Family SUV buyers are spoiled for choice these days. Almost every manufacturer has an option in this class, so picking the right one can be a challenge. For many, the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage prove to be the best option, but which of these two is most suited to you?
We’ve compared the latest versions of both of these cars, with many recent examples available as used cars for sale from Motorpoint.
Nissan Qashqai vs Kia Sportage compared
| Nissan Qashqai | Kia Sportage |
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Styling and design
Both Nissan and Kia have gone for bold styling, and we reckon that’s made both the Qashqai and Sportage more desirable. When the latest Qashqai launched, its C-shaped LED lights made it look futuristic, although some aspects of the design were similar to its predecessor. The current Sportage went on sale a year later and, since then, the Qashqai’s had a raft of styling updates – probably because the Sportage upped the bar for futuristic family SUV styling.
The Kia’s boomerang-shaped daytime running lights cut right through the grille and headlights, with an eye-catching and instantly recognisable effect. The Qashqai’s now got a similar thing going on, where the headlights look like they’re part of the grille. Both look super smart to our eyes.
Interior and practicality
It’s a similar story inside – the Qashqai has stepped up, and so has the Sportage. The Qashqai is the easier of the two to use, with lots of proper buttons retained for things like the climate control. The Sportage, though, looks more modern inside, with two big screens contained in one large panel – although the virtual climate control panel that can also switch to control the infotainment screen can be a little confusing. Nissan’s infotainment system is slightly more intuitive too, but Kia’s system is quicker to respond and has sharper graphics.
Build quality is strong in both cars. The Kia probably just about edges the Nissan on material quality, but both are decent enough.
The Kia is the more practical option. It has slightly more rear-seat space than the Nissan, plus reclining seats and handy touches like coathangers and USB sockets built into the front seats. And, while the Qashqai’s 504-litre boot with its adjustable floor is good, the Sportage offers noticeably more space.
Sizes and dimensions
| Nissan Qashqai | Kia Sportage | |
| Length | 4,425mm | 4,515mm |
| Width (inc. mirrors) | 1,835mm (2,084mm) | 1,865mm (2,080mm) |
| Height | 1,625mm | 1,650mm |
| Boot space | 504 litres | 540-587 litres |
Engines and performance
Neither the Qashqai or the Sportage have engine options that are likely to get your heart racing, but that’s not the point of these family SUVs. Most nearly new Qashqai models are powered by a 1.3-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine with either 140 or 160hp. Both of these engines are smooth and refined, with plenty of turbocharged torque meaning you don’t have to go hunting through the gearbox to accelerate.
The Qashqai now also offers a clever E-Power hybrid engine that relegates the petrol engine to being a generator to keep the battery topped up. E-Power versions feel like a pure electric car to drive – the electric motor drives the wheels – but don’t need to be plugged in.
All Sportage models come with 1.6-litre engines, with increasing levels of hybrid-ness. Like the Qashqai, there’s a mild-hybrid version, but there’s also a ‘full’ hybrid and a plug-in hybrid as well. The Sportage is slightly faster but not by a huge margin.
Running costs
There won’t be a huge difference in the running costs for these cars. Both the 1.3-litre engine in the Qashqai and the 1.6-litre engine in the Sportage return 44mpg (41mpg for the Sportage without the mild-hybrid technology), while the Qashqai’s E-Power hybrid engine promises to be marginally more efficient than the Sportage hybrid – not that you’ll probably notice much of a difference between 53mpg and 49mpg.
A trump card for some buyers will be the availability of a plug-in hybrid engine in the Sportage. It promises up to 41 miles of electric driving and, if you use the battery as often as possible and recharge at home, the plug-in Sportage will cut your fuel costs. And it sits in a very low 8% tax band for company-car drivers. However, the PHEV is expensive to buy and to insure – although both the Qashqai and Sportage can be specced to over £40,000, at which point you’ll pay £600 a year in VED (road tax) until the car is six years old. Mid-spec models are much better value.
Driving
The Qashqai was developed on the UK’s roads and that pays dividends when you start driving. Ride quality is superb, putting it among the comfiest models in its class with effortless body control over big bumps, and near-total isolation of the cabin from rough road surfaces. There’s little here to excite keen drivers, with numb controls and a bit of body roll around corners, but the steering and pedals are intuitive and accurate, making it easy to drive the Qashqai smoothly.
You couldn’t call the Sportage ‘sporty’ but, compared to the soft, grown-up Qashqai, it’s firmer and more strongly resists body roll around corners. That makes it slightly more fun to drive down a twisty back road but also means you miss out on the Qashqai’s ultra-smooth ride quality. The Sportage never crosses into being uncomfortable, but you feel more jostling over bumps and hear more road noise from the tyres and suspension.
Value and reliability
Looking at two different models from different brands makes a like-for-like comparison hard but, on the nearly new market, Qashqais tend to cost between £3,000 and £4,000 less than the Sportage. As a rough guideline, that’ll add around £50 per month to a representative PCP finance deal if you pick the Sportage. Naturally, that makes the Qashqai a better choice if you’re on a tighter budget, but you do trade away the extra practicality offered by the larger Sportage.
The Sportage also has another ace up its sleeve in the form of its fantastic seven-year factory warranty. It’s so long that most nearly new buyers will benefit from warranty cover throughout their finance agreement. That long warranty is an indicator of Kia’s confidence in the Sportage’s reliability, which is backed up by the model’s great reputation for dependability. The Qashqai should also prove to be relatively trouble-free but has only an industry-standard three-year factory warranty.
Nissan Qashqai video review
Kia Sportage video review
Which is best?
Your choice here might be determined by a number of factors – do you prefer the styling of either car, or is one much better suited to your budget? The Qashqai might be the choice for you if you prefer its more detailed styling, or its focus on on-road comfort, or the fact that it’s a few thousand pounds less expensive like-for-like.
Ultimately, however, the Sportage is the larger, more practical choice, so that might be the deciding factor for you. The extra space will prove especially handy if you have a tall family or need good access to the rear to convince wriggling kids into their car seats. Equipment levels are generous for both cars but the Sportage slightly edges the Qashqai here with heated front and rear seats on most models.
For more in-depth content on these cars, read our Nissan Qashqai review and Kia Sportage review.
Which family SUV do you prefer?
If you’ve figured out which of these talented SUVs is best for you, check out Motorpoint’s huge selection of used Nissan Qashqai cars and used Kia Sportage cars. For more choices, see our picks for the best used SUVs you can buy.
