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2016 Kia Sportage 1.7 Diesel

C · Average

MOT pass rate and common problems from 129,717 MOT tests of 17,905 cars, 2018–2026. Engine size and fuel as recorded at MOT.

Kia Sportage
79.0%pass first time
+0.4 ptsvs typical car
Beats 54%of cars
129,717MOT tests

Verdict

The 2016 Kia Sportage 1.7 diesel passes its MOT first time on 79.0% of tests, against 78.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. That beats 54% of cars on UK roads, slightly ahead of the Sportage as a whole.

It starts a little behind and does slightly better with age: at its first MOT it passed about 2 points less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage, drew level at 4–5 years old, and from 6 to 10 years old passes about 1 point more often. Across all years of this engine it stays within about 1.5 points of a typical car up to 100,000 miles, slightly ahead between 40,000 and 80,000 miles, and drops about 3–4 points behind beyond 110,000.

Of the same 1.7 diesel, 2017 and 2018 cars do a little better, beating about six in ten cars; 2013 and 2015 cars do worst, beating about four in ten. In 2016 the 2.0 diesel does better, beating about seven in ten cars, and the 1.6 petrol a little worse than this engine.

Brakes are the weak spot: handbrake performance fails about 4 times as often as on a typical car (about 1 in 35 tests) and brake pads 1.8 times, its most common fail at about 1 in 25 tests. Steering fails about 1.7 times as often, led by track rod ends. Lights fail about a third less often than on a typical car, and suspension and emissions about half as often or less.

Watch these weak spots

Brakes1.9×as often as a typical car
Steering1.7×as often as a typical car
Handbrake performance4.1×as often as a typical car
Brake pads1.8×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT.

65%70%75%80%85%90%Age 32019Age 42020Age 52021Age 62022Age 72023Age 82024Age 92025Age 10202684%83%82%81%79%76%74%72%
2016 Sportage 1.7 DieselTypical car, same age & mileage

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 0.6% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 2.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 3.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 6.2% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 8.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 3.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+2.3 ptsTyres: 6.2% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+0.3 ptsBrakes: 8.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−3.8 ptsSuspension: 2.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+2.2 ptsExhaust: 0.6% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.1 ptsSuspension: 2.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 8.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 6.2% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 3.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 0.6% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 3.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+2.3 ptsTyres: 6.2% of tests fail on tyres, against 6.4% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+0.3 ptsBrakes: 8.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−3.8 ptsSuspension: 2.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 4.5% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+2.2 ptsExhaust: 0.6% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust+1.1 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Brakes: 8.1% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.3% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Brakes
8.1% vs 4.3%
Tyres
6.2% vs 6.4%
Visibility
4.2% vs 3.7%
Lights & electrics
3.9% vs 6.1%
Suspension
2.3% vs 4.5%
Steering
1.5% vs 0.9%
Emissions & leaks
0.6% vs 1.7%
Body & structure
0.5% vs 1.3%
Wheels
0.2% vs 0.3%
Seat belts & airbags
0.2% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Handbrake
    Handbrake performance fails about 4 times as often as on a typical car, on about 1 in 35 tests, and the handbrake lever nearly 6 times as often (about 1 in 120 tests). Testers also find the handbrake working on one side only. Check it holds the car firmly on a slope.
  • Brake pads
    The most common fail, on about 1 in 25 tests (1.8 times the typical rate), and an advisory on about 1 in 7 more. Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
  • ABS warning light
    Fails on only about 1 in 125 tests, but about 5.6 times as often as on a typical car. The ABS light should come on with the ignition and go out a few seconds after start-up.
  • Track rod ends
    Fail about twice as often as on a typical car, on about 1 in 70 tests. Feel for play or knocking in the steering and look for wear on the inner edges of the front tyres.
  • Tyres
    Tread depth fails about 1.4 times as often as on a typical car (about 1 in 30 tests), while the tyre pressure warning fails about as often as typical (about 1 in 100). Check every tyre has at least 3 mm of tread, including the inner edge, and that no tyre-pressure warning stays on after start-up.
  • Wipers and washers
    Wipers fail on about 1 in 40 tests and washers on about 1 in 60, a little more often than on a typical car. Test both before the MOT: a cheap fix.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k140k150k92%86%81%75%69%63%60%57%
Sportage 1.7 Diesel (all years)Typical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Brake pads4.0%2.2%1.8×
Tyre tread depth3.5%2.5%1.4×
Handbrake performance2.8%0.7%4.1×
Windscreen wipers2.6%2.0%1.3×
Tyre damage & cracking2.0%3.4%0.6×
Headlight aim1.8%2.1%0.9×
Windscreen washers1.7%1.5%1.1×
Track rod ends1.5%0.8%1.9×
Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)1.0%0.9%1.1×
Shock absorbers0.9%0.6%1.4×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm38.3
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements35.4
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen25.4
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements18.4
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen16.6
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement14.9
A tyre seriously damaged14.0
A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play12.4
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Advisories

Not a fail yet, but likely to need attention soon.

ItemShare of testsvs typical
Tyre tread depth19.0%1.1×
Brake pads14.7%1.6×
Tyre damage & cracking10.6%1.3×
Brake discs9.4%1.0×
Shock absorbers2.7%1.0×
Suspension arm bushes2.1%0.7×
Brake performance1.6%1.4×
Number plates1.3%1.2×

Best and worst years

Sportage 1.7 Diesel by year, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2010
Beats 69%
2011
Beats 60%
2012
Beats 43%
2013
Beats 40%
2014
Beats 59%
2015
Beats 39%
2016
Beats 54%
2017
Beats 58%
2018
Beats 59%

Other 2016 Sportage engines

Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.7 Diesel129,71779.0%Beats 54%C
1.6 Petrol82,33180.1%Beats 48%C
2.0 Diesel77,17981.9%Beats 70%B

FAQ

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2016 Kia Sportage 1.7 diesel?

79.0% of MOT tests on the 2016 Kia Sportage 1.7 diesel were passed first time, from 129,717 tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 78.7%.

Is the 2016 Kia Sportage 1.7 diesel reliable?

On MOT results it is about average: it beats 54% of cars on UK roads, and it does slightly better against a typical car as it gets older. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

What are the most common MOT failures on the 2016 Kia Sportage 1.7 diesel?

Brake pads (about 1 in 25 tests), tyre tread depth, handbrake performance and windscreen wipers. Handbrake performance fails about 4 times as often as on a typical car.

Which Kia Sportage 1.7 diesel years are best?

2011, 2014, 2017 and 2018 cars each beat about six in ten cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, and the few 2010 cars about seven in ten. 2013 and 2015 cars do worst, beating about four in ten.

Which 2016 Kia Sportage engine is best?

The 2.0 diesel, which beats about seven in ten cars on UK roads. The 1.7 diesel and 1.6 petrol are both about average.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.