The Sportage. Once age and mileage are allowed for, Sportages pass the MOT first time 1.9 points more often than Qashqais. The best bets are Sportages registered 2016 and 2018. Avoid Qashqais registered from 2007 to 2017, and Sportages registered 2005 to 2007, 2009, 2012 to 2013 and 2020 to 2021.
| Nissan Qashqai | Kia Sportage | |
|---|---|---|
| Passed first time, cars registered 2014 to 2021 | 76.2% | 79.1% |
| Against the average car of the same age and mileage | −1.5 points | +0.4 points |
| Years to avoid | 2007 to 2017 | 2005 to 2007, 2009, 2012 to 2013 and 2020 to 2021 |
| Best years | None stand out | 2016 and 2018 |
| Fails most often, against the average car | Steering: 3.5 times as often | Brakes: 1.7 times as often |
| Most common failure | Track rod ends: ball joint has excessive play | Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick |
| MOTs in 2025 | 598,163 | 299,477 |
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 | Sportage | Better bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Too few MOTs | −6.7Brake lights (not working) | |
| 2006 | Too few MOTs | −4.8Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | |
| 2007 | −10.0Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | −5.7Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Sportage |
| 2008 | −11.7Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | −1.3Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Sportage |
| 2009 | −12.3Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | −1.6Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Sportage |
| 2010 | −10.8Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | −1.3Sidelights and rear lights (not working) | Sportage |
| 2011 | −11.2Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | −0.3Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Sportage |
| 2012 | −11.6Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | −1.8Coil springs (fractured or broken) | Sportage |
| 2013 | −11.6Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | −3.0Track rod ends (ball joint has excessive play) | Sportage |
| 2014 | −2.3Coil springs (fractured or broken) | +1.3Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Sportage |
| 2015 | −2.4Coil springs (fractured or broken) | +0.1Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Sportage |
| 2016 | −2.9Ball joint excessively worn | +1.6Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Sportage |
| 2017 | −1.9Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +1.5Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Sportage |
| 2018 | −1.3Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | +1.6Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Sportage |
| 2019 | −0.2Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | −0.1Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | Either |
| 2020 | +0.6Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | −2.5Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | Qashqai |
| 2021 | −0.2Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | −2.2Windscreen wipers (does not clear the windscreen effectively) | Qashqai |
| 2022 | +0.8Brake pads (less than 1.5 mm thick) | −0.1Windscreen 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: Qashqais 12.4 points below the average car of the same age and mileage, Sportages 4.2 points below.
| Qashqai | Sportage | Better bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30k miles | +0.5 | −1.0 | Qashqai |
| 30–60k miles | −0.6 | +0.7 | Either |
| 60–90k miles | −3.7 | +1.2 | Sportage |
| 90–120k miles | −8.8 | −1.6 | Sportage |
| 120k+ miles | −12.4 | −4.2 | Sportage |
| Qashqai | Sportage | Better bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | −2.9 | −1.2 | Sportage |
| Diesel | −6.8 | +1.0 | Sportage |
| Hybrid | +0.5 | +0.3 | Either |
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 | Sportage: failed | Against average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 13.0% | 1.5× | 5.0% | 0.8× |
| Steering | 6.4% | 3.5× | 2.1% | 1.6× |
| Brakes | 7.4% | 1.3× | 7.9% | 1.7× |
| Tyres | 5.8% | 0.9× | 5.8% | 0.9× |
| Lights & electrics | 9.6% | 1.0× | 5.2% | 0.7× |
| Visibility | 4.7% | 1.2× | 4.2% | 1.2× |
| Body & structure | 4.3% | 1.6× | 0.8% | 0.4× |
| Emissions & leaks | 2.6% | 1.0× | 1.9% | 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 Sportage
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 Qashqais 1.5 points below: 1.9 points between them.
−1.5points against the average car of the same age and mileage
+0.4points against the average car of the same age and mileage
Going by the MOT, the Sportage is. 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, 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.
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.
Over 120,000 miles: Qashqais 12.4 points below the average car of the same age and mileage, Sportages 4.2 points below. So the Sportage 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. 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.
Data. Every car MOT in Great Britain in 2025, from DVSA's anonymised MOT test data: 598,163 Qashqai MOTs and 299,477 Sportage 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.