Key takeaway: The Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai are two of the UK's best-selling SUVs, competing directly on price, practicality and running costs. The Qashqai edges it on fuel economy and insurance groups, while the Sportage wins on warranty coverage and interior quality. Total annual running costs are within £200 of each other for most variants.
Choosing between the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai is one of the most common dilemmas for UK SUV buyers. Both offer similar size, price, and equipment levels. But the ownership costs, which add up to £10,000+ over a typical 4-year ownership period, can differ significantly depending on which engine and trim you choose.
In this guide, we compare every aspect of running costs using real data: insurance groups, road tax, fuel economy, MOT pass rates, servicing, and depreciation. If you are looking at a specific Sportage or Qashqai, enter the registration number in our free tool to see that exact car's MOT history and personalised cost breakdown.
Engine Options Compared
| Engine | Kia Sportage | Nissan Qashqai |
|---|---|---|
| Entry petrol | 1.6 GDi (150PS) | 1.3 DIG-T mild hybrid (140PS) |
| Mid petrol | 1.6 T-GDi (180PS) | 1.3 DIG-T mild hybrid (158PS) |
| Hybrid | 1.6 HEV (230PS) | 1.5 e-POWER (190PS) |
| Plug-in hybrid | 1.6 PHEV (265PS) | Not available |
| Diesel | 1.6 CRDi (136PS) | Not available (discontinued) |
The Qashqai has moved away from diesel entirely, while the Sportage still offers both diesel and plug-in hybrid options. This gives the Sportage more flexibility for different driving patterns.
Insurance Groups
| Variant | Kia Sportage | Nissan Qashqai |
|---|---|---|
| Entry petrol | 16-18 | 13-15 |
| Mid petrol | 19-21 | 15-17 |
| Hybrid | 21-24 | 17-20 |
| PHEV / Top spec | 25-28 | 18-21 |
The Qashqai wins on insurance across every comparable variant. Its lower power outputs and cheaper repair costs (Nissan parts are generally less expensive than Kia parts in the UK) keep groups lower. For a 30-year-old driver with 5 years NCB, the difference is roughly £100 to £200 per year. For a younger driver, the gap widens to £200 to £400.
Road Tax (VED)
| Variant | Kia Sportage | Nissan Qashqai |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol (post-2017) | £190/year | £190/year |
| Hybrid (HEV/e-POWER) | £180/year | £180/year |
| Plug-in hybrid | £180/year (+ £410 supplement if >40k) | N/A |
Road tax is essentially identical for comparable variants. The Sportage PHEV attracts the expensive car supplement (£410/year for 5 years) on higher trims that exceed the £40,000 list price threshold. For the full breakdown of VED rates, see our guide to car tax changes in April 2026.
Fuel Economy: Real-World Numbers
| Variant | Kia Sportage (Real MPG) | Nissan Qashqai (Real MPG) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry petrol | 36-40 | 40-45 |
| Mid petrol | 34-38 | 38-43 |
| Hybrid | 45-52 | 42-48 |
| PHEV (mixed) | 80-130 (depends on charging) | N/A |
| Diesel | 48-54 | N/A |
The Qashqai's mild hybrid petrol engines are more fuel-efficient than the Sportage equivalents. However, the Sportage hybrid (full HEV) beats the Qashqai e-POWER system in real-world driving. The Sportage PHEV is the most economical option overall if you charge regularly, but if the battery runs flat, it returns worse economy than either car's standard petrol engine due to the extra weight.
Annual Fuel Cost Comparison (8,000 miles/year)
| Variant | Kia Sportage | Nissan Qashqai |
|---|---|---|
| Entry petrol | £1,180-£1,310 | £1,050-£1,180 |
| Hybrid | £900-£1,050 | £980-£1,120 |
MOT Pass Rates and Reliability
| Metric | Kia Sportage | Nissan Qashqai |
|---|---|---|
| 3-year MOT pass rate | 85% | 82% |
| 5-year MOT pass rate | 78% | 74% |
| Most common failure | Suspension, lighting | Suspension, brakes, emissions |
| Average repair cost per failure | £220 | £250 |
The Sportage has a measurably better MOT pass rate at both 3 and 5 years. The Qashqai's weaker showing is partly due to its CVT gearbox variants (which can develop issues) and the DPF system on older diesel models. The current e-POWER and mild hybrid versions are too new for meaningful MOT data, but early indicators suggest improved reliability.
Servicing Costs
| Service Item | Kia Sportage | Nissan Qashqai |
|---|---|---|
| Annual service (independent) | £220-£300 | £200-£280 |
| Annual service (main dealer) | £300-£400 | £280-£380 |
| Brake pads + discs (front) | £280-£380 | £250-£350 |
| Tyres (set of 4) | £320-£500 | £280-£450 |
Servicing costs are comparable, with the Qashqai slightly cheaper due to more widely available Nissan parts. Both manufacturers offer pre-paid service plans that can reduce costs if you commit to dealer servicing.
Warranty
This is where the Sportage has a massive advantage:
- Kia Sportage: 7-year / 100,000-mile warranty. This is the best warranty of any mainstream manufacturer and covers the entire car (not just the powertrain).
- Nissan Qashqai: 3-year / 60,000-mile warranty. Standard for the industry but significantly less generous than Kia's offering.
For a new buyer, Kia's warranty eliminates repair cost risk for the first 7 years. For used buyers, a 3-year-old Sportage still has 4 years of warranty remaining, while a 3-year-old Qashqai has expired. This affects resale value and total cost of ownership significantly.
Depreciation
| Time Period | Kia Sportage (% retained) | Nissan Qashqai (% retained) |
|---|---|---|
| After 1 year | 78-82% | 75-80% |
| After 3 years | 55-60% | 50-55% |
| After 5 years | 40-45% | 35-40% |
The Sportage holds its value better than the Qashqai, largely thanks to the longer warranty and Kia's improved brand perception. On a £30,000 car, that 5% difference at 3 years equals roughly £1,500 in saved depreciation.
Total Annual Running Cost Comparison
| Cost Category | Sportage 1.6 GDi | Qashqai 1.3 DIG-T | Sportage HEV | Qashqai e-POWER |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance | £580 | £480 | £680 | £560 |
| Road tax | £190 | £190 | £180 | £180 |
| Fuel (8,000 miles) | £1,240 | £1,100 | £970 | £1,050 |
| Servicing | £260 | £240 | £280 | £260 |
| Predicted repairs | £180 | £220 | £200 | £240 |
| Total | £2,450 | £2,230 | £2,310 | £2,290 |
The petrol Qashqai is the cheapest to run by around £220 per year, mainly because of lower insurance groups and better fuel economy. The hybrid versions are very close, with the Sportage HEV only £20 per year more than the Qashqai e-POWER. When you factor in the Sportage's better warranty and slower depreciation, the overall cost of ownership may actually favour the Kia.
Which Should You Buy?
Choose the Kia Sportage if:
- You want the security of a 7-year warranty
- You prefer a hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain
- You value interior quality and technology features
- You plan to keep the car for 4+ years (better long-term value)
Choose the Nissan Qashqai if:
- Insurance cost is a priority (lower groups across all variants)
- You prefer the most fuel-efficient petrol option
- You want slightly cheaper servicing and parts
- You plan to keep the car for 2 to 3 years (lower annual running costs offset faster depreciation)
Before committing, check the specific car with our free tool. Enter the registration number and you will see the exact insurance group, full MOT history, mileage verification, and personalised running cost estimate for that individual vehicle. You can also use our car comparison tool to see two cars side by side.