Kia Sportage vs Nissan Qashqai 2026: Which is £427/yr Cheaper?

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.

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.