2019 KIA Sportage 1.6L Diesel · CE69 FNM

The 2019 Kia Sportage presents a stable and improving mechanical picture at its most recent MOT. The November 2025 test at 39,606 miles passed with zero defects, a clean sheet that contrasts sharply with the advisories recorded just twelve months prior. This indicates that the previous owner addressed a cluster of suspension and braking issues rather than allowing them to deteriorate further. The mileage profile is notably low for a seven-year-old vehicle. Between the September 2022 test at 16,748 miles and the November 2023 test at 25,694 miles, the car covered 8,946 miles in roughly fourteen months. The subsequent jump to 33,694 miles by December 2024 added another 8,000 miles in thirteen months, and the final stretch to 39,606 miles by November 2025 accounts for 5,912 miles in eleven months. Annual use sits around 5,658 miles overall, which is well below the UK average. No significant gaps appear in the record, and the consistent yearly testing pattern suggests the vehicle was kept in regular use rather than standing idle for long periods. The December 2024 test at 33,694 miles flagged several items that warrant close physical inspection despite their subsequent resolution. Both front suspension arm rear bushes were noted as bonding starting to separate, a condition that typically accelerates if left unattended. The rear brake discs were pitted on their inside faces, and the nearside rear caliper was flagged as binding. A buyer should inspect the rear brake caliper slides and pistons for free movement, check the disc surfaces for scoring depth, and verify that the front lower arm bushes have been replaced rather than simply passed on a retest. The rear trailing arm bush also showed bonding separation, so a thorough check of all rear suspension bushings and the condition of any replacement parts is advisable. The November 2023 test recorded all three tyres worn close to the 1.6 mm legal limit, with the nearside rear at just 2.5 mm. Combined with the binding rear caliper noted the following year, this suggests the car may have spent time with a dragging brake that accelerated tyre wear. A buyer should measure current tyre tread depths across all four wheels and check for uneven wear patterns that could indicate lingering brake drag or suspension geometry issues. The clean November 2025 result is encouraging, but the underlying faults from 2024 involved safety-critical systems, making a physical inspection of the brakes, suspension bushes, and tyre condition essential before purchase.