2015 Kia Soul vs 2015 Subaru Forester
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
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.
VS
2015 Subaru
Forester
8/10
Buy the naturally-aspirated 2.5i, run from the XT, and budget for a head gasket check by 100k.
Milo scores the 2015 Subaru Forester higher — 8/10 against 6/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Kia Soul |
Subaru Forester |
| Known failure points | 7 | 6 |
| NHTSA complaints | 902 | 613 |
| Safety recalls | 4 | 3 |
| Service bulletins | 12 | 12 |
| Reliability | 52 | 74 |
| Cheap to own | 62 | 68 |
| Fun factor | 58 | 48 |
| Holds value | 45 | 72 |
| Enthusiast cred | 38 | 55 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
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
2015 Subaru Forester
CVT (TR580/TR690) shudder or failure, far more common on the turbocharged 2.0XT than the NA 2.5i
$3,500–$5,50060k–100k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 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.
✅ 2015 Subaru Forester
2015 Forester 2.5i Premium or Limited with the CVT and full service records showing on-time CVT fluid changes — or better, a manual-equipped 2.5i for total drivetrain peace of mind.
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.