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Kia Sportage vs Nissan Qashqai: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Kia Sportage does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.9 percentage points ahead of the Nissan Qashqai on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 94,872 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.

Kia Sportage
Pass rate80.5%
Age-matched national81.7%
Difference-1.3
Tests32,024
Nissan Qashqai
Pass rate73.5%
Age-matched national78.6%
Difference-5.2
Tests62,848

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

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

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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–£11,985, median £7,850 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 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 saleFull Qashqai fault guideUsed Nissans

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Which one suits you

Kia Sportage

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

Less good for: Buyers needing premium badge.

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 Kia Sportage or the Nissan Qashqai?
On the MOT measure, the Kia Sportage: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.9 percentage points ahead of the Nissan Qashqai on first-time MOT passes, across 94,872 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 Kia Sportage and the Nissan Qashqai compare?
80.5% of Kia Sportages pass their MOT first time (32,024 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 Kia Sportage's age average 81.7% and cars of the Nissan Qashqai's age 78.6% — so the Kia Sportage runs 1.3 points worse 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 Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai should I avoid?
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. 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 Kia Sportage 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 50 mpg for the 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 Kia Sportage 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.