Kia

Kia Soul (2019)

331 real MOT outcomes analysed • 90.1% first-time pass rate

2019 Kia Soul

CarHunch analysed 331 real MOT records for the 2019 Kia Soul. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 331 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2019 Kia Soul is a genuinely reliable proposition, with a first-time MOT pass rate of 90%—a full 10 percentage points above the UK average—and only 11.5% of vehicles ever flagged for dangerous defects, which is reassuringly low. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically (89.9% vs 90.1% pass rates), so fuel choice won't affect your odds of a trouble-free test.

These Souls are running at sensible mileages for their age, averaging 26,058 miles, and when they do fail it's rarely dramatic: just 0.56 failures per vehicle on average, with most issues picked up as minor advisories (3.1 per car). If you're considering one, check the service history carefully and don't be alarmed by advisory items—they're routine wear items—but do walk away if the seller can't account for major work on suspension or brakes.

The 2019 Kia Soul passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (90.1% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.
First-time pass
90.1%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
11.5%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.56
Over 4.8 tests on record
Moderate
Typical mileage
22k
Middle half: 14k–32k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 90.1% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.
🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 331 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 331 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 4.4%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Brake wear 2.8%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Other issues 1%
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Wipers & washers 0.9%
Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2019.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 331 Kia Soul cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2019 Kia Soul

Based on MOT data from 331 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 11.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (51%) 168 89.9% 0.56
Diesel (41%) 135 90.2% 0.57

Colour Breakdown

Based on 25,023 Kia Soul vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 33.2%
8,297
Black 19%
4,750
White 16.2%
4,047
Red 12.5%
3,136
Blue 9.9%
2,466
Cream 4.2%
1,048
Green 2%
496
Orange 1.2%
291
Brown 0.8%
204
Yellow 0.8%
198
Grey 0.3%
85
Multi-colour 0%
5

Mileage Distribution

Most 2019 Kia Soul vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

21,946
typical
14,240
low mileage
31,580
high mileage

Half of all 2019 Kia Soul vehicles fall between 14,240 and 31,580 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 14,240 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
14,240–31,580 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2019 Kia Souls sit.
Over 42,633 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2019 Kia Soul — Still on the Road

Almost all 2019 Kia Souls are still on the road.

Strong survival — 323 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

27 323 2021 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

4.8
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.56
Avg failures per vehicle
3.1
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Kia Soul: All Soul years → Which year to buy? →
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Compare with another model

See how the 2019 Kia Soul stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?