2018 KIA Sportage 1.6L Petrol · SC18 CVL

The vehicle maintains a roadworthy status, but the maintenance history shows a developing trend in suspension-related wear. The most recent test in July 2025 at 44,309 miles flagged both the nearside and offside rear suspension arm pins or bushes. This follows a similar advisory from the June 2024 test at 40,069 miles where only the nearside side was noted. While the vehicle has passed without failures, the progression of these faults across both sides indicates that the rubber components are now degrading significantly. The mileage profile is notably low for an eight-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 5,500 miles per year. This low usage is evident in the jump from 23,652 miles in June 2021 to 34,232 miles in June 2022. However, the low mileage correlates with age-related degradation of rubber rather than mechanical wear. The record confirms this through recurring tyre perishing in 2021 and 2022, suggesting the car may have sat for long periods, causing the rubber to crack despite adequate tread depth. A buyer should conduct a thorough inspection of the rear suspension assembly to assess the extent of the bushing play. Since the tester has identified these worn bushes in two consecutive years, replacement is likely becoming imminent to prevent a future failure. Additionally, the offside front brake pads were noted as wearing thin in 2022, so the remaining life should be verified physically. Given the history of perishing tyres, all rubber must be checked for sidewall cracking, as the age of the rubber likely exceeds its structural lifespan regardless of the low mileage recorded.