Ford Kuga in Birmingham (B) vs Southampton (SO)

The same model, tested in two postcode areas. This compares the Kuga's own MOT record with the all-car record in each area, so a strong local average is not mistaken for a strong model.

Car · postcode area

West Midlands · ranked 16 of 118 on like-for-like

87.5%

Kuga pass rate across 27,139 tests

84.7% all-car area pass rate

12,516 Kuga cars tested here

Car · postcode area

South East · ranked 53 of 118 on like-for-like

85.0%

Kuga pass rate across 9,740 tests

80.6% all-car area pass rate

4,167 Kuga cars tested here

The short answer

The Kuga is ahead in Birmingham

In Birmingham (B), 27,139 Kuga tests pass 87.5%; in Southampton (SO), 9,740 pass 85.0% — a gap of 2.5 points. The all-car pass rate is 84.7% in B and 80.6% in SO. Against that local average, the Kuga is +2.8 points in B and +4.4 points in SO. Nationally the Kuga passes 86.0%, so the B figure is +1.5 points against the model's own record and SO −1.0 points. Birmingham ranks 16 of 118 areas on like-for-like performance (−0.2 points against what its age and mileage mix predicts); Southampton ranks 53 of 118 (−0.5 points). The Kuga accounts for 0.80% of all tests in B and 0.70% in SO. These are tests carried out in each postcode area, not cars kept there. A car tested in both areas appears in both counts.

  • Pass rate: 87.5% vs 85.0%
  • Cars tested: 12,516 vs 4,167
  • Tests: 27,139 vs 9,740
  • Area average: 84.7% vs 80.6%
  • Model vs area: +2.8 vs +4.4 pts
  • Area rank: 16/118 vs 53/118
Ford Kuga in B against SO, measure by measure
Measure B SO
Kuga pass rate 87.5% stronger figure 85.0%
Kuga cars tested 12,516 4,167
Kuga MOT tests 27,139 9,740
Kuga's share of area tests 0.80% 0.70%
Area pass rate, all cars 84.7% 80.6%
Kuga against the area average +2.8 pts +4.4 pts stronger figure
Area rank, like-for-like 16 of 118 53 of 118
Area against what its car mix predicts −0.2 pts −0.5 pts
All cars tested in the area 1,505,286 562,004
All MOT tests in the area 3,318,297 1,365,470
MOT test stations 612 260
Typical repair spend per 100 tests, all cars £490–£1,331 £640–£1,746

A ✓ marks the stronger model-specific figure. Area rates, ranks and spend are context, not a score: the area average covers every car tested there, not this model.

What this comparison can and cannot tell you

  • It is a test-location figure. The DVSA postcode area is where the MOT was carried out, not where the keeper lives. A car tested in both areas appears in both counts.
  • The area average is every car, not this model. A high area rate can come from a newer car mix or more main-dealer testing; the like-for-like row adjusts for the age and mileage mix of the cars actually tested.
  • Below 30 tests the rate is withheld. The counts are still shown, because a count of three cars is a real answer even when a percentage would be noise.
  • Repair spend is an all-car estimate. It is not a quote for a Ford Kuga and not a prediction for a specific car.

Read the full area pages

Compare another model in these two areas? Use the area comparison tool →

Both columns use the same 118-area dataset. Counts are distinct cars tested in each area over the latest data; a car tested more than once in the same area is counted once.

Compare a different car in these areas? Use the area comparison tool →

Or put the Kuga against another model: Compare the Ford Kuga side by side →

Both columns come from the same 2023–2025 test data. Counts are distinct cars tested in each area; a car tested in both areas appears in both. Read the full Birmingham area page and Southampton area page.