2021 Kia SPORTAGE MOT pass rate: 89.7% (32,988 tests)
Is the 2021 SPORTAGE getting worse?
Pass rate of 2021-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 90.0% -0.6 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 89.3% -0.9 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2021 SPORTAGE
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 1,596 | 27.7% |
| 2 | Brakes | 1,583 | 27.4% |
| 3 | Visibility | 1,506 | 26.1% |
| 4 | Suspension | 419 | 7.3% |
| 5 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 305 | 5.3% |
| 6 | Noise, emissions and leaks | 103 | 1.8% |
All SPORTAGE years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 3,470 | 57.1% | -7.4 pts | 110,610 |
| 2006 | 3,261 | 56.7% | -7.7 pts | 112,672 |
| 2007 | 3,833 | 56.6% | -8.5 pts | 107,995 |
| 2008 | 4,283 | 62.1% | -3.1 pts | 104,894 |
| 2009 | 6,662 | 61.7% | -4.7 pts | 100,012 |
| 2010 | 12,043 | 64.6% | -2.7 pts | 100,782 |
| 2011 | 22,188 | 65.2% | -4.0 pts | 103,470 |
| 2012 | 37,168 | 65.3% | -6.0 pts | 96,166 |
| 2013 | 52,653 | 67.3% | -6.0 pts | 88,039 |
| 2014 | 56,263 | 75.9% | +0.1 pts | 79,770 |
| 2015 | 61,746 | 77.6% | -1.1 pts | 71,252 |
| 2016 | 109,254 | 81.2% | -0.2 pts | 64,400 |
| 2017 | 107,958 | 83.6% | -0.4 pts | 56,163 |
| 2018 | 99,237 | 86.1% | -0.2 pts | 45,843 |
| 2019 | 93,667 | 87.4% | -1.0 pts | 36,645 |
| 2020 | 35,539 | 88.4% | -1.5 pts | 27,916 |
| 2021 (this page) | 32,988 | 89.7% | -0.7 pts | 26,775 |
| 2022 | 2,780 | 91.4% | +0.1 pts | 27,950 |
Weighing up which year to buy? See the full ranking: Kia SPORTAGE years to avoid.
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FAQs
Is a 2021 Kia SPORTAGE reliable?
2021-registered examples passed 89.7% of their MOT tests (32,988 tests, 2023–2025), -0.7 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 5 years old with a median 26,775 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2021 SPORTAGE?
The median tested example shows 26,775 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.