Comparison · family SUVs

Ford Kuga vs Land Rover Discovery Sport: which is more reliable?

The Ford Kuga and Land Rover Discovery Sport are very close at the MOT: scores of 103 and 101. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car. Based on 389,059 real MOT tests in 2024.

By age

MOT Rank score for each age group (100 = an average car that age).

Age at test	Ford Kuga	Land Rover Discovery Sport
3–5 years	102About average	96Below average
6–9 years	104Above average	104Above average
10–14 years	103Above average	–
15+ years	102Above average	–

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Ford Kuga	Land Rover Discovery Sport
2021	90.3%	82.9%
2020	89.7%	82.0%
2019	85.3%	82.5%
2018	84.6%	82.7%
2017	83.9%	81.8%
2016	80.2%	80.2%
2015	76.7%	80.1%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Ford Kuga	Land Rover Discovery Sport
Lights & electrics	9.3	5.6
Tyres	6.3	6.7
Brakes	6.2	4.1
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	4.2	3.8
Suspension	3.2	1.9
Emissions & leaks	2.0	2.8
Body & chassis	1.7	0.5
Steering	0.9	0.1

Ford Kuga: top failures

Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.7%
Position lamp: not working2.7%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.2%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.5%
Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.1%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.1%

Land Rover Discovery Sport: top failures

Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.5%
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.3%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.9%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.8%
Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed1.3%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.2%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Ford Kuga or the Land Rover Discovery Sport?

The Ford Kuga and Land Rover Discovery Sport are very close at the MOT: scores of 103 and 101. Pick on the condition and history of the actual car.

Which years of the Ford Kuga and Land Rover Discovery Sport can be compared?

Both were tested for 7 registration years (2015–2021). The Ford Kuga had the higher pass rate in 5 of them and the Land Rover Discovery Sport in 2.

What fails most on each?

Ford Kuga: brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick; position lamp: not working. Land Rover Discovery Sport: tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords; wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively.