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Kia Sportage vs Volkswagen Tiguan: which is the better used buy?

On DVSA MOT records the Volkswagen Tiguan does better at its MOT: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.4 percentage points ahead of the Kia Sportage on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 58,452 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
Volkswagen Tiguan
Pass rate83.7%
Age-matched national81.6%
Difference+2.1
Tests26,428

These figures count every generation still on the road, not only the one described below: mostly Kia Sportages registered 2010–2022 and Volkswagen Tiguans registered 2008–2022.

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

Also compare:

Volkswagen Tiguan

Mk2, 2016–2023 (Allspace 2017+) · compact-to-mid family SUV (5 or 7 seat)

The Mk2 VW Tiguan (2016–2023) is the UK's best-selling premium SUV, but the DSG DQ200 dry-clutch gearbox on 1.4 TSI variants is the headline risk up to 75,000 miles, and owners report EGR cooler coolant leaks on the EA288 diesel. Post-2020 Allspace with DQ381 wet-clutch DSG is substantially more durable. Best-buy: 2020+ Allspace TDI. Worst: no single year stands out on DVSA MOT results.

What goes wrong

  • Safety recall R/2018/331recall
    A short circuit in the LED module of the panorama sun roof can occur
    37,179 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 1 April 2015 and 31 July 2018
    Large recall — 37,179 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • Safety recall R/2016/145recall
    Child lock may disengage
    13,620 vehicles in the whole recall (DVSA’s figure for every model it covers) · built between 25 November 2015 and 14 April 2016
    Large recall — 13,620 vehicles. Check a car by registration on GOV.UK.
  • DSG DQ200 mechatronic failure (1.4 TSI)major
    Hesitation pulling away; juddering in low gears; jerky 1-2 shift; "gearbox" warning
    2016–2018 1.4 TSI with DQ200 · 70,000–85,000 miles · £1,500–£2,500 mechatronic; full DSG rebuild from £3,200
    Check: Confirm gearbox type via VIN check before viewing: the wet-clutch DQ381 takes an oil-and-filter service every 40,000 miles, while VW schedules none for the dry-clutch DQ200. Uphill pull from standstill — any judder = warning. Diagnostic scan for P-codes in transmission module.
  • EGR cooler coolant leak (EA288 2.0 TDI)major
    Coolant level dropping with no visible external leak; coolant system pressure drop
    2016–2018 2.0 TDI · £900–£1,400 for an EGR cooler replacement at a specialist
    Check: Check the coolant level and ask whether it has needed topping up. This is not a DVSA safety recall: DVSA lists no EGR recall for the Tiguan, so a recall check will not show it.
Typical asking price:
£10,399–£19,995, median £13,990 (middle 80% and median, cars on Autoza on 29 October 2026)
Fuel economy:
2.0 TDI 150: 40–47 mpg real-world. 1.5 TSI petrol: 31–38 mpg
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:
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Used Volkswagen Tiguans for saleFull Tiguan fault guideUsed Volkswagens

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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.

Volkswagen Tiguan

Good for: UK families wanting a genuine 5-seat (or 7-seat Allspace) premium SUV with strong resale value. The 2020+ 2.0 TDI with DQ381 is the best rounded buy — low road tax, solid economy, durable gearbox.

Less good for: Buyers tempted by a pre-2019 1.4 TSI with DQ200 and high mileage without DSG service history — the repair risk is high. Short-trip city drivers considering the diesel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more reliable, the Kia Sportage or the Volkswagen Tiguan?
On the MOT measure, the Volkswagen Tiguan: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 3.4 percentage points ahead of the Kia Sportage on first-time MOT passes, across 58,452 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 Volkswagen Tiguan compare?
80.5% of Kia Sportages pass their MOT first time (32,024 tests in DVSA's records) and 83.7% of Volkswagen Tiguans pass their MOT first time (26,428 tests). The national first-time rate is 77.3%, but cars of the Kia Sportage's age average 81.7% and cars of the Volkswagen Tiguan's age 81.6% — so the Kia Sportage runs 1.3 points worse than its age group and the Volkswagen Tiguan runs 2.1 points better 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 Volkswagen Tiguan 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. Volkswagen Tiguan: Early Mk2 with the 1.4 TSI and DQ200 dry-clutch DSG followed the same failure pattern as the Passat B8: mechatronic failure around 70,000–85,000 miles at £1,500–£2,500, as reported by owners. How often it happens is not known. The DVSA MOT table on this page rates 2016, 2017 and 2018 registrations above all cars registered those years, so they are not named as years to avoid. Judge a Tiguan by its registration, service history and the checks below rather than by year.
Is the Kia Sportage or the Volkswagen Tiguan cheaper to run?
On fuel the Kia Sportage has the edge: its most economical version returns up to 50 mpg, against up to 47 mpg for the Volkswagen Tiguan, 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 Volkswagen Tiguan 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.