Nissan Qashqai vs Kia Sportage
Figures updated
The Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage are two of the UK's most popular family SUVs. We compare the Qashqai J12 (2021–) and the Mk5 NQ5 (2021–) Sportage on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 820,511 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Nissan Qashqai for the lower price, or the Kia Sportage for the bigger boot and the better MOT record.
- The Nissan Qashqai is the cheapest to buy new: from £30,635, £760 less than the Kia Sportage.
- The Kia Sportage has the biggest boot: 591 litres, 87 more than the Nissan Qashqai.
- The Kia Sportage has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Nissan Qashqai fails its MOT about 13% more often.
- Running costs are close: the petrol versions cost within £41 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 Kia Sportage: it fails on them 1.7 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Nissan QashqaiQashqai J12 (2021–), 5-door SUV | Kia SportageMk5 NQ5 (2021–), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £30,635 to £43,225July 2026 price list | £31,395 to £47,895September 2026 price list |
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 504 litres / 1,447 | 591 litres / 1,780 (best) |
| Length | 4,425mm | 4,540mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,835mm | 1,865mm |
| Height | 1,625mm | 1,645mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 140–205 PS | from 150 PS |
| 0–62mph | 7.6–9.5 sec | 7.5–9.7 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2021) | ★★★★★ (2022) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Petrol | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 40.2–44.9 mpg | 39.8–55.4 mpg |
| CO2 | 142–158 g/km | 27–163 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) | £1,368 (42.8 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | – | £1,246 (54.3 mpg) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,327 (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 | 88Below average | 99Average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 31.4% | 24.3% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 9.9% (best) | 15.7% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 15.9% (best) | 17.1% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 37.8% | 33.0% (best) |
| Most common MOT fault | Ball joint (5.2% of tests) | Brake pads (3.6% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Steering (3.3×), Seat belts and airbags (2.1×) | Brakes (1.7×), Steering (1.6×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 561,521 | 258,990 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family SUV | Family SUV |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,400 | 8,600 |
| On sale | 2021 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 Nissan Qashqai or the Kia Sportage more reliable?
The Kia Sportage. Like for like on age and mileage, the Nissan Qashqai fails its MOT about 13% more often (reliability scores 99 and 88, where 100 is average). 24.3% of Kia Sportages and 31.4% of Nissan Qashqais failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Nissan Qashqai or the Kia Sportage?
The Kia Sportage is 115mm longer (4,540mm against 4,425mm). The Kia Sportage has the bigger boot: 591 litres against 504.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Nissan Qashqai or the Kia Sportage?
The Nissan Qashqai: new prices start at £30,635, £760 less than the Kia Sportage (from £31,395). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Nissan Qashqai or the Kia Sportage?
Comparing petrol versions, fuel costs are within £41 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 Kia Sportage?
Euro NCAP gave the Nissan Qashqai 5 stars (2021) 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 Nissan Qashqai or the Kia Sportage?
Pick the Nissan Qashqai for the lower price, or the Kia Sportage for the bigger boot and the better MOT record. 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.