Comparison · family SUVs

Nissan Qashqai vs Kia Sportage: which is more reliable?

The Kia Sportage does better at the MOT, with a score of 98 against 92 for the Nissan Qashqai, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 838,162 real MOT tests in 2024.

By age

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

Age at test	Nissan Qashqai	Kia Sportage
3–5 years	102Above average	97Below average
6–9 years	99About average	100About average
10–14 years	83Well below average	97Below average
15+ years	75Well below average	89Well below average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Nissan Qashqai	Kia Sportage
2021	89.9%	84.5%
2020	89.7%	84.6%
2019	85.7%	83.4%
2018	82.3%	82.8%
2017	79.6%	80.2%
2016	75.7%	77.2%
2015	72.0%	72.5%
2014	67.5%	70.9%
2013	55.1%	62.1%
2012	50.8%	61.1%
2011	48.7%	60.0%
2010	45.6%	56.2%
2009	42.2%	51.3%
2008	43.4%	53.3%
2007	44.1%	50.2%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Nissan Qashqai	Kia Sportage
Brakes	11.0	12.7
Suspension	16.7	5.9
Lights & electrics	13.5	6.4
Tyres	6.4	6.9
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	5.2	4.9
Steering	6.4	2.2
Body & chassis	4.6	0.9
Emissions & leaks	2.9	2.0

Nissan Qashqai: top failures

Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play4.8%
Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn4.4%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.9%
Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.1%
Position lamp: not working2.8%
Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.7%

Kia Sportage: top failures

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

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Nissan Qashqai or the Kia Sportage?

The Kia Sportage does better at the MOT, with a score of 98 against 92 for the Nissan Qashqai, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage can be compared?

Both were tested for 15 registration years (2007–2021). The Nissan Qashqai had the higher pass rate in 3 of them and the Kia Sportage in 12.

What fails most on each?

Nissan Qashqai: track rod end: ball joint has excessive play; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. Kia Sportage: brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick; tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm.