Ford Kuga vs Kia Sportage
Figures updated
The Ford Kuga and Kia Sportage are two of the UK's most popular family SUVs. We compare the Mk3 (2019–) Kuga and the Mk5 NQ5 (2021–) Sportage on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 541,258 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Ford Kuga for the better MOT record and lower fuel costs, or the Kia Sportage for the lower price and the bigger boot.
- The Kia Sportage is the cheapest to buy new: from £31,395, £1,940 less than the Ford Kuga.
- The Kia Sportage has the biggest boot: 591 litres, 179 more than the Ford Kuga.
- The Ford Kuga has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Kia Sportage fails its MOT about 17% more often.
- The Ford Kuga is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £248 a year less than the Kia Sportage at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the brakes on a Kia Sportage: it fails on them 1.7 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Ford KugaMk3 (2019–), 5-door SUV | Kia SportageMk5 NQ5 (2021–), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £33,335 to £44,330September 2026 price list | £31,395 to £47,895September 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 412 litres / 1,534 | 591 litres / 1,780 (best) |
| Length | 4,604mm | 4,540mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,882mm | 1,865mm |
| Height | 1,679mm | 1,645mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 150–243 PS | from 150 PS |
| 0–62mph | 7.3–9.5 sec | 7.5–9.7 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2019) | ★★★★★ (2022) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 37.2–60.1 mpg | 39.8–55.4 mpg |
| CO2 | 21–198 g/km | 27–163 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.5p a litre, today's UK average | £1,118 (52.3 mpg) (best) | £1,366 (42.8 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,364 (49.6 mpg) | £1,246 (54.3 mpg) (best) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,118 (petrol) | £1,246 (diesel) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 116Well above average (best) | 99Average |
| 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 | 2019 on | 2021 on |
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 the Ford Kuga or the Kia Sportage more reliable?
The Ford Kuga. Like for like on age and mileage, the Kia Sportage fails its MOT about 17% more often (reliability scores 116 and 99, where 100 is average). 20.8% of Ford Kugas and 24.3% of Kia Sportages failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Ford Kuga or the Kia Sportage?
The Ford Kuga is 64mm longer (4,604mm against 4,540mm). The Kia Sportage has the bigger boot: 591 litres against 412.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Ford Kuga or the Kia Sportage?
The Kia Sportage: new prices start at £31,395, £1,940 less than the Ford Kuga (from £33,335). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Ford Kuga or the Kia Sportage?
Comparing petrol versions, the Ford Kuga costs about £248 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,118 against £1,366), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Ford Kuga or the Kia Sportage?
Euro NCAP gave the Ford Kuga 5 stars (2019) and the Kia Sportage 5 stars (2022). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Ford Kuga or the Kia Sportage?
Pick the Ford Kuga for the better MOT record and lower fuel costs, or the Kia Sportage for the lower price and 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.