Is the Mazda CX-30 more reliable than the KIA Soul?

No. The index rates the Soul well ahead of the CX-30, though both stand as good. The Soul has repair-cost data showing low annual costs and few shop visits. The CX-30 has no such data. The Soul still has serious engine oil and transmission complaints, so check its history.

Which has more recalls, the CX-30 or the Soul?

They are even at 10 recalls each in federal recall records. The CX-30's come from 7 model years and the Soul's from 8. Run the VIN of any car you consider to see whether a recall is still open before you buy.

Which costs less to repair, the CX-30 or the Soul?

Only the Soul has repair-cost data here, so a direct comparison is not possible. The Soul averages about $437 a year, 0.2 unscheduled shop visits, and a 9% chance that a repair is major.

What is the biggest problem with the KIA Soul?

Engine oil loss is the biggest one, with 410 complaints. Oil disappears between changes, often with no warning light, and some cars needed a full engine replacement. The IVT transmission is the second concern, with early failures that left cars without power on the road.

Are there safety complaints specific to the Mazda CX-30?

Yes. The CX-30 has crash-linked complaints about service brakes and air bags, which are not among the Soul's main problem areas. Owners describe automatic emergency braking stopping the car with nothing ahead, and airbags deploying without a crash. Some cars also lost all electrical power without warning.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Kia Soul vs Mazda CX-30: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Kia Soul

Good

Mazda CX-30

Good

Between the Mazda CX-30 and KIA Soul, the Soul comes out well ahead on reliability. Repair-cost data decides it: about $437 a year. The CX-30 has no cost data, and its complaints include crash-linked brake and airbag problems.

How Do the Kia Soul and Mazda CX-30 Generations Compare?

Most used Souls you will see belong to the third generation (SK3), which began with the 2020 model year and received a facelift in 2023. Its weakest years, 2020 and 2021, were the first two of that generation, while 2024 and 2025 came after the facelift. The 2018 and 2019 cars belong to the second generation (PS), which ran 2014 to 2019. For the CX-30, the data lists one US generation, the first (DM), covering 2020 through 2024. Its weakest years, 2020 and 2021, were that generation's launch years.

Verdict

The Kia Soul is more reliable than the Mazda CX-30, scoring 77/100 vs 67/100.

Index standing puts the Soul well ahead, and its independent repair-cost data is the clearest reason. Owners face about $437 a year in repairs, 0.2 unscheduled shop visits, and a 9% chance that a repair is major. The CX-30 also stands as good, but it has no repair-cost data to back that up. The Soul's catch is serious: engine oil loss and early transmission failures. Complaint rates per 10,000 sold are close, so the gap comes from the cost evidence, not from fewer complaints.

Key Differences

1Kia Soul scores 10 points higher in reliability
2Mazda CX-30 has a 1-star higher safety rating
3Mazda CX-30 has 0.7 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

1Kia Soul

—

2Mazda CX-30

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Kia Soul vs Mazda CX-30: Which Is More Reliable?

Kia Soul vs Mazda CX-30 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Kia Soul	Mazda CX-30
Reliability Score	77/100	67/100
Years Tracked	8	7
Total Recalls	10	10
Complaints per 10k Sold	6.4	5.7
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2025 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	6	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Kia Soul and Mazda CX-30?

Engine and transmission failures define the Soul's record. Oil disappears between changes, often with no warning light, and some cars end up with a full engine replacement. Early IVT transmission failures leave cars without power in intersections and on highways. The CX-30's engine reports are milder: a low oil light, sometimes with real oil loss, and no engine damage reported. Its worse issues are sudden power loss, automatic emergency braking that stops the car with nothing ahead, and airbags that deploy without a crash. Crash-linked brake and airbag complaints appear for the CX-30 but not among the Soul's main problem areas.

Kia Soul vs Mazda CX-30 common problem areas comparison
Component	Kia Soul	Mazda CX-30
ENGINE	2.6Low	1.2Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.7Very Low	0.7Very Low
POWER TRAIN	1Very Low	0.3Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	0.8Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.5Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.2Very Low	0.3Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.1Very Low	0.4Very Low
STEERING	0.3Very Low	0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.3Very Low
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.2Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.1Very Low	—None
WHEELS	—None	0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION	—None	0.1Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	0.1Very Low
SEATS	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Kia Soul vs Mazda CX-30 Reliability Compare by Year?

Kia Soul vs Mazda CX-30 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Kia Soul	Mazda CX-30	Edge
2025	85/1000R / 9C	68/1001R / 22C	Kia Soul
2024	86/1000R / 23C	68/1002R / 23C	Kia Soul
2023	77/1004R / 45C	68/1001R / 20C	Kia Soul
2022	78/1001R / 78C	67/1001R / 28C	Kia Soul
2021	72/1002R / 190C	60/1002R / 94C	Kia Soul
2020	70/1001R / 338C	64/1003R / 31C	Kia Soul

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Kia Soul scored 86/100 and the 2024 Mazda CX-30 scored 68/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Kia Soul vs the Mazda CX-30?

Pick the Soul if you want the better-documented cost picture and the stronger index standing. Target 2024 or 2025, the strongest years, and remember that 2025 has had less time to collect complaints. Skip 2020 and 2021. Whatever year you shop, check the oil level often and ask for service records, because some owners waiting on a recall repair were turned away for lacking maintenance receipts. Pick the CX-30 if you want to avoid the Soul's heavy engine and transmission complaint load and can accept thinner data. Its engine reports describe oil warnings without reported damage. Look at 2024 first, and avoid 2020 and 2021, its weakest years. Test the automatic emergency braking on a long drive, and check for open recalls, since airbag complaints include a recall with no available fix. Ask whether the car has ever lost power or failed to start.

Kia Soul vs Mazda CX-30: Common Questions

Is the Mazda CX-30 more reliable than the KIA Soul?: No. The index rates the Soul well ahead of the CX-30, though both stand as good. The Soul has repair-cost data showing low annual costs and few shop visits. The CX-30 has no such data. The Soul still has serious engine oil and transmission complaints, so check its history.
Which has more recalls, the CX-30 or the Soul?: They are even at 10 recalls each in federal recall records. The CX-30's come from 7 model years and the Soul's from 8. Run the VIN of any car you consider to see whether a recall is still open before you buy.
Which costs less to repair, the CX-30 or the Soul?: Only the Soul has repair-cost data here, so a direct comparison is not possible. The Soul averages about $437 a year, 0.2 unscheduled shop visits, and a 9% chance that a repair is major.
What is the biggest problem with the KIA Soul?: Engine oil loss is the biggest one, with 410 complaints. Oil disappears between changes, often with no warning light, and some cars needed a full engine replacement. The IVT transmission is the second concern, with early failures that left cars without power on the road.
Are there safety complaints specific to the Mazda CX-30?: Yes. The CX-30 has crash-linked complaints about service brakes and air bags, which are not among the Soul's main problem areas. Owners describe automatic emergency braking stopping the car with nothing ahead, and airbags deploying without a crash. Some cars also lost all electrical power without warning.

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More Mazda CX-30 comparisons

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Decided between Kia Soul and Mazda CX-30? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Kia Soul and Mazda CX-30

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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