2020 KIA Sportage 1.6L Petrol · LT20 FVB

A notably clean MOT record accompanies this 2020 Kia Sportage, with four consecutive passes recorded between 2023 and 2026, the most recent of which was on 25 February 2026 with no defects or advisories noted. The only failure across the recorded history was a single major defect on 16 February 2023 concerning an offside front wiper that was split and failing to clear the windscreen effectively, and this was rectified on the same date when the vehicle returned to the test station and passed without any other defects. One advisory appeared during the intervening period: on 27 February 2024 the nearside front lower suspension arm bush was flagged as worn, though the examiner specifically noted that it was not resulting in excessive movement at that point. Taken together, the roadworthiness trend is stable, with a single isolated wiper failure and one suspension advisory that has not reappeared in subsequent tests. The recorded mileage of 16,475 miles over a six-year period equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 2,746 miles, which is substantially below the typical usage for a vehicle of this age. There are no extended gaps in the testing history, with annual tests consistently recorded from 2023 through 2026, indicating the vehicle has remained on the road throughout. Low annual mileage of this nature generally results in reduced wear on major drivetrain and braking components, but it can also mean prolonged periods of stationary use, which may affect items such as brake discs corroding on the surface, suspension bushes drying out, and tyres developing flat spots or sidewall cracking from infrequent rotation. Given the 2024 advisory concerning the nearside front lower arm bush, particular attention should be paid to the front suspension on a test drive. Listen for clonking or knocking noises from the front end when traversing speed bumps, potholes, or uneven road surfaces, as worn bushes can permit metal-to-metal contact once movement develops. Over uneven ground, feel for vagueness or imprecise response from the front wheels, and check for uneven tyre wear on the inside edges of the front tyres, which can indicate the bush has now degraded to the point of allowing geometric misalignment. With the vehicle jacked and the wheel removed by a workshop, the bush should be physically probed for play or visible cracking of the rubber. Beyond the suspension, the front brake discs should be inspected for any pronounced lip or corrosion scoring around the outer edges, given the low mileage and likely extended periods where the brakes are applied only lightly. The wiper mechanism and linkage, while replaced following the 2023 failure, warrants a functional check to confirm smooth operation across the full sweep and that the blades clear the screen without smearing. A thorough road test should also include firm pedal braking from around 30 mph to verify there is no vibration through the pedal or steering wheel that might indicate disc warping, and a check of all fluid levels, including coolant and brake fluid, to confirm no leaks have developed during the periods of infrequent use.