Consumer Reports Says This Car Is One Of The Worst Deals You Can Buy Right Now

It has not been a great time to buy a car right now thanks to inflation and President Donald Trump's tariffs making many new cars potentially more expensive. But that hasn't stopped a lot of people from acquiring a new car. Cox Automotive estimates that car sales in the third quarter of 2025 will be 6% higher than last year thanks to a higher stock market, low unemployment, and concerns that automobile prices might grow higher in the future.

Still, with nearly one in five Americans paying more than $1,000 a month on car loan installments, it would behoove a lot of people to be more careful with how much they pay for a new vehicle. Fortunately, Consumer Reports compiled a list of some of the worst deals for new automobiles. These vehicle models are not necessarily of poor quality, but they tend to sell for at least 3% higher than the manufacturer suggested retail price, or MSRP, and one of them is the 2025 Kia Soul.

A South Korean hatchback, the 2025 Kia Soul received decent reviews and a respectful score of 73 out of 100 from CR for its room interior, added safety features, and control upgrades. Yet the Kia Soul was not lauded for its rough ride, engine noises, and its tendency to sell for more than 5% of its MSRP of $24,090. That amounts to an average of $1,116 over the MSRP for an average transaction price of $25,255. CR, meanwhile, recommends a price range of $20,490 to $24,790.

Part of the reason why dealerships tend to hike the price of a Kia Soul, and other Kia models, is that the vehicles are no longer being marketed as affordable cars. Instead, they are being pushed as cars where a buyer can get a lot of value for their bucks. "You're getting a lot, still, for the money even if you're paying more now or more than for the competitor," Ivan Drury, an auto industry sales analyst with Edmunds.com, told CNN. Kias of all kinds are also in limited supply and tend to sell very quickly from car dealership lots, TrueCar industry analyst Zack Krelle added to CNN.

The good news is owning a new or pre-owned Kia Soul will not cost an owner a lot of money over time. Maintenance and repairs amount to $2,304 during a Kia Soul's first five years, which is $916 lower than the average station wagon. And the average $2,402 annual cost to insure a Kia Soul is $675 lower than the average station wagon. And the Kia Soul is among CarEdge's top 100 best cars by value, which earned a solid "B" grade from the automotive website for its fairly low maintenance, repair, and insurance costs. Consumer Reports, meanwhile, gave the 2025 Kia Soul a respectable overall score of 73 out of 100. 

But with CarEdge ranking the Kia Soul at No. 62 for its value, there are better models, with better bargains, out there. The Toyota Corolla Hatchback was ranked at No. 1 by CarEdge and graded A+. Although Consumer Affairs gave the 2025 Corolla Hatchback the same overall score as the Kia Soul, a 73, with retail prices starting at $23,780, the 2025 Toyota Corolla Hatchback can get 36 miles per gallon vs. 28 mpg for the Kia Soul.

As for those who don't mind buying a preowned vehicle, car guides say the 2019 Toyota Corolla is one of the most reliable used cars under $15,000.