Kia Soul vs Volkswagen Golf
Compact car · 2015–2025 · 3,178 federal complaints
Kia Soul
2,145 complaints · 4 engines
Most-complained engine: GDI · 2.0L I4
Full breakdown for Kia Soul →
Volkswagen Golf
1,033 complaints · 3 engines
Most-complained engine: TSI · 2.0L I4
Full breakdown for Volkswagen Golf →At a glance
Side by side. EPA figures are the model's median across its test variants; price is the base-trim MSRP (CarAPI), median across covered model years.
| Kia Soul | Volkswagen Golf | |
|---|---|---|
| Base MSRP | $16,150 | $20,402 |
| Most common engine | GDI · 2.0L I4 | TSI · 2.0L I4 |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated | Turbo |
| Fuel economy | 28 MPG | 27 MPG |
| Running cost | $2,200/yr | $2,325/yr |
| Low emissions | 320 g/mi | 332 g/mi |
| Cabin space | 101 cu ft | 94 cu ft |
| Cargo space | 24 cu ft | 30 cu ft |
| Displacement | 2.0 L | 1.8 L |
| NHTSA overall crash rating | ★★★★ (2025) | ★★★★★ (2021) |
| Rollover risk (NHTSA) | 14.7% | 13.4% |
| Engines with enough data | 4 | 3 |
Side by side
Both cars scored as percentiles within Compact car, so the shapes are directly comparable. Built from EPA test data.
What each one's complaints are about
Showing each car's highest-volume engine. Share of component mentions — not a failure rate, and not a ranking between the two.
Kia Soul
Volkswagen Golf
How often each one's complaints involve a fire, crash or injury
Shares of each car's own complaints — sales volume cancels out of a within-car ratio, so these two can be compared. The vertical mark is the all-vehicle average.
all vehicles — Fire 1.1% · Crash 4.4% · Injury 2.6%
Every engine with enough data
Complaint counts per engine are shown for scale only — they track how many were sold, not how often they fail.
Kia Soul
- GDI · 2.0L I4Naturally aspirated1,367
- GAMMA · 1.6L I4412
- GDI · 1.6L I4253
- Electric63
Volkswagen Golf
- TSI · 2.0L I4Turbo521
- TSI · 1.8L I4Turbo395
- TDI · 2.0L I4Turbo96
Recalls where NHTSA said stop driving or park outside
The severest recall class only. Model-level, manufacturer-confirmed. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer, whatever the car's age.
Kia Soul
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Fluid/Lubricant › Pump (park outside, 2023–2023) 23V531000
Volkswagen Golf
- Wheels (stop driving, 2019–2019) 19V879000
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper (stop driving, 2018–2018) 18V369000
One car having more complaints than the other mostly reflects how many were sold, not how often they break. Compare each car's own mix of problems — not the totals.