Comparison · family SUVs

Nissan Qashqai vs Volkswagen Tiguan: which is more reliable?

The Volkswagen Tiguan does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 92 for the Nissan Qashqai, comparing each with cars of the same age. Based on 801,208 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	Volkswagen Tiguan
3–5 years	102Above average	103Above average
6–9 years	99About average	107Above average
10–14 years	83Well below average	107Above average
15+ years	75Well below average	109Well above average

Year by year

Share that passed first time, same registration year.

Year	Nissan Qashqai	Volkswagen Tiguan
2021	89.9%	89.1%
2020	89.7%	89.0%
2019	85.7%	88.1%
2018	82.3%	86.4%
2017	79.6%	86.4%
2016	75.7%	84.2%
2015	72.0%	78.3%
2014	67.5%	74.4%
2013	55.1%	73.4%
2012	50.8%	69.3%
2011	48.7%	65.4%
2010	45.6%	63.3%
2009	42.2%	63.4%
2008	43.4%	62.0%

Problem areas

Failure items per 100 tests.

Area	Nissan Qashqai	Volkswagen Tiguan
Suspension	16.7	7.8
Lights & electrics	13.5	4.0
Brakes	11.0	4.2
Tyres	6.4	6.3
Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)	5.2	2.1
Steering	6.4	0.3
Body & chassis	4.6	1.0
Emissions & leaks	2.9	1.9

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%

Volkswagen Tiguan: top failures

Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.5%
Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.2%
Coil spring: fractured or broken2.1%
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick1.7%
Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction1.5%
Tyres - condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords1.2%

Questions

Which is more reliable, the Nissan Qashqai or the Volkswagen Tiguan?

The Volkswagen Tiguan does better at the MOT, with a score of 106 against 92 for the Nissan Qashqai, comparing each with cars of the same age.

Which years of the Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan can be compared?

Both were tested for 14 registration years (2008–2021). The Nissan Qashqai had the higher pass rate in 2 of them and the Volkswagen Tiguan 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. Volkswagen Tiguan: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm; suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn.