Should I buy a 2016–2021 Kia Sportage 1.6 Petrol Manual?

Explore common problems, estimated repair costs and practical checks for the 2016–2021 Kia Sportage 1.6 Petrol Manual. Use this guide to help assess a used car, then unlock a personalised report for the exact vehicle you're considering.

Common problems

1Moderate Likelihood

Parking brake loses efficiency or sticks on one side

The lever comes up higher than expected, the car feels less secure on a hill, or one rear wheel drags after parking.

How to check

Stop on a gentle incline and hold the car with the handbrake only.

Estimated Repair Cost

£350

2High Likelihood

Front suspension bushes or joints wear by this mileage

Clonks over bumps, a slightly unsettled front end, or uneven tyre wear.

How to check

Drive over a few small bumps and patched road surfaces at low speed.

Estimated Repair Cost

£450

3High Likelihood

Water ingress into footwells or boot on cars with blocked drains or leaking seals

Damp carpets, a musty smell, heavy condensation, wet boot trim, or unexplained battery or warning-light issues after rain.

How to check

After the drive, open the doors and tailgate and use your hand around the carpet edges and boot floor trim.

Estimated Repair Cost

£350

MOT Failure Rate

0%10%20%30%0–20,000 miles: 9.2% (7,042 failed / 76,199 tests)20,000–40,000 miles: 12.9% (28,212 failed / 219,526 tests)40,000–60,000 miles: 15.7% (20,663 failed / 131,713 tests)60,000–80,000 miles: 19.4% (9,518 failed / 49,122 tests)80,000–100,000 miles: 25.2% (3,345 failed / 13,262 tests)100,000–120,000 miles: 29.0% (822 failed / 2,833 tests)120,000–140,000 miles: 29.3% (169 failed / 577 tests)140,000–160,000 miles: 28.7% (33 failed / 115 tests)160,000–180,000 miles: 30.0% (12 failed / 40 tests)180,000–200,000 miles: 13.3% (2 failed / 15 tests)020k40k60k80k100k120k140k160k180k200kMilesFailure rate
2016–2021 Kia Sportage 1.6 Petrol Manual

Kia Sportage buying questions

Is a 2016–2021 Kia Sportage worth buying?

It can be, but only if the individual car backs it up. For the 2016–2021 Kia Sportage 1.6 Petrol Manual, treat model-level patterns as viewing priorities and let condition, history and inspection evidence decide.

What common problems affect the Kia Sportage (2016–2021)?

The problem cards above list the model-level checks for this guide. Read them as priorities for inspection and paperwork review, not proof that every example will have those faults.

What should I check before buying a Kia Sportage?

Look for evidence, not just assurances: MOT advisories, service history, repair invoices, warning lights, fluid leaks, tyre and brake condition, and how the car behaves on a proper test drive. And of course, look at your personalised Should I Buy This Car? report, outlining a full list of common issues in detail, a personalised road test, a plain-English explanation and a MotorIQ score.

A model guide is useful. A report on its registration is better.

The guide above gives you the model-level pattern. A personalised MotorIQ report checks the registration-specific record and turns it into an ownership view before you commit.

Or enter the vehicle manually