Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The accepted wisdom around automotive reliability is that smaller, less complex vehicles tend to give less trouble than larger, high-tech cars. We decided to put this theory to the test by comparing Kia's recently discontinued and cheapest model, the Soul SUV to its best-selling Sportage model. Aside from wearing the same badge, and being classed as SUVs, there is not much similarity between the two, but the aim here is to see whether opting for the popular base model is going to pay dividends in terms of reliability in the long run.To accurately gauge the longer-term durability of both models, we looked at durability metrics sourced from Consumer Reports. By comparing data from real owners experiencing these vehicles in real-world driving conditions, we can form a more accurate picture of vehicle durability.Kia SoulKiaView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementBase MSRP: $20,290 (Final 2025 Model Year)Production Run: 2020 – 2025Competitors:Nissan Kicks, Hyundai VenueWhile the Seltos has replaced the Soul as the most affordable Kia SUV you can buy, there are still plenty of nearly new used Kia Soul's out there, and its basic front-wheel drive layout, non-turbocharged 147-hp base engine, and relatively simple continuously variable transmission (CVT) should contribute to a solid reliability score that the Sportage may find hard to match.That said, a turbocharged 201-hp 1.6-liter engine paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission was available for the first three years of production, but we focused on the post 2023 base trim models for this comparison. The Soul's underpinnings also benefitted from being shared with other Hyundai and Kia products, and while a 2023 update introduced some new tech, it remained a relatively low-tech entry-level vehicle throughout production.Kia SportageKiaView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementBase MSRP: $28,790 (2026 Model Year)Production Run: 2023 – PresentKey Competitors:Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-VCompact SUVs are extremely popular, and Kia's Sportage is the marque's highest volume seller. The current generation was introduced in 2023 and was overhauled just this year to tone down some of its more divisive styling elements and bring it up to date with the latest in-car tech and features.There are three distinct variants, ranging from a base naturally aspirated 187-hp gas engine to a 231-hp hybrid to a 268-hp plug-in hybrid, and for this exercise we will see how each tier of added complexity affects reliability levels.Soul Vs Sportage ReliabilityKView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleModel YearSoulSportageSportage HybridSportage Plug-in Hybrid2023615046352024495982632025687636742026n/a62 (Predicted)51 (Predicted)57 (Predicted)Consumer Reports Average59,3361,7553,7557,25Consumer Reports arrives at its reliability scores through collating thousands of real-world owner feedback reports assessing up to 20 different metrics. This allows for an unbiased view on how these vehicles perform over the long term without factoring in a manufacturer's influence and marketing claims. The Soul entered 2023 with a solid 61/100 reliability score, a result made all the more impressive thanks to the fact that this was its facelift year, which usually sees a dip in scores.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt did, in fact dip for 2024, but delivered its best result (including the pre-facelift years) in 2025. These scores were solely of the 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated Soul models, as the faster turbocharged models had been discontinued in 2022. The Sportage, meanwhile, has been available with three engine options since its debut, and splitting them up by powertrain reveals that simplest is indeed best here.The Sportage's base 2.5-liter four-cylinder powerplant delivered the best overall scores, even topping the Soul despite its slightly more complex electronics and drivetrain components. The standard Sportage hybrid scored the lowest of all, and its reliability performance was erratic, with 2024 being notably high followed by a very poor showing in 2025. This can often be caused by electronic issues, and year-specific updates, but the bottom line is that overall reliability is less predictable with these models.The Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is by far the most complex, coming standard with all-wheel drive and a comprehensive list of interior tech and safety aids. It started off with a very poor 35/100 for the first year of production, but has steadily improved over the years and ended up being narrowly behind the base Sportage overall.KiaWhat does it all mean? Well, the less complicated models still have the edge in overall reliability, mostly because they have fewer components and tech resulting in fewer points of failure. This applies to both the Soul and base Sportage models. Reliability also tends to trend upwards as vehicle production matures and the manufacturer identifies and rectifies faults for each successive model year.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Sportage Plug-in Hybrid is a good example of this, and while it may not be the best choice as a 10-year old purchase, when comparing the real-world feedback from owners over the past four years, it performs almost as well as its mechanically simpler stablemates. In conclusion, simplest is still best, but reliability levels tend to improve for even the more complex models if you are willing to buy one that has been in production for a few years.Data Sources:All vehicle data, pricing figures, and technical specifications were sourced from the official manufacturer websites.Pricing figures represent the base manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) and exclude destination charges, and taxes.Reliability data was sourced from Consumer ReportsThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.