2016 KIA Sportage 1.7L Diesel · DH65 AAJ

A remarkably clean roadworthiness record defines this 2016 Kia Sportage, with five consecutive annual MOT passes from 2022 through 2026 and no advisories or defects recorded at any point. Such an unblemished DVSA history over a five-year testing window is uncommon for a vehicle approaching its tenth birthday, and it suggests that the major safety-critical systems examined at test, including brakes, tyres, suspension, steering, lighting, and exhaust, have consistently met the required standards. The most recent test on 28 January 2026 again returned a pass with no defects, confirming that the car entered the current year without any flagged deterioration. This pattern of consistent compliance, combined with the absence of advisory notes, indicates no developing wear items that the test station considered worth recording, though the buyer should still perform their own physical checks given the mileage involved. The recorded mileage of 129,871 miles against a ten-year age equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 12,987 miles, which sits well above the typical 7,000 to 9,000 miles per year average for a vehicle of this vintage. This is a genuinely high-use example, meaning greater wear on consumables and mechanical components than a lower-mileage counterpart. Mileage gaps between tests are not unusually large, with the figures progressing steadily from year to year, suggesting consistent use rather than intermittent or long-term storage. Higher mileage on a Sportage of this generation translates mechanically into more wear on items such as suspension bushes, coil springs, anti-roll bar links, clutch and dual-mass flywheel (if manual), engine and gearbox mounts, and turbocharger components on the diesel variants. Braking components, including discs, pads, and caliper slides, will also have endured significantly more service cycles than a typical 70,000-mile example. Given the complete absence of recorded advisories, there is no specific component history to investigate, but a prospective buyer should pay particular attention to the items that most commonly deteriorate on a high-mileage Sportage. On a test drive, listen for clonks or knocking from the front suspension over uneven surfaces, which would indicate worn lower control arm bushes or anti-roll bar drop links. Feel for vagueness or play in the steering, and check for uneven tyre wear on the inner edges, as this often points to worn suspension geometry components. Pay attention to any vibration through the steering wheel under braking, which would suggest warped front discs, and listen for any grinding or squealing. Test the clutch (if fitted) for slipping under load or any judder on take-off, and check for smooth gear selection across all ratios. Under the bonnet and beneath the vehicle, inspect for any signs of oil leaks from the engine, particularly around the cam cover, and check the condition of the coolant and brake fluid, which should be clean and at the correct level. Examine the underbody for any corrosion, paying particular attention to suspension arms, subframe mounting points, and brake pipe runs, as these are common MOT failure areas even on cars that have passed in previous years. Verify that all warning lights extinguish promptly after engine start, that the air conditioning blows cold, and that the timing belt or chain replacement interval has been respected according to service history. Finally, a thorough pre-purchase inspection by a qualified independent garage is strongly advisable given the high mileage, to identify any wear items that may not yet have reached MOT failure thresholds but could require attention in the near term.