Nissan Qashqai 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 7.3 percentage points ahead of the Nissan Qashqai on first-time MOT passes. That comparison covers 89,276 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.

Nissan Qashqai

Pass rate73.5%

Age-matched national78.6%

Difference-5.2

Tests62,848

Volkswagen Tiguan

Pass rate83.7%

Age-matched national81.6%

Difference+2.1

Tests26,428

Model	Pass rate	Age-matched national	Difference	Tests
Nissan Qashqai	73.5%	78.6%	-5.2	62,848
Volkswagen Tiguan	83.7%	81.6%	+2.1	26,428

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

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 sale Full Qashqai fault guide Used Nissans

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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 sale Full Tiguan fault guide Used Volkswagens

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Which one suits you

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.

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 Nissan Qashqai or the Volkswagen Tiguan?

On the MOT measure, the Volkswagen Tiguan: measured against cars of the same age, it comes out 7.3 percentage points ahead of the Nissan Qashqai on first-time MOT passes, across 89,276 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 Nissan Qashqai and the Volkswagen Tiguan compare?

73.5% of Nissan Qashqais pass their MOT first time (62,848 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 Nissan Qashqai's age average 78.6% and cars of the Volkswagen Tiguan's age 81.6% — so the Nissan Qashqai runs 5.2 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 Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan should I avoid?

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. 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 Nissan Qashqai or the Volkswagen Tiguan cheaper to run?

On fuel the Nissan Qashqai has the edge: its most economical version returns up to 57 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 Nissan Qashqai 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.