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Hyundai Tucson vs Kia Sportage: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage are too close to call — 1.3 percentage points apart on first-time MOT passes once you allow for the age of each fleet, which is inside what the choice of cars counted can move. A winner is named only at 2 points or more. A pass with rectification at the station counts as a pass here, and as a failure in DVSA's own initial-test measure. Choose on the fault patterns and running costs below.

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.

Hyundai Tucson
Pass rate85.3%
Age-matched national85.2%
Difference0.0
Tests17,402
Kia Sportage
Pass rate80.5%
Age-matched national81.7%
Difference-1.3
Tests32,024

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Hyundai Tucsons registered 2015–2022 and Kia Sportages registered 2010–2022.

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.

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 saleFull Tucson fault guideUsed Hyundais

Also compare:

Kia Sportage

NQ5, 2022+ · compact crossover SUV

The NQ5 Kia Sportage (UK deliveries from 2022) shares the Hyundai Tucson's platform and engines, so faults are similar: 1.6 T-GDI oil consumption claims (largely resolved), PHEV battery cooling pump, and minor TPMS quirks. Kia's 7-year warranty covers most of the risk. Best-buy: 2023+. Worst: early 2022 PHEV.

What goes wrong

  • 1.6 T-GDI oil consumption (shared with Hyundai)moderate
    Oil drop between services
    2022 · Usually goodwill within 7-yr warranty; out of warranty engine rebuild £3,500+
    Check: Dipstick at viewing; service history.
  • PHEV battery cooling pumpmajor
    "Hybrid system" warning; reduced EV range
    2022 PHEV · Under warranty; £1,200+ otherwise
    Check: PHEV battery health check (£30–£50 at Kia dealer).
  • TPMS sensor faultsminor
    "Tyre pressure" warning despite correct pressures
    All NQ5 · £80–£140 per sensor
    Check: Visual check on dash — no warnings.
  • Front suspension bushingsminor
    Knocking on rough roads
    All NQ5 · 50,000+ miles · £250–£400
    Check: Rough-road test drive.
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:
38–45 mpg 1.6 T-GDI petrol; 1.6 hybrid 43–50 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
Years to avoid:
2022 (PHEV)
Used Kia Sportages for saleFull Sportage fault guideUsed Kias

Also compare:

Which one suits you

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).

Kia Sportage

Good for: Family buyers wanting Kia's 7-year warranty for peace of mind.

Less good for: Buyers needing premium badge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Hyundai Tucson or the Kia Sportage?
Neither stands out on the MOT measure. Their first-time MOT pass rates sit 1.3 percentage points apart once each is compared against the national rate for cars of the same age, which is too close to call (we name a winner only at 2 points or more). 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. Pick on the specific faults each is prone to instead.
How do the MOT pass rates of the Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage compare?
85.3% of Hyundai Tucsons pass their MOT first time (17,402 tests in DVSA's records) and 80.5% of Kia Sportages pass their MOT first time (32,024 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Hyundai Tucson's age average 85.2% and cars of the Kia Sportage's age 81.7% — so the Hyundai Tucson runs level with its age group and the Kia Sportage runs 1.3 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 Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage should I avoid?
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. Kia Sportage: The plug-in hybrid reached the UK at the end of March 2022, and the first-year cars are the ones owners most often report battery thermal management issues on. How often it happens is not known.
Is the Hyundai Tucson or the Kia Sportage cheaper to run?
On fuel the two are too close to call: the most economical versions return up to 49 mpg (Hyundai Tucson) and 50 mpg (Kia Sportage), 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 Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage 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.