The Yukon used to be the SUV you bought once and drove forever, GMT800s from 1999-2006 still cruise past 250k miles on original drivetrains, but the current 6.2L V8 has a bearing flaw that causes engines to seize without warning, sometimes at highway speed, often under 30k miles. GM recalled 2019-2024 models but 2025s are failing identically; one owner's engine died at 20k after the dealer promised the issue was resolved. If you need a new Yukon, the 3.0L Duramax diesel is the only powertrain worth trusting, though it's had scattered early turbo failures. Otherwise, find a GMT800 with records and accept 12 mpg, it's the last generation that actually delivers on the reputation.
If you're eyeing a used Soul between 2015 and 2020, understand you're gambling on a ticking clock. Those model years, especially automatics with the 1.6L or 2.0L GDI engines, burn oil like it's their job, thanks to piston rings that fail predictably around 80k miles. Owners report topping off a quart every thousand miles, then one day the engine seizes with no warning light. Kia settled a class action over it and replaced thousands of engines, which tells you everything. The first-gen Souls (2010-2013) ran to 200k+ without drama, and the 2023+ models seem cleaner, but there's not enough road time to confirm the fix. What the Soul does well, maximum cargo in a tiny footprint, quirky looks, easy city parking, it does better than almost anything this size. Just make sure the one you're buying isn't someone else's oil-burning problem waiting to become yours.