Chevrolet Tahoe vs Kia Soul
Two fullsize SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.
// VERDICT
Our verdict
Buy the Chevrolet Tahoe based on your priorities for this class.
Buy the Kia Soul based on your priorities for this class.
// COST HEAD TO HEAD
Maintenance and ownership cost
| Chevrolet Tahoe | Kia Soul | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual maintenance | $744 | — |
| 5-year total cost | $3,720 | — |
| Reliability score | 7 / 10 | — |
| Major repair risk (5yr) | 16% | — |
| Cargo space | 25.5 cu ft | — |
| Starting price (new) | $63,100 | — |
| Best years to buy | 2014, 2020 | — |
// RELIABILITY
Which is more reliable?
| Chevrolet Tahoe | Kia Soul | |
|---|---|---|
| RepairPal score | 7 / 10 | — |
| NHTSA complaints / 100k | 237.1 | 0winner |
| Years to avoid | 2015, 2021, 2023 | None identified |
| Value retained · 3 yr | 81.5% | — |
| Value retained · 5 yr | 53.5% | — |
| Value retained · 7 yr | 40.5% | — |
// COMMON PROBLEMS
What breaks — and what it costs
| Chevrolet Tahoe | Kia Soul | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 15.5% | —winner |
| Electrical | 6.9% | —winner |
| ADAS | 4.2% | —winner |
| Brakes | 11.0% | —winner |
| Suspension | 2.2% | —winner |
| Steering | 3.3% | —winner |
| Fuel system | 5.3% | —winner |
| Glass/Windows | 1.2% | —winner |
| Airbags | 15.1% | —winner |
| Lighting | 1.7% | —winner |
One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.
// INSURANCE
Which is cheaper to insure?
| Chevrolet Tahoe | Kia Soul | |
|---|---|---|
| Avg annual premium | $2,516 | $2,445winner |
// FULL MODEL PAGES
// FAQ
Common questions
The Tahoe costs $744/year to maintain — $40 below the fullsize segment average of $784. Repair frequency of 30% is well below the class average of 40%. Reliability score of 7 is above the segment average of 6. Major repair probability of 16% is slightly above the 15% norm. Below-average cost and above-average reliability make it one of the stronger ownership propositions in the fullsize class.
How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →