Used Ford Kuga Mk2 (2012–19) vs Kia Sportage Mk4 QL (2016–21)
Figures updated
Shopping for a used family suv? We compare the Ford Kuga Mk2 (2012–2019) and Kia Sportage Mk4 QL (2016–2021), which were on sale at the same time, on size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how cars of their age do in real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Ford Kuga Mk2 for the better MOT record, or the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL for the bigger boot.
- The Kia Sportage Mk4 QL has the biggest boot: 491 litres, 85 more than the Ford Kuga Mk2.
- The Ford Kuga Mk2 has the better MOT record for its age: the Ford Kuga Mk2 fails its MOT 12% less often than average for its age (21% of Ford Kugas built 2012–2019 failed first time in 2024, against 24% of all cars that age), while the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL fails its MOT about as often as average for its age (19% of Kia Sportages built 2016–2021 failed first time in 2024, against 19% of all cars that age).
- Watch the brakes on a Kia Sportage Mk4 QL: it fails on them 1.7 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Ford Kuga Mk2Mk2 (2012–2019), 5-door SUV | Kia Sportage Mk4 QLMk4 QL (2016–2021), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 406 litres / 1,603 | 491 litres / 1,480 (best) |
| Length | 4,531mm | 4,485mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,838mm | 1,855mm |
| Height | 1,689mm | 1,635mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 120–182 PS | 115–185 PS |
| 0–62mph | 9.2–13.4 sec | 9.1–12.0 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2012) | ★★★★★ (2015) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel | – |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 37.2–60.1 mpg | – |
| CO2 | 123–198 g/km | – |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,534 (44.1 mpg) | – |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,534 (diesel) | – |
| Car tax, registered 2001 to 2017Taxed on CO2; newer cars pay a flat £200 | £35 to £760 | – |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 116Well above average (best) | 99Average |
| Failed first time, cars of this generation's ageUK rate for cars the same age in brackets | 20.7% (23.5%)built 2012–2019 (best) | 19.0% (18.6%)built 2016–2021 |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 20.8% (best) | 24.3% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 9.6% (best) | 15.7% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 15.3% (best) | 17.1% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 27.2% (best) | 33.0% |
| Most common MOT fault | Brake pads (2.9% of tests) | Brake pads (3.6% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Brakes (1.7×), Steering (1.6×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 282,268 | 258,990 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family SUV | Family SUV |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,600 | 8,600 |
| On sale | 2012–2019 | 2016–2021 |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is a used Ford Kuga Mk2 or Kia Sportage Mk4 QL more reliable?
The Ford Kuga Mk2. Compared with all cars the same age, the Ford Kuga Mk2 fails its MOT 12% less often than average and the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL about as often as average (DVSA MOT tests, 2024). Because they're different ages, their raw rates differ: 20.7% of Ford Kugas built 2012–2019 failed first time, and 19.0% of Kia Sportages built 2016–2021. Whatever you buy, check the MOT history of the exact car.
›Which is bigger, the Ford Kuga Mk2 or the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL?
The Ford Kuga Mk2 is 46mm longer (4,531mm against 4,485mm). The Kia Sportage Mk4 QL has the bigger boot: 491 litres against 406.
›Which is safer, the Ford Kuga Mk2 or the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL?
Euro NCAP gave the Ford Kuga Mk2 5 stars (2012) and the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL 5 stars (2015). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Ford Kuga Mk2 or the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL?
Pick the Ford Kuga Mk2 for the better MOT record, or the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL for the bigger boot. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.