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Used test: Kia Sportage vs Nissan Qashqai
These two wo terrific family SUVs are now really good value bought used, but which one makes more sense?...
The contenders
Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 2WD 3
List price when new £30,945
Price today £15,000*
Available from 2021-present
The Sportage is slightly larger than its rival, plus it has a bit more power under its bonnet
Nissan Qashqai DIG-T 140 Mild Hybrid N-Connecta
List price when new £28,620
Price today £14,000*
Available from 2021-present
The Qashqai is a strong family SUV choice, with a smart interior and a long list of safety kit
*Price today is based on a 2022 model with average mileage and full service history, correct at time of writing
Elon Musk once challenged Mark Zuckerberg to a cage match – no, we're not kidding. The fight ultimately never happened, but we have the next best thing: the Kia Sportage vs the Nissan Qashqai. You see, like Musk and Zuckerberg, these family SUVs are titans of industry.
The Sportage and Qashqai have always been on the list of the best-selling new cars in the UK. They're popular used buys as well, being temptingly priced at just a few years old and chopping a considerable chunk off what they cost when new – and they were already reasonably priced to begin with.
For that reason, we honed in on the latter proposition for this comparison test. We gathered a two-year-old Sportage and Qashqai (each saving you a huge sum off new), and put them head to head. Both are petrol-powered cars in mid-range trims.
Driving
Performance, ride, handling, refinement
The Sportage has a 1.6-litre engine with 148bhp. Against our stopwatch, the car managed the 0-60mph sprint in 8.9sec. The Qashqai's engine, a 1.3-litre unit, is down on power, but its 136bhp made for a respectable 0-60mph time of 9.9sec.
Both engines feel relatively strong, even low down in the rev range. The Sportage's extra performance is barely noticeable, especially during casual, everyday driving.
Similarly, the Sportage and Qashqai are both comfortable and easy to drive. Their rides find a great balance between soft and firm – in other words, they soak up bumps and potholes well yet still feel composed and planted. Mind you, the Sportage does keep itself a little more level over a patchy surface, jostling you around in your seat a little less.
The Sportage keeps itself fairly upright through the bends too, resisting body lean well. It feels remarkably light on its feet for such a big car, almost offering family-car-like agility. It's far from the most playful or fun SUV to drive, sure, but good grip and precise steering means you always have confidence.
The Qashqai is a bit more run of the mill for the class. There's a bit more body lean and we’d like a slightly better sense of connection with the front wheels through the steering wheel. Still, its sorted ride and healthy level of grip mean it proves competent enough when the road gets twisty.
Both cars prove hushed cruisers, keeping engine, road and wind noise to a minimum. The Sportage is a tad quieter, though.
Interiors
Driving position, visibility, build quality, practicality
It’s very easy to find a comfortable driving position in the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai, and there's enough adjustment to cater for most people. Seeing out of the front and sides isn’t too tricky, but both have slightly narrow rear screens and thick rear pillars that can make it harder to judge the rear corners in a tight spot.
The Sportage interior feels solidly put together, with nicely damped switches, a good range of materials used, plenty of squishy plastics and metallic-effect finishes at eye level – some of the plastics lower down are less pleasing, but they’re generally out of sight. You could say similar things about the Qashqai, even though it feels slightly less premium overall.
The Sportage's 12.3in central touchscreen is larger than its rival's 9.0in one, plus it's more responsive to inputs and more modern looking. The Qashqai's system looks and feels quite dated and it can be frustratingly sluggish at times. On the plus side, both cars have Android Auto and Apple Carplay smartphone mirroring functionality.
Up front, these two cars are near-enough identical for leg and head room. You can be six-foot tall and have plenty of room to spare. In the back, you won't be able to tell a difference in head room – neither should cause even taller passengers any issues – but you might be able to notice that the Sportage has more leg room (if you've got long legs). The Sportage's rear seating area is also wider, so it's better for the sitting three abreast.
You'll also appreciate that the Sportage's rear seats recline and split in a 40/20/40 fashion – the Qashqai's don't recline and split in the more conventional, less practical 60/40 way.
The Qashqai's boot is a decent size and we managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases beneath the parcel shelf. The Sportage has an even larger boot, though, and it swallowed eight cases.
Buying and owning
Costs, equipment, reliability, safety and security
When new, the Kia Sportage was roughly £2000 more expensive to buy next to the Nissan Qashqai. As used buys, the Sportage remains the pricier option, but only by around £1000 – the Sportage is available for around £15,000, while the Qashqai can be had for around £14,000.
In three years, the Sportage is predicted to have lost £3875 of its current value, while our data puts three-year Qashqai depreciation at £5050.
The Sportage proved marginally better on fuel during our testing: it averaged 35.6mpg to the Qashqai's 35.0mpg. On the other hand, the Qasqhai should be cheaper to insure. The insurance group of 12 puts the cost at around £435. The Sportage, in group 18, should set you back around £562.
As for servicing, we were quoted £559 for two services of the Sportage via Kia. For the same amount of services, but for the Qashqai, Nissan quoted us £528.77.
Both cars came reasonably well equipped from new, sporting front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera (the Qashqai has a 360-degree one), keyless start and LED headlights. The Sportage then adds heated front seats and keyless entry, while the Qashqai adds adaptive cruise control – the Sportage has cruise control, mind you, just a non-adaptive system.
In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the Qashqai ranked 12th out of 34 cars in the family SUV class. Its reliability score of 94.9% is confidence-inspiring. In 18th with a score of 92.9%, the Sportage isn't too far behind. Among car brands, Kia came eighth out of 30 manufacturers, while Nissan ranked 29th.
During safety testing conducted by Euro NCAP, both cars received the maximum five-star rating.
Our verdict
With the exception of their infotainment systems, there's nothing in the Nissan Qashqai's wheelhouse that's vastly outmatched by the Kia Sportage. The Qashqai is a great used buy and a great family SUV.
However, the Sportage's little wins over its rival add up. For example, it tackles corners with a bit more composure, it offers an extra slice of rear leg room and its interior feels slightly classier. Tot up the score and the Sportage finds itself in first place – and by a margin large enough to justify the extra £1000 it demands on the used market.
1st – Kia Sportage
For Quicker; sharper handler; quieter cruiser; 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats
Against Pricier to buy, insure and service
What Car? says 5 stars out of 5
Used 2021-present Kia Sportage buying guide >>
Used Kia Sportage cars for sale >>
1st – Nissan Qashqai
For Comfortable ride; smart interior; superior reliability score
Against Smaller boot; more deprecation
What Car? says 4 stars out of 5
Used 2021-present Nissan Qashqai buying guide >>
Used Nissan Qashqai cars for sale >>
Specifications: Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 2WD 3
Engine size 4cyl, 1598cc, turbo, petrol
Power 148bhp
Torque 184lb ft
Gearbox 6-spd manual
0-60mph 8.9sec
Top speed 113mph
Official fuel economy 41.5mpg
CO2 emissions 154g/km
Specifications: Nissan Qashqai DIG-T 140 Mild Hybrid N-Connecta
Engine size 4cyl, 1332cc, turbo, petrol
Power 136bhp
Torque 177lb ft
Gearbox 6-spd manual
0-60mph 9.9sec
Top speed 122mph
Official fuel economy 44.2mpg
CO2 emissions 144g/km
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