Used Kia Sportage Mk4 QL (2016–21) vs Honda CR-V Mk5 (2018–23)
Figures updated
Shopping for a used family suv? We compare the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL (2016–2021) and Honda CR-V Mk5 (2018–2023), 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
The Honda CR-V Mk5 comes out ahead, with the bigger boot and the better MOT record; the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL is close on everything else.
- The Honda CR-V Mk5 has the biggest boot: 561 litres, 70 more than the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL.
- The Honda CR-V Mk5 has the better MOT record for its age: the Honda CR-V Mk5 fails its MOT 39% less often than average for its age (10% of Honda CR-Vs built 2018–2021 failed first time in 2024, against 16% 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 | Kia Sportage Mk4 QLMk4 QL (2016–2021), 5-door SUV | Honda CR-V Mk5Mk5 (2018–2023), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 491 litres / 1,480 | 561 litres / 1,756 (best) |
| Length | 4,485mm | 4,600mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,855mm | – |
| Height | 1,635mm | 1,679mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 115–185 PS | 173–193 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 9.1–12.0 sec | 8.8–10.0 sec (best) |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2015) | ★★★★★ (2019) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | – | Hybrid, Petrol |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | – | 31.7–42.8 mpg |
| CO2 | – | 151–201 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.4p a litre, today's UK average | – | £1,468 (39.8 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | – | £1,468 (petrol) |
| Car tax, registered 2001 to 2017Taxed on CO2; newer cars pay a flat £200 | – | £35 to £445 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 99Average | 134Well above average (best) |
| Failed first time, cars of this generation's ageUK rate for cars the same age in brackets | 19.0% (18.6%)built 2016–2021 | 9.7% (15.9%)built 2018–2021 (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 24.3% (best) | 25.1% |
| Failed at 3 years old | 15.7% | 7.5% (best) |
| Failed at 5 years old | 17.1% | 9.4% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 33.0% | 18.0% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Brake pads (3.6% of tests) | Position lamp (2.5% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Brakes (1.7×), Steering (1.6×) | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 258,990 | 188,665 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family SUV | Family SUV |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,600 | 8,200 |
| On sale | 2016–2021 | 2018–2023 |
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 Kia Sportage Mk4 QL or Honda CR-V Mk5 more reliable?
The Honda CR-V Mk5. Compared with all cars the same age, the Honda CR-V Mk5 fails its MOT 39% 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: 9.7% of Honda CR-Vs built 2018–2021 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 Kia Sportage Mk4 QL or the Honda CR-V Mk5?
The Honda CR-V Mk5 is 115mm longer (4,600mm against 4,485mm). The Honda CR-V Mk5 has the bigger boot: 561 litres against 491.
›Which is safer, the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL or the Honda CR-V Mk5?
Euro NCAP gave the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL 5 stars (2015) and the Honda CR-V Mk5 5 stars (2019). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL or the Honda CR-V Mk5?
The Honda CR-V Mk5 comes out ahead, with the bigger boot and the better MOT record; the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL is close on everything else. 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.