Kia Sportage Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Kia Sportage passes its MOT first time on 77.3% of tests, against 77.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. It beats 51% of cars on UK roads: about average. Among family SUVs the Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and VW Tiguan do better; the Nissan Qashqai, Nissan X-Trail and Peugeot 3008 do worse.

It does best at 6–10 years old, up to about 2 percentage points ahead of a typical car of the same age and mileage, but is level again at 11 and falls behind from about 12 years, by about 4–5 points at 17–19 years.

The best years are 2014, which beats nearly two in three cars, and 2011, with 2016–2018 cars also above average. Cars from before 2008 beat fewer than four in ten, and 2020–2021 cars only about one in five, with suspension arm bushes, track rod ends and the electronic parking brake failing far more often than on a typical car.

Brakes and steering are the weak spots: brake fails come about 1.6 times as often as on a typical car, and handbrake performance about 2.8 times. Better than average on lights, body and emissions.

Watch these weak spots

Brakes1.6×as often as a typical car

Steering1.5×as often as a typical car

Handbrake performance2.8×as often as a typical car

Brake pads1.6×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Kia SportageTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 36%

Beats 37%

Beats 37%

Beats 54%

Beats 46%

Beats 56%

Beats 61%

Beats 48%

Beats 49%

Beats 64%

Beats 47%

Beats 57%

Beats 56%

Beats 55%

Beats 42%

Beats 20%

Beats 19%

Beats 55%

Beats 57%

Engines

All years, most common first. 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.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.7 Diesel	2010–2018	663,228	75.2%	Beats 50%	C
1.6 Petrol	2010–2023	635,696	81.6%	Beats 41%	C
2.0 Diesel	2005–2019	442,374	73.4%	Beats 62%	B
1.6 Hybrid	2019–2023	86,661	86.7%	Beats 49%	C
1.6 Diesel	2018–2022	65,881	83.7%	Beats 54%	C
2.0 Petrol	2005–2013	47,254	57.8%	Beats 38%	D
2.0 Hybrid	2019–2020	2,874	84.0%	Beats 32%	D
2.7 Petrol	2005–2005	1,144	51.0%	Beats 35%	D

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.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Brakes: 7.5% of tests fail on brakes, against 4.7% 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

7.5% vs 4.7%

Tyres

6.0% vs 6.2%

Lights & electrics

5.4% vs 7.7%

Suspension

4.8% vs 5.5%

Visibility

4.5% vs 4.0%

Steering

1.7% vs 1.1%

Emissions & leaks

1.3% vs 1.9%

Body & structure

0.9% vs 1.8%

Seat belts & airbags

0.4% vs 0.6%

Wheels

0.2% vs 0.3%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Brake pads
The Sportage's most common MOT fail, on about 1 in 29 tests (1.6 times the typical rate). Look through the wheels at the pad thickness and listen for grinding.
Handbrake
Handbrake performance fails about 3 times as often as on a typical car on 2011–2021 cars, and the lever itself about 6 times on 2016–2021 cars. Check it holds the car on a steep slope without the lever coming up too far.
Electronic parking brake
On cars from 2020 on it fails about 20 times as often as on a typical car, though still only on about 1 in 180 tests. Make sure it applies and releases cleanly and no warning light stays on.
Track rod ends and suspension bushes
Track rod ends fail about 1.7 times as often as on a typical car, and on 2020–2021 cars track rod ends and suspension arm bushes fail 6–7 times as often. Feel for knocking or play in the steering and look for uneven tyre wear.
Tyre tread
Tread depth fails about 1.3 times as often as on a typical car. Check every tyre, including the inner edge.
Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)
Fails about 1.5 times as often as on a typical car. Make sure no tyre-pressure warning stays on after start-up.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Kia SportageTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Brake pads	3.3%	2.0%	1.6×
Tyre tread depth	3.2%	2.4%	1.3×
Windscreen wipers	2.7%	2.1%	1.3×
Handbrake performance	2.7%	1.0%	2.8×
Tyre damage & cracking	2.2%	3.5%	0.6×
Headlight aim	1.9%	2.4%	0.8×
Windscreen washers	1.6%	1.7%	1.0×
Track rod ends	1.5%	0.9%	1.7×
Suspension ball joints	1.1%	1.0%	1.1×
Suspension arm bushes	1.0%	0.7%	1.4×

Specific defects found

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

Defect	per 1,000
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	32.0
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	31.7
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen	27.0
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	24.4
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	19.4
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen	16.0
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement	14.2
A tyre seriously damaged	14.2

Check another car

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

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its 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.

