2018 KIA Sportage 1.6L Petrol · BL18 OVK

Tyres are the defining theme of this Sportage's MOT record, with the only dangerous defect in its history being a nearside front tyre found below the 1.6mm legal tread minimum in December 2023, a failure rectified the same day with a pass. That was not an isolated observation: the December 2022 test flagged cracking and perishing on both the nearside front and nearside rear tyres, and the December 2024 test advised an offside front tyre worn close to the legal limit and worn on its edge. Edge wear on a front tyre can point towards tracking or wheel alignment issues rather than simple age, so the pattern across three consecutive winters is worth taking seriously rather than dismissing as routine consumable replacement. Beyond tyres, the record is otherwise unremarkable: a headlamp aim failure in June 2022 corrected the same day, an advisory for play in the parking brake lever in December 2024, and clean passes since, including the most recent test on 9 February 2026 with no defects recorded. The overall trend is stable to improving, with eight tests recorded and no corrosion, suspension, brake, or structural items ever raised. At 82,998 miles over roughly eight years, the car has averaged about 10,375 miles annually, which is typical for its age and suggests consistent regular use rather than long periods standing. The test dates show a slightly irregular rhythm, with two tests in 2025 and 2026 falling in November and February respectively rather than the established December pattern, but there are no significant gaps in the record and mileage accumulation appears steady. This usage profile is mechanically unremarkable: enough regular running to keep components exercised, but sufficient distance that wear items such as tyres, brakes, and suspension bushes will have seen genuine service. For a prospective buyer, the priority inspection items follow directly from the history. Examine all four tyres carefully for uneven shoulder wear, particularly on the front axle, and check tread depth across the full width rather than just the centre; if the front tyres again show edge wear, budget for a four-wheel alignment check and ask whether tracking has ever been corrected. On the test drive, listen for a slight pull to one side on a straight, level road and feel for steering wheel vibration at motorway speeds, both of which can accompany the alignment or uneven wear pattern suggested by the advisories. The parking brake lever play flagged in December 2024 warrants a functional check: apply the handbrake on an incline and confirm it holds firmly without excessive lever travel, and listen for any rear brake drag or sticking after release. Given the 2022 headlamp aim failure, verify both headlamps are correctly aligned and that the levelling system operates if fitted. Otherwise, with no advisories ever raised for suspension components, brake pipes, corrosion, or emissions, the recorded history presents a car whose documented weaknesses have been confined to consumables, all of which are inexpensive to verify before purchase.