Nissan Qashqai vs Ford Kuga
Figures updated
The Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga are two of the UK's most popular family SUVs. We compare the Qashqai J12 (2021–) and the Mk3 (2019–) Kuga on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 843,789 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Nissan Qashqai for the lower price and the bigger boot, or the Ford Kuga for the better MOT record and lower fuel costs.
- The Nissan Qashqai is the cheapest to buy new: from £30,635, £2,700 less than the Ford Kuga.
- The Nissan Qashqai has the biggest boot: 504 litres, 92 more than the Ford Kuga.
- The Ford Kuga has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Nissan Qashqai fails its MOT about 32% more often.
- The Ford Kuga is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £208 a year less than the Nissan Qashqai at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the steering on a Nissan Qashqai: it fails on them 3.3 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Nissan QashqaiQashqai J12 (2021–), 5-door SUV | Ford KugaMk3 (2019–), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £30,635 to £43,225July 2026 price list (best) | £33,335 to £44,330September 2026 price list |
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 504 litres / 1,447 (best) | 412 litres / 1,534 |
| Length | 4,425mm | 4,604mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,835mm | 1,882mm |
| Height | 1,625mm | 1,679mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 140–205 PS | 150–243 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 7.6–9.5 sec | 7.3–9.5 sec (best) |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2021) | ★★★★★ (2019) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Petrol | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 40.2–44.9 mpg | 37.2–60.1 mpg |
| CO2 | 142–158 g/km | 21–198 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.5p a litre, today's UK average | £1,326 (44.1 mpg) | £1,118 (52.3 mpg) (best) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | – | £1,364 (49.6 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,326 (petrol) | £1,118 (petrol) |
| 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 | 88Below average | 116Well above average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 31.4% | 20.8% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 9.9% | 9.6% (best) |
| Failed at 5 years old | 15.9% | 15.3% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 37.8% | 27.2% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Ball joint (5.2% of tests) | Brake pads (2.9% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Steering (3.3×), Seat belts and airbags (2.1×) | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 561,521 | 282,268 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family SUV | Family SUV |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,400 | 8,600 |
| On sale | 2021 on | 2019 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 Nissan Qashqai or the Ford Kuga more reliable?
The Ford Kuga. Like for like on age and mileage, the Nissan Qashqai fails its MOT about 32% more often (reliability scores 116 and 88, where 100 is average). 20.8% of Ford Kugas and 31.4% of Nissan Qashqais failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Nissan Qashqai or the Ford Kuga?
The Ford Kuga is 179mm longer (4,604mm against 4,425mm). The Nissan Qashqai has the bigger boot: 504 litres against 412.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Nissan Qashqai or the Ford Kuga?
The Nissan Qashqai: new prices start at £30,635, £2,700 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 Nissan Qashqai or the Ford Kuga?
Comparing petrol versions, the Ford Kuga costs about £208 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,118 against £1,326), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Nissan Qashqai or the Ford Kuga?
Euro NCAP gave the Nissan Qashqai 5 stars (2021) and the Ford Kuga 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 Nissan Qashqai or the Ford Kuga?
Pick the Nissan Qashqai for the lower price and the bigger boot, or the Ford Kuga for the better MOT record and lower fuel costs. 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.