Honda CR-V vs Hyundai Tucson: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Honda CR-V does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 6.5 percentage points ahead of the Hyundai Tucson on first-time MOT passes. Its raw pass rate is the lower of the two (80.7% against 85.3%) because Honda CR-Vs on the road are older on average: cars of their age pass 74.1% of the time, against 85.2% for cars the age of the Hyundai Tucson fleet. That comparison covers 37,418 real tests across every generation on the road, not a survey. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict; the common faults below cover the rest.

MOT first-time pass rate

Counted from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test records. “vs age-matched” compares each model against what the national fleet scores at the same age — the only fair better-or-worse number, because an older fleet fails more whatever its build quality.

Honda CR-V

Pass rate80.7%

Age-matched national74.1%

Difference+6.5

Tests20,016

Hyundai Tucson

Pass rate85.3%

Age-matched national85.2%

Difference0.0

Tests17,402

Model	Pass rate	Age-matched national	Difference	Tests
Honda CR-V	80.7%	74.1%	+6.5	20,016
Hyundai Tucson	85.3%	85.2%	0.0	17,402

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Honda CR-Vs registered 2002–2022 and Hyundai Tucsons registered 2015–2022.

Source: DVSA MOT Anonymised Data 2025 (Open Government Licence v3.0). National first-time pass rate 77.3%. Class 4 tests in Great Britain, test type NT (a normal annual test), retests excluded. A pass, or a pass with rectification at the station, counts as a first-time pass; DVSA's own initial-test measure counts a rectified pass as a failure and so reports a lower figure. Testing in Northern Ireland is run separately by the DVA under its own rules. The difference is worked out before rounding, so it can be 0.1 away from the two rounded figures beside it.

Honda CR-V

Mk5, 2018–2023 (Hybrid) · mid-size family SUV

The Mk5 Honda CR-V (2018–2023) is among the most reliable mid-size SUVs in the UK. The dominant owner-reported issue is oil dilution with fuel on the early 1.5 VTEC Turbo petrol, mostly on short cold trips. We found no UK recall or Honda campaign for it in DVSA's recall file, so ask whether any Honda software update or oil-dilution repair was done. The hybrid (e:HEV) is exceptionally low-maintenance. Best-buy years: 2020–2023. Worst: no single year stands out on DVSA MOT results.

What goes wrong

Safety recall R/2020/061recall
The absorption of moisture into the driver's air bag propellant could lead to slow deployment or inflator rupture
42,435 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers)
Large recall — 42,435 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
Safety recall R/2023/357recall
Battery Cable Contact Short Circuit Problem
18,733 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 22 October 2018 and 1 July 2022
Large recall — 18,733 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
1.5 VTEC Turbo fuel-in-oil dilutionmajor
Engine oil level rising above max on dipstick; oil smells of petrol; reduced oil viscosity
2018–early 2019 (1.5T petrol) · Warranty cover varies by car, so ask a Honda dealer about the exact one; post-warranty oil damage: £800–£2,500 depending on severity
Check: Dipstick at viewing — oil level should not be above max. Ask the seller whether any Honda software update or oil-dilution repair was carried out, and for the paperwork. Service history should show Honda-stamp servicing with evidence of oil changes at correct intervals. Be wary of cars that sat in short-trip urban use.
e:HEV inverter (hybrid models)moderate
"System Error" or "IMA" warning; reduced power; rare fail-to-start
2018–2021 hybrid · Under warranty typically (Honda 5-yr hybrid warranty); out of warranty £1,800–£3,200
Check: Scan for hybrid system codes. EV-mode should engage cleanly at low speeds — if it never enters EV mode, inverter or battery may have faulted.

Typical asking price:: not given as a fixed figure — the model guide shows the median and middle 80% of asking prices for the cars advertised on Autoza that day, when at least 10 qualify
Fuel economy:: 1.5T petrol: 31–38 mpg real-world. e:HEV hybrid: 42–49 mpg — significantly better on UK city/suburban use
Vehicle tax:: £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used.
Best years:: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

Used Honda CR-Vs for sale Full CR-V fault guide Used Hondas

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Hyundai Tucson

NX4, 2020+ · compact crossover SUV

The NX4 Hyundai Tucson (2020+) is a fixture of the UK's top ten best-sellers and broadly reliable. Concerns: 1.6 T-GDI smart-stream engine had early oil-consumption claims (largely settled), PHEV battery cooling pump issues, and pre-2023 infotainment freezes. Long warranty mitigates most risk. Best-buy: 2023+. Worst: no single year stands out on DVSA MOT results.

