The Kuga. Once age and mileage are allowed for, Kugas pass the MOT first time 4.5 points more often than Qashqais. The best bets are Kugas registered 2008 to 2010, 2013 to 2018 and 2021 to 2022. Avoid Qashqais registered from 2007 to 2017.
| Nissan Qashqai | Ford Kuga | |
|---|---|---|
| Passed first time, cars registered 2014 to 2021 | 76.2% | 81.3% |
| Against the average car of the same age and mileage | −1.5 points | +3.0 points |
| Years to avoid | 2007 to 2017 | None stand out |
| Best years | None stand out | 2008 to 2010, 2013 to 2018 and 2021 to 2022 |
| Fails most often, against the average car | Steering: 3.5 times as often | No area stands out |
| Most common failure | Track rod ends: ball joint has excessive play | Sidelights and rear lights: not working |
| MOTs in 2025 | 598,163 | 310,648 |
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 | Qashqai | Kuga | Better bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | −10.0Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | Too few MOTs | |
| 2008 | −11.7Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | +5.5Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Kuga |
| 2009 | −12.3Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | +3.9Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Kuga |
| 2010 | −10.8Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | +1.8Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Kuga |
| 2011 | −11.2Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | −0.2Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Kuga |
| 2012 | −11.6Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | +0.6Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Kuga |
| 2013 | −11.6Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | +6.5Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Kuga |
| 2014 | −2.3Coil springs (fractured or broken) | +4.4Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Kuga |
| 2015 | −2.4Coil springs (fractured or broken) | +3.5Tyre pressure monitoring system (malfunctioning or obviously inoperative) | Kuga |
| 2016 | −2.9Ball joint excessively worn | +3.9Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Kuga |
| 2017 | −1.9Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +5.2Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Kuga |
| 2018 | −1.3Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +3.2Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Kuga |
| 2019 | −0.2Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +0.6Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Either |
| 2020 | +0.6Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +0.3Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Either |
| 2021 | −0.2Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | +1.8Tyre damage (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) | Kuga |
| 2022 | +0.8Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +3.1Tyre damage (has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords) | Kuga |
How often each passed the MOT first time against the average car of the same age and mileage, in points. Over 120,000 miles: Qashqais 12.4 points below the average car of the same age and mileage, Kugas 1.2 points above.
| Qashqai | Kuga | Better bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30k miles | +0.5 | +1.3 | Either |
| 30–60k miles | −0.6 | +3.4 | Kuga |
| 60–90k miles | −3.7 | +4.0 | Kuga |
| 90–120k miles | −8.8 | +2.8 | Kuga |
| 120k+ miles | −12.4 | +1.2 | Kuga |
| Qashqai | Kuga | Better bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | −2.9 | +1.7 | Kuga |
| Diesel | −6.8 | +3.2 | Kuga |
| Hybrid | +0.5 | +3.5 | Kuga |
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 | Qashqai: failed | Against average | Kuga: failed | Against average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 13.0% | 1.5× | 3.0% | 0.5× |
| Steering | 6.4% | 3.5× | 0.8% | 0.5× |
| Brakes | 7.4% | 1.3× | 4.6% | 0.9× |
| Tyres | 5.8% | 0.9× | 6.1% | 1.0× |
| Lights & electrics | 9.6% | 1.0× | 7.5% | 1.0× |
| Visibility | 4.7% | 1.2× | 3.7% | 1.0× |
| Body & structure | 4.3% | 1.6× | 1.6% | 0.8× |
| Emissions & leaks | 2.6% | 1.0× | 2.0% | 0.9× |
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.
The Kuga
For cars registered 2014 to 2021, Kugas passed the MOT first time 3.0 points above the average car of the same age and mileage and Qashqais 1.5 points below: 4.5 points between them.
−1.5points against the average car of the same age and mileage
+3.0points against the average car of the same age and mileage
Going by the MOT, the Kuga is. For cars registered 2014 to 2021, 81.3% of Kugas passed first time, 3.0 points above the average car of the same age and mileage, against 76.2% of Qashqais, 1.5 points below.
Going by 2025 MOT results, 2007 to 2017. Those cars passed first time −10.0 to −12.3 and −1.9 to −2.9 points against the average car of the same age and mileage.
None stand out: every registration year is within 1.5 points of the average car of the same age and mileage, or ahead of it.
Over 120,000 miles: Qashqais 12.4 points below the average car of the same age and mileage, Kugas 1.2 points above. So the Kuga holds up better.
Qashqai: track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play), on 5.0% of MOTs against 1.1% for the average car of the same age and mileage. Kuga: sidelights and rear lights (not working), on 2.7% of MOTs against 1.5% 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: 598,163 Qashqai MOTs and 310,648 Kuga 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.