No clear winner. Once age and mileage are allowed for, they pass the MOT first time less than 1.5 points apart. The best bets are Sportages registered 2016 and 2018, and Tucsons registered 2015 to 2017 and 2021. Avoid Sportages registered 2005 to 2007, 2009, 2012 to 2013 and 2020 to 2021, and Tucsons registered 2005 to 2007 and 2020.
| Kia Sportage | Hyundai Tucson | |
|---|---|---|
| Passed first time, cars registered 2014 to 2021 | 79.1% | 82.4% |
| Against the average car of the same age and mileage | +0.4 points | +1.3 points |
| Years to avoid | 2005 to 2007, 2009, 2012 to 2013 and 2020 to 2021 | 2005 to 2007 and 2020 |
| Best years | 2016 and 2018 | 2015 to 2017 and 2021 |
| Fails most often, against the average car | Brakes: 1.7 times as often | Brakes: 1.8 times as often |
| Most common failure | Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick | Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick |
| MOTs in 2025 | 299,477 | 166,472 |
How often cars from each registration year passed the MOT first time, against the average car of the same age and mileage. The figure is the difference in percentage points.
Each block is a registration year: the year the car was first used. Tap or hover over one for its figures. Blank means too few MOTs that year.
Points against the average car of the same age and mileage, with each year's most common failure. Less than 1.5 points apart counts as either.
| Registered | Sportage | Tucson | Better bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | −6.7Brake lights (not working) | −3.7Headlight aim (projected beam image is obviously incorrect) | Tucson |
| 2006 | −4.8Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | −3.2Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Tucson |
| 2007 | −5.7Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | −2.8Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Tucson |
| 2008 | −1.3Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2009 | −1.6Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | +1.0Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Tucson |
| 2010 | −1.3Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2011 | −0.3Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2012 | −1.8Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2013 | −3.0Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2014 | +1.3Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2015 | +0.1Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +2.8Brake test (efficiency below requirements) | Tucson |
| 2016 | +1.6Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +3.2Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Tucson |
| 2017 | +1.5Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +1.8Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Either |
| 2018 | +1.6Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +1.2Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Either |
| 2019 | −0.1Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +0.5Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Either |
| 2020 | −2.5Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | −1.9Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Either |
| 2021 | −2.2Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | +1.9Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | Tucson |
| 2022 | −0.1Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | +0.7Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | Either |
How often each passed the MOT first time against the average car of the same age and mileage, in points. Over 120,000 miles: Sportages 4.2 points below the average car of the same age and mileage, Tucsons 1.6 points below.
| Sportage | Tucson | Better bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30k miles | −1.0 | +0.4 | Either |
| 30–60k miles | +0.7 | +1.7 | Either |
| 60–90k miles | +1.2 | +1.5 | Either |
| 90–120k miles | −1.6 | −0.3 | Either |
| 120k+ miles | −4.2 | −1.6 | Tucson |
| Sportage | Tucson | Better bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | −1.2 | −0.2 | Either |
| Diesel | +1.0 | +3.1 | Tucson |
| Hybrid | +0.3 | +2.4 | Tucson |
Each fuel is compared with the average car of the same age and mileage, whatever its fuel. Rows with fewer than 500 MOTs for either car are left out.
How often each failed on every area of the test, against the average car of the same age and mileage. All registration years.
| Area | Sportage: failed | Against average | Tucson: failed | Against average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 5.0% | 0.8× | 1.7% | 0.5× |
| Steering | 2.1% | 1.6× | 0.9% | 1.1× |
| Brakes | 7.9% | 1.7× | 6.0% | 1.8× |
| Tyres | 5.8% | 0.9× | 4.5% | 0.8× |
| Lights & electrics | 5.2% | 0.7× | 2.9% | 0.6× |
| Visibility | 4.2% | 1.2× | 3.6% | 1.1× |
| Body & structure | 0.8% | 0.4× | 0.7% | 0.7× |
| Emissions & leaks | 1.9% | 0.9× | 1.7% | 1.2× |
The failures testers found most often on each, against the average car of the same age and mileage. Both charts use the same scale.
What testers most often noted as advisories on each: wear that passed but was close to failing. Figures in brackets are for the average car of the same age and mileage.
No clear winner
For cars registered 2014 to 2021, Sportages passed the MOT first time 0.4 points above the average car of the same age and mileage and Tucsons 1.3 points above: less than 1.5 points apart. Choose by year, mileage and fuel instead.
+0.4points against the average car of the same age and mileage
+1.3points against the average car of the same age and mileage
There's no clear winner at the MOT. For cars registered 2014 to 2021, 79.1% of Sportages passed first time, 0.4 points above the average car of the same age and mileage, and 82.4% of Tucsons, 1.3 points above.
Going by 2025 MOT results, 2005 to 2007, 2009, 2012 to 2013 and 2020 to 2021. Those cars passed first time −6.7 and −4.8 and −5.7 and −1.6 and −1.8 to −3.0 and −2.2 to −2.5 points against the average car of the same age and mileage.
Going by 2025 MOT results, 2005 to 2007 and 2020. Those cars passed first time −2.8 to −3.7 and −1.9 points against the average car of the same age and mileage.
Over 120,000 miles: Sportages 4.2 points below the average car of the same age and mileage, Tucsons 1.6 points below. So the Tucson holds up better.
Sportage: brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick), on 3.1% of MOTs against 1.8% for the average car of the same age and mileage. Tucson: brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick), on 2.7% of MOTs against 1.6% for the average car of the same age and mileage.
Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data: 299,477 Sportage MOTs and 166,472 Tucson MOTs. Retests are left out.
Against the average car. Each model is compared with the average car of the same age and mileage, not with each other directly, so a newer or lower-mileage model doesn't win for that alone.
Which is more reliable. The answer uses cars registered 2014 to 2021, the same years for both, as the rivals table on each model page does. Less than 1.5 points apart counts as level.