What are the main MOT differences between Ford Kuga and Nissan Qashqai?

The Ford Kuga has a 18.7% overall MOT failure rate (1,161,082 tests) while the Nissan Qashqai has 27.7% (2,299,249 tests). The top failure area for the Ford Kuga is lamps & electrics, while for the Nissan Qashqai it is suspension.

Should I buy a Ford Kuga or Nissan Qashqai?

From an MOT reliability standpoint, the Ford Kuga has a lower failure rate. However, MOT pass rates are just one factor — also consider insurance costs, fuel economy, running costs and personal preference. Use AutoSafe's free prediction tool to check a specific vehicle by registration.

Ford Kuga vs Nissan Qashqai — MOT Failure Rate Comparison

Q: Which is more reliable, Ford Kuga or Nissan Qashqai?

Based on 3,460,331 MOT tests, the Ford Kuga is more reliable with a 9.1 percentage point lower failure rate. The Ford Kuga has a 18.7% failure rate while the Nissan Qashqai has 27.7%.

Ford Kuga

18.7%

failure rate from 1,161,082 tests

9.3pp below UK avg (28%)

Nissan Qashqai

27.7%

failure rate from 2,299,249 tests

0.3pp below UK avg (28%)

Verdict: The Ford Kuga is more reliable based on MOT data, with a 9.1 percentage point lower failure rate than the Nissan Qashqai.

Failure Rate by Vehicle Age

How the Ford Kuga and Nissan Qashqai compare across different age groups:

Age	Ford Kuga	Nissan Qashqai	Difference
0-2 years	9.2%	8.7%	Nissan Qashqai +0.5pp
3-5 years	12.6%	13.1%	Ford Kuga +0.5pp
6-10 years	20.7%	27.6%	Ford Kuga +6.9pp
11-15 years	37.3%	51.6%	Ford Kuga +14.3pp
15+ years	36.0%	56.4%	Ford Kuga +20.4pp

Component Risk Comparison

Side-by-side breakdown of which MOT failure areas each model is weaker in:

Ford Kuga Component Nissan Qashqai

3.6%

Lamps & Electrics

4.7%

2.6%

Tyres

2.7%

2.1%

Brakes

3.6%

1.9%

Visibility

2.4%

1.5%

Suspension

5.6%

0.6%

Body & Chassis

1.9%

0.4%

Steering

2.5%

Component	Ford Kuga	Nissan Qashqai	Better
Lamps & Electrics	3.6%	4.7%	Ford Kuga
Tyres	2.6%	2.7%	Ford Kuga
Brakes	2.1%	3.6%	Ford Kuga
Visibility	1.9%	2.4%	Ford Kuga
Suspension	1.5%	5.6%	Ford Kuga
Body & Chassis	0.6%	1.9%	Ford Kuga
Steering	0.4%	2.5%	Ford Kuga

Which Is More Reliable: Ford Kuga or Nissan Qashqai?

Based on official DVSA MOT test records covering 3,460,331 tests between these two models, the Ford Kuga comes out ahead with a 9.1 percentage point lower overall failure rate. The Ford Kuga fails 18.7% of the time compared to the Nissan Qashqai's 27.7%.

However, the gap between these models varies by vehicle age. Younger examples of both models tend to have more similar pass rates, while differences can become more pronounced as vehicles age and accumulate wear. Component-level data shows each model has different weak spots — the Ford Kuga's top risk area is lamps & electrics while the Nissan Qashqai's is suspension. Knowing your model's specific weaknesses helps you target pre-MOT checks where they matter most.

Explore Each Model in Detail

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Data methodology: Failure rates are weighted averages across all mileage bands, calculated from official DVSA MOT test records. Only age/mileage combinations with 100+ tests are included. Component risks represent the probability of failure in each specific area. Data covers 142 million MOT tests across the UK. Comparisons are based on aggregate statistics and individual vehicle condition will vary.

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