Used Kia Sportage Mk4 QL (2016–21) vs Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 (2016–24)
Figures updated
Shopping for a used family suv? We compare the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL (2016–2021) and Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 (2016–2024), 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 Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 comes out ahead, with the bigger boot, the better MOT record and more performance; the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL is close on everything else.
- The Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 has the biggest boot: 615 litres, 124 more than the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL.
- The Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 has the better MOT record for its age: the Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 fails its MOT 24% less often than average for its age (13% of Volkswagen Tiguans built 2016–2021 failed first time in 2024, against 17% 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 | Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2Mk2 (2016–2024), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 491 litres / 1,480 | 615 litres / 1,655 (best) |
| Length | 4,485mm | 4,486mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,855mm | 1,839mm |
| Height | 1,635mm | 1,654mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 115–185 PS | 115–320 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 9.1–12.0 sec | 4.9–10.9 sec (best) |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2015) | ★★★★★ (2016) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | – | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | – | 32.8–60.1 mpg |
| CO2 | – | 9–195 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.5p a litre, today's UK average | – | £1,344 (43.5 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | – | £1,293 (52.3 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | – | £1,293 (diesel) |
| Car tax, registered 2001 to 2017Taxed on CO2; newer cars pay a flat £200 | – | £170 to £760 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 99Average | 131Well 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 | 13.2% (17.4%)built 2016–2021 (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 24.3% | 18.2% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 15.7% | 11.0% (best) |
| Failed at 5 years old | 17.1% | 12.6% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 33.0% | 26.6% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Brake pads (3.6% of tests) | Tread depth (2.6% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Brakes (1.7×), Steering (1.6×) | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 258,990 | 232,516 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family SUV | Family SUV |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,600 | 9,200 |
| On sale | 2016–2021 | 2016–2024 |
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
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- Ford Kuga Mk2 vs Kia Sportage Mk4 QL
- Kia Sportage Mk4 QL vs Honda CR-V Mk5
- Kia Sportage Mk4 QL vs Hyundai Tucson Mk3 TL
- Nissan Qashqai J11 vs Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2
- Ford Kuga Mk2 vs Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2
- Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 vs Honda CR-V Mk5
- Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 vs Hyundai Tucson Mk3 TL
Frequently asked questions
›Is a used Kia Sportage Mk4 QL or Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 more reliable?
The Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2. Compared with all cars the same age, the Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 fails its MOT 24% 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: 13.2% of Volkswagen Tiguans built 2016–2021 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 Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2?
They're almost the same length (4,485mm and 4,486mm). The Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 has the bigger boot: 615 litres against 491.
›Which is safer, the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL or the Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2?
Euro NCAP gave the Kia Sportage Mk4 QL 5 stars (2015) and the Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 5 stars (2016). 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 Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2?
The Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 comes out ahead, with the bigger boot, the better MOT record and more performance; 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.