Which model group has the lower recorded MOT failure rate: Nissan Qashqai or KIA Sportage?

Across 3,374,276 recorded MOT tests, the KIA Sportage group has a 6.5 percentage point lower historical failure rate. The Nissan Qashqai group rate is 27.7% and the KIA Sportage group rate is 21.2%. These population statistics do not predict an individual vehicle's result.

What are the main MOT differences between Nissan Qashqai and KIA Sportage?

The Nissan Qashqai has a 27.7% overall MOT failure rate (2,299,249 tests) while the KIA Sportage has 21.2% (1,075,027 tests). The highest complete component category for the Nissan Qashqai is suspension, while for the KIA Sportage it is brakes.

Should I buy a Nissan Qashqai or KIA Sportage?

This aggregate MOT comparison is not a buying recommendation. It describes recorded model-group outcomes, not the condition or likely result of a particular vehicle. Check the specific vehicle's MOT history and condition before deciding.

Nissan Qashqai vs KIA Sportage — MOT Failure Rate Comparison

Nissan Qashqai

27.7%

failure rate from 2,299,249 tests

0.8pp above the dataset reference (26.9%)

KIA Sportage

21.2%

failure rate from 1,075,027 tests

5.7pp below the dataset reference (26.9%)

Recorded-rate result: The KIA Sportage model group has a 6.5 percentage point lower historical failure rate than the Nissan Qashqai group in this dataset.

Failure Rate by Vehicle Age

How the Nissan Qashqai and KIA Sportage compare across different age groups:

Age	Nissan Qashqai	KIA Sportage	Difference
0-2 years	8.7%	13.1%	Nissan Qashqai +4.3pp
3-5 years	13.1%	14.8%	Nissan Qashqai +1.7pp
6-10 years	27.6%	23.8%	KIA Sportage +3.8pp
11-15 years	51.6%	40.0%	KIA Sportage +11.6pp
15+ years	56.4%	50.0%	KIA Sportage +6.3pp

Recorded Component Comparison

Side-by-side aggregate rates for MOT tests involving each component category. These are group statistics, not a diagnosis of either vehicle.

Nissan Qashqai Component KIA Sportage

5.6%

Suspension

2.3%

4.7%

Lamps & Electrics

2.6%

3.6%

Brakes

3.6%

2.7%

Tyres

2.9%

2.5%

Steering

0.9%

2.4%

Visibility

2.2%

1.9%

Body & Chassis

0.4%

Component	Nissan Qashqai	KIA Sportage	Lower rate
Suspension	5.6%	2.3%	KIA Sportage
Lamps & Electrics	4.7%	2.6%	KIA Sportage
Brakes	3.6%	3.6%	Nissan Qashqai
Tyres	2.7%	2.9%	Nissan Qashqai
Steering	2.5%	0.9%	KIA Sportage
Visibility	2.4%	2.2%	KIA Sportage
Body & Chassis	1.9%	0.4%	KIA Sportage

Which Has the Lower Recorded Failure Rate?

Based on official DVSA MOT test records covering 3,374,276 tests between these two models, the KIA Sportage group has a 6.5 percentage point lower overall failure rate. The KIA Sportage group rate is 21.2% compared with 27.7% for the Nissan Qashqai group.

The age-band table shows whether that gap is consistent across the available groups. The highest recorded component category is suspension for the Nissan Qashqai group and brakes for the KIA Sportage group. Category rates show historical involvement in failed tests; they do not identify a fault on a particular vehicle.

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 percentages are weighted recorded category rates, not probabilities for an individual vehicle. The checked-in dataset contains 148,509,908 tests and 39,969,903 failures. Vehicle condition and history are not captured by these group comparisons.

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