Nissan Qashqai vs Hyundai Tucson
Figures updated
The Nissan Qashqai and Hyundai Tucson are two of the UK's most popular family SUVs. We compare the Qashqai J12 (2021–) and the Mk4 (2020–) Tucson on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 695,970 real MOT tests.
The short answer
The Hyundai Tucson comes out ahead, with the bigger boot and the better MOT record; the Nissan Qashqai is close on everything else.
- New prices start within £350 of each other.
- The Hyundai Tucson has the biggest boot: 620 litres, 116 more than the Nissan Qashqai.
- The Hyundai Tucson has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Nissan Qashqai fails its MOT about 18% more often.
- Running costs are close: the petrol versions cost within £10 a year of each other to fuel 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.
- Watch the brakes on a Hyundai Tucson: it fails on them 1.7 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Nissan QashqaiQashqai J12 (2021–), 5-door SUV | Hyundai TucsonMk4 (2020–), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £30,635 to £43,225July 2026 price list | £30,985 to £46,305June 2026 price list |
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 504 litres / 1,447 | 620 litres / 1,799 (best) |
| Length | 4,425mm | 4,535mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,835mm | 1,865mm |
| Height | 1,625mm | 1,650mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 140–205 PS | 150–288 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 7.6–9.5 sec | 7.5–9.5 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2021) | ★★★★★ (2021) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Petrol | Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 40.2–44.9 mpg | 40.4–49.6 mpg |
| CO2 | 142–158 g/km | 22–158 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,327 (44.1 mpg) | £1,327 (44.1 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,327 (petrol) | £1,327 (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 | 104Above average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 31.4% | 18.2% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 9.9% (best) | 13.3% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 15.9% | 15.4% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 37.8% | – |
| Most common MOT fault | Ball joint (5.2% of tests) | Brake pads (3.2% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Steering (3.3×), Seat belts and airbags (2.1×) | Brakes (1.7×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 561,521 | 134,449 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family SUV | Family SUV |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,400 | 8,500 |
| On sale | 2021 on | 2020 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 Hyundai Tucson more reliable?
The Hyundai Tucson. Like for like on age and mileage, the Nissan Qashqai fails its MOT about 18% more often (reliability scores 104 and 88, where 100 is average). 18.2% of Hyundai Tucsons and 31.4% of Nissan Qashqais failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Nissan Qashqai or the Hyundai Tucson?
The Hyundai Tucson is 110mm longer (4,535mm against 4,425mm). The Hyundai Tucson has the bigger boot: 620 litres against 504.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Nissan Qashqai or the Hyundai Tucson?
New prices start at much the same level: £30,635 for the Nissan Qashqai and £30,985 for the Hyundai Tucson.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Nissan Qashqai or the Hyundai Tucson?
Comparing petrol versions, fuel costs are within £10 a year of each other at 7,500 miles, using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Nissan Qashqai or the Hyundai Tucson?
Euro NCAP gave the Nissan Qashqai 5 stars (2021) and the Hyundai Tucson 5 stars (2021). 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 Hyundai Tucson?
The Hyundai Tucson comes out ahead, with the bigger boot and the better MOT record; the Nissan Qashqai 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.