2015 Chevrolet Cruze vs 2015 Kia Soul
Two compact cars, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2015 Chevrolet
Cruze
4/10
The 1.4L turbo is fun for the money but the PCV/coolant/electrical trifecta makes ownership a slow-motion mugging past 80k miles.
VS
2015 Kia
Soul
6/10
Great personality and value if you get the 2.0L Nu engine checked for the bearing/knock recall — skip it entirely if that recall hasn't been done.
Milo scores the 2015 Kia Soul higher — 6/10 against 4/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Chevrolet Cruze |
Kia Soul |
| Known failure points | 9 | 7 |
| NHTSA complaints | 251 | 902 |
| Safety recalls | 4 | 4 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 42 | 52 |
| Cheap to own | 38 | 62 |
| Fun factor | 48 | 58 |
| Holds value | 25 | 45 |
| Enthusiast cred | 22 | 38 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2015 Chevrolet Cruze
6T40 automatic transmission shudder in torque converter lockup; also weak 2-3 shift
$300–$2,50080k–130k mi
2015 Kia Soul
2.0L Nu engine — connecting rod bearing wear/knock leading to catastrophic failure (SC200/knock sensor recall)
$0–$7,00060k–100k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2015 Chevrolet Cruze
2015 Cruze 2LT or LTZ with the 1.4T and a 6-speed MANUAL transmission (rare but the manual dodges the 6T40 torque-converter shudder entirely). Fully documented service records, negative battery cable already replaced, and PCV/valve cover updated. Second choice: the 2.0L Diesel if you can find a clean one with emissions work done.
✅ 2015 Kia Soul
A 2.0L '+' or '!' trim automatic with full recall documentation (SC124, SC141, SC160/162, SC200) completed and verified via NHTSA VIN lookup, ideally under 80k miles with maintenance records showing an early transmission fluid service.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.