Comparison · family SUVs

Kia Sportage vs Land Rover Discovery Sport: which is more reliable?

The Land Rover Discovery Sport does better at the MOT, with a score of 101 against 98 for the Kia Sportage, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 375,488 real MOT tests in 2024.

Kia Sportage

98About average
MOT tests272,202

Land Rover Discovery Sport

101About average
MOT tests103,286

By age

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

Age at testKia SportageLand Rover Discovery Sport
3–5 years
97Below average
96Below average
6–9 years
100About average
104Above average
10–14 years
97Below average
–
15+ years
89Well below average
–

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

YearKia SportageLand Rover Discovery Sport
202184.5%82.9%
202084.6%82.0%
201983.4%82.5%
201882.8%82.7%
201780.2%81.8%
201677.2%80.2%
201572.5%80.1%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

AreaKia SportageLand Rover Discovery Sport
Brakes12.74.1
Tyres6.96.7
Lights & electrics6.45.6
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.93.8
Suspension5.91.9
Emissions & leaks2.02.8
Steering2.20.1
Body & chassis0.90.5

Kia Sportage: top failures

  1. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.3%
  2. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm3.3%
  3. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.0%
  4. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.5%
  5. Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play1.2%
  6. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.0%

Land Rover Discovery Sport: top failures

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

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Kia Sportage or the Land Rover Discovery Sport?

The Land Rover Discovery Sport does better at the MOT, with a score of 101 against 98 for the Kia Sportage, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Kia Sportage and Land Rover Discovery Sport can be compared?

Both were tested for 7 registration years (2015–2021). The Kia Sportage had the higher pass rate in 4 of them and the Land Rover Discovery Sport in 3.

What fails most on each?

Kia Sportage: brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. 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.