What goes wrong

Safety recall R/2024/489recall
The subject vehicles may experience a loss of brake assistance and brake performance may e reduced. The foot brake will still operate but in a manner of a vehicle without a functioning brake booster (less assistance)
3,225 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 12 September 2022 and 7 September 2023
Smaller recall — 3,225 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
1.6 T-GDI smart-stream oil consumptionmoderate
Oil level drops between services; rough idle; rare warning
2020–2022 1.6 T-GDI · Often goodwill from Hyundai UK under 5-yr warranty; out-of-warranty engine rebuild £3,500+
Check: Dipstick at viewing. Service history: any oil top-ups recorded? Hyundai goodwill claim history.
PHEV battery cooling pumpmajor
"Hybrid system" warning; battery thermal management warning; reduced EV range
2021–2022 PHEV (Hyundai UK launched the Tucson plug-in hybrid in March 2021) · Under warranty within 5 years; out of warranty £1,200+
Check: PHEV battery health check at Hyundai dealer (£30–£50). Compare the EV-only range the car shows on a full charge with the official WLTP electric range for that model: a large shortfall on a mild day suggests the battery has degraded.
Infotainment freezesminor
Screen unresponsive; CarPlay drops; reboot needed
2020–2022 · Free under software update at Hyundai dealer
Check: Software version on test drive — should be post-2023 update.

Typical asking price:: £10,290–£19,995, median £11,995 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:: 38–44 mpg for 1.6 T-GDI petrol; 1.6 hybrid 42–49 mpg
Vehicle tax:: £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025 (2026/27 rates). A car registered from April 2017 that listed at over £40,000 new (options included) also pays the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 — it is the price when new that counts, not what you pay for it used.
Best years:: 2023, 2024

Used Hyundai Tucsons for sale Full Tucson fault guide Used Hyundais

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Which one suits you

Honda CR-V

Good for: Families wanting reliable Japanese quality in an SUV package. e:HEV hybrid is the pick for urban and suburban commuting — no plug needed, excellent real-world economy. Buyers with good service history documentation.

Less good for: Buyers tempted by early 1.5T examples with no oil-change history; short-trip-only drivers on the 1.5T petrol; hybrid buyers needing 7 seats (seven seats were offered only on the 1.5 VTEC Turbo petrol; the hybrid is five-seat).

Hyundai Tucson

Good for: Family buyers wanting low-stress modern SUV with Hyundai's 5-year unlimited-mileage warranty (within service-record terms).

Less good for: Buyers needing premium badge feel; very high-mileage motorway commuters (diesel alternatives more efficient).

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Honda CR-V or the Hyundai Tucson?

On the MOT measure, the Honda CR-V: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 6.5 percentage points ahead of the Hyundai Tucson on first-time MOT passes, across 37,418 DVSA-recorded tests covering every generation on the road. Its raw pass rate is the lower of the two (80.7% against 85.3%) because Honda CR-Vs on the road are older on average: cars of their age pass 74.1% of the time, against 85.2% for cars the age of the Hyundai Tucson fleet. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. The MOT checks safety and emissions items, not the engine, clutch or gearbox, so this is one measure of how each car holds up rather than a full reliability verdict.

How do the MOT pass rates of the Honda CR-V and the Hyundai Tucson compare?

80.7% of Honda CR-Vs pass their MOT first time (20,016 tests in DVSA's records) and 85.3% of Hyundai Tucsons pass their MOT first time (17,402 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Honda CR-V's age average 74.1% and cars of the Hyundai Tucson's age 85.2% — so the Honda CR-V runs 6.5 points better than its age group and the Hyundai Tucson runs level with its own. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure.

Which years of the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson should I avoid?

Honda CR-V: Early 2018–2019 1.5 VTEC Turbo engines reported fuel mixing into the engine oil in cold-weather short-trip driving patterns — exactly how many UK commuters use their cars. Oil level would rise above max and engine longevity was compromised in severe cases. We found no UK recall or Honda campaign for it, so a car's oil history matters more than its year: the problem can go undetected for months. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2018 and 2019 registrations above all cars registered those years, so they are not named as years to avoid. Judge a CR-V by its registration, service history and the checks below rather than by year. Hyundai Tucson: The first UK plug-in hybrids arrived in spring 2021, and those early cars are the ones owners most often report battery cooling pump faults on. How often it happens is not known. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2021 registrations above all cars registered that year, so it is not named as a year to avoid. Judge a Tucson by its registration, service history and the checks below rather than by year.

Is the Honda CR-V or the Hyundai Tucson cheaper to run?

On fuel the two are too close to call: the most economical versions return up to 49 mpg (Honda CR-V) and 49 mpg (Hyundai Tucson), on the figures in our model guides. For cars registered from April 2017, vehicle tax works the same way for both: the £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included, plus the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 on a car that listed at over £40,000 new — the price when new, not what you pay for it used. Any Honda CR-V or Hyundai Tucson registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pays a CO2 band instead, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates). Insurance differs mainly by driver and postcode rather than by model, so treat any model-level insurance figure with caution.

MOT figures are counted from DVSA records and are the only measured statistic here. Prices, economy and tax bands are indicative and vary by specification, condition and where the car has lived. Last reviewed: 2026-10-06 / 2026-10-06.