2023 Kia Sportage2 engines88.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Hybrid	11,470	89.4%	Beats 70%	B
1.6 Petrol	4,095	85.0%	Beats 15%	E

2022 Kia Sportage3 engines88.3% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Hybrid	27,955	89.4%	Beats 68%	B
1.6 Petrol	24,579	87.2%	Beats 37%	D
1.6 Diesel	1,671	85.8%	Beats 38%	D

2021 Kia Sportage2 engines84.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	53,595	84.7%	Beats 16%	E
1.6 Hybrid	23,828	84.7%	Beats 30%	D

2020 Kia Sportage4 engines84.0% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	49,947	84.0%	Beats 16%	E
1.6 Hybrid	19,336	84.4%	Beats 33%	D
1.6 Diesel	2,996	81.1%	Beats 14%	E
2.0 Hybrid	1,627	83.3%	Beats 23%	D

2019 Kia Sportage5 engines84.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	107,317	84.4%	Beats 36%	D
1.6 Diesel	43,885	83.6%	Beats 52%	C
2.0 Diesel	4,565	84.4%	Beats 52%	C
1.6 Hybrid	4,072	84.2%	Beats 44%	C
2.0 Hybrid	1,247	84.8%	Beats 45%	C

2018 Kia Sportage4 engines83.8% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.6 Petrol	112,103	84.0%	Beats 49%	C
1.7 Diesel	55,503	83.0%	Beats 59%	C
1.6 Diesel	17,329	84.2%	Beats 64%	B
2.0 Diesel	13,322	84.4%	Beats 66%	B

2017 Kia Sportage3 engines82.0% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.7 Diesel	112,540	81.5%	Beats 58%	C
1.6 Petrol	94,546	82.3%	Beats 49%	C
2.0 Diesel	43,242	82.7%	Beats 63%	B

2016 Kia Sportage3 engines80.1% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.7 Diesel report →	129,717	79.0%	Beats 54%	C
1.6 Petrol	82,331	80.1%	Beats 48%	C
2.0 Diesel	77,179	81.9%	Beats 70%	B

2015 Kia Sportage3 engines76.9% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.7 Diesel	100,828	75.4%	Beats 39%	D
2.0 Diesel	46,445	81.2%	Beats 76%	B
1.6 Petrol	37,368	75.6%	Beats 28%	D

2014 Kia Sportage3 engines75.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.7 Diesel	88,993	74.4%	Beats 59%	C
2.0 Diesel	52,131	79.1%	Beats 80%	A
1.6 Petrol	27,392	74.7%	Beats 48%	C

2013 Kia Sportage4 engines69.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.7 Diesel	81,170	67.5%	Beats 40%	D
2.0 Diesel	53,486	72.0%	Beats 62%	B
1.6 Petrol	22,136	70.3%	Beats 46%	C
2.0 Petrol	2,282	73.7%	Beats 52%	C

2012 Kia Sportage4 engines66.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.7 Diesel	57,369	64.8%	Beats 43%	C
2.0 Diesel	39,825	66.8%	Beats 52%	C
1.6 Petrol	11,899	68.6%	Beats 53%	C
2.0 Petrol	3,141	74.1%	Beats 73%	B

2011 Kia Sportage4 engines66.1% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.7 Diesel	34,328	65.0%	Beats 60%	C
2.0 Diesel	21,879	66.7%	Beats 63%	B
1.6 Petrol	6,844	66.3%	Beats 58%	C
2.0 Petrol	4,735	71.5%	Beats 74%	B

2010 Kia Sportage4 engines62.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	26,025	62.9%	Beats 58%	C
2.0 Petrol	9,203	60.3%	Beats 42%	C
1.7 Diesel	2,780	65.7%	Beats 69%	B
1.6 Petrol	1,544	64.7%	Beats 62%	B

2009 Kia Sportage2 engines58.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	17,323	59.9%	Beats 54%	C
2.0 Petrol	7,081	55.1%	Beats 29%	D

2008 Kia Sportage2 engines58.1% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	11,879	60.5%	Beats 63%	B
2.0 Petrol	5,360	52.9%	Beats 31%	D

2007 Kia Sportage2 engines52.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	11,347	53.1%	Beats 42%	C
2.0 Petrol	5,938	51.1%	Beats 29%	D

2006 Kia Sportage2 engines50.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	12,638	50.5%	Beats 38%	D
2.0 Petrol	3,799	50.0%	Beats 32%	D

2005 Kia Sportage3 engines49.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	11,088	50.4%	Beats 41%	C
2.0 Petrol	5,715	47.1%	Beats 27%	D
2.7 Petrol	1,144	51.0%	Beats 35%	D

FAQ

What is the Kia Sportage MOT pass rate?

77.3% of Kia Sportage MOT tests were passed first time, from 1.9 million tests. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 77.1%.

Is the Kia Sportage reliable?

On MOT results it is about average: it beats 51% of cars on UK roads, a little ahead of a typical car in middle age but weaker on brakes and steering. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Kia Sportage years are best?

2014 cars do best, beating nearly two in three cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account, followed by 2011 cars and then 2016–2018 cars, which beat more than half.

Which Kia Sportage years should I avoid?

2020–2021 cars beat only about one in five cars, and cars from before 2008 fewer than four in ten. 2012–2013 and 2015 cars sit just below the middle.

Which Kia Sportage engine is best?

The 2.0 diesel does best, beating more than six in ten cars. The 1.6 diesel (2018 on) and the common 1.7 diesel sit around the middle, the 1.6 hybrid (2019 on) and 1.6 petrol a little below, and the 2.0 petrol (2005–2013) does worst, beating fewer than four in ten.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Kia Sportage?

Brake pads (about 1 in 29 tests), tyre tread depth, windscreen wipers and handbrake performance.

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.

Kia Sportage reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