.50 qt · All-season or winter-rated

Kia Soul

brake · FMVSS 116 DOT 4

coolant7.50 qt · MS 591-08

engine_oil4.50 qt · API SP / ILSAC GF-6

power_steering · N/A

transmission_auto10.00 qt · Hyundai/Kia SP-IV-RR

washer3.50 qt · All-season or winter-rated

The Verdict

🏆

THE WINNER

2026 Kia Soul

2.0L I4

Kia Soul is cheaper to maintain (saves ~$1,962 over 5 years)

Based on objective maintenance and recall data. Driving feel, looks, brand loyalty, and ownership experience are separate (and very valid) considerations.

Open the full dashboard for either truck

Labor times, torque specs, fluid capacities, DTC codes, repair procedures, recalls, common platform problems.