By The Autoza Team. Updated 6 October 2026.

Honda CR-V vs Nissan Qashqai: 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 11.7 percentage points ahead of the Nissan Qashqai on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 82,864 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

Nissan Qashqai

Pass rate73.5%

Age-matched national78.6%

Difference-5.2

Tests62,848

Model	Pass rate	Age-matched national	Difference	Tests
Honda CR-V	80.7%	74.1%	+6.5	20,016
Nissan Qashqai	73.5%	78.6%	-5.2	62,848

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Honda CR-Vs registered 2002–2022 and Nissan Qashqais registered 2007–2022.

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

Also compare:

Nissan Qashqai

J11 2014–2021, J12 2021+ · compact crossover SUV

The Nissan Qashqai J11 (2014–2021) suffers from 1.5 dCi DPF and injector issues pre-2018, plus CVT (X-Tronic) judder on the 1.6 petrol. The J12 (2021+) has fewer owner-reported faults, mainly minor e-Power inverter and rear-wiper concerns, but DVSA lists J12 recalls too (R/2025/424, a fuel pipe that can wear and leak, 101,557 vehicles built 4 May 2021 to 17 October 2024). Best-buy: J12 2022+. Worst: J11 1.5 dCi pre-2018.

What goes wrong

Safety recall R/2020/220recall
Possible reduced retention force of the rear door child lock switch
299,631 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 28 September 2015 and 3 March 2018
Large recall — 299,631 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
Safety recall R/2025/424recall
Qashqai (J12) Fuel Pipe
101,557 vehicles of this model (DVSA’s figures added up) · built between 4 May 2021 and 17 October 2024
Large recall — 101,557 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
1.5 dCi DPF + injectors (J11)major
Engine warning light; limp mode; DPF full message
J11 1.5 dCi 2014–2018 · Typical issue from 50,000 miles · DPF clean £400–£700; injector set £1,400+; combined often £2,000+
Check: Avoid 1.5 dCi if possible. Diagnostic scan mandatory. Service history showing repeat DPF events is a red flag.
CVT (X-Tronic) judder (J11 1.6 petrol)major
Shudder under acceleration; rubber-band feel; warning at high speed
J11 1.6 DIG-T petrol · 50,000+ miles · CVT replacement £2,500–£4,000
Check: Long test drive including motorway acceleration. Any judder = walk away.

Typical asking price:: £4,750–£11,485, median £7,490 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 11 November 2026)
Fuel economy:: J12 e-Power: 44–51 mpg. J11 1.5 dCi: 47–57 mpg when running well.
Vehicle tax:: £200/year standard rate from the second year, hybrids included — the alternative-fuel discount ended on 1 April 2025. A car registered from April 2017 with a list price over £40,000 when new adds the £440/year Expensive Car Supplement in years 2–6 (£640 in all). Cars registered 2001–2017 pay a CO2 band, roughly £20–£790/year (2026/27 rates).
Best years:: 2022, 2023, 2024
Years to avoid:: 2014–2017 (1.5 dCi)

Used Nissan Qashqais for sale Full Qashqai fault guide Used Nissans

Also compare:

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).

Nissan Qashqai

Good for: Family buyers wanting practical compact SUV. Strong UK-spec features (heated seats, large boot).

Less good for: Buyers tempted by sub-£11k J11 1.5 dCi without service history — repair bills can quickly exceed purchase price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Honda CR-V or the Nissan Qashqai?

On the MOT measure, the Honda CR-V: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 11.7 percentage points ahead of the Nissan Qashqai on first-time MOT passes, across 82,864 DVSA-recorded tests covering every generation on the road. 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 Nissan Qashqai compare?

80.7% of Honda CR-Vs pass their MOT first time (20,016 tests in DVSA's records) and 73.5% of Nissan Qashqais pass their MOT first time (62,848 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 Nissan Qashqai's age 78.6% — so the Honda CR-V runs 6.5 points better than its age group and the Nissan Qashqai runs 5.2 points worse than 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 Nissan Qashqai 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. Nissan Qashqai: J11 1.5 dCi pre-2018 had cascading DPF and injector issues; ownership in the UK often stacked £2,000+ in repairs by 60,000 miles.

Is the Honda CR-V or the Nissan Qashqai cheaper to run?

On fuel the Nissan Qashqai has the edge: its most economical version returns up to 57 mpg, against up to 49 mpg for the Honda CR-V, 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 Nissan Qashqai 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.