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Kia Sportage in Birmingham (B) vs Southampton (SO)

The same model, tested in two postcode areas. This compares the Sportage'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

85.3%

Sportage pass rate across 23,415 tests

84.7% all-car area pass rate

10,471 Sportage cars tested here

Car · postcode area

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

81.7%

Sportage pass rate across 10,930 tests

80.6% all-car area pass rate

4,390 Sportage cars tested here

The short answer

The Sportage is ahead in Birmingham

In Birmingham (B), 23,415 Sportage tests pass 85.3%; in Southampton (SO), 10,930 pass 81.7% — a gap of 3.6 points. The all-car pass rate is 84.7% in B and 80.6% in SO. Against that local average, the Sportage is +0.6 points in B and +1.1 points in SO. Nationally the Sportage passes 83.3%, so the B figure is +2.0 points against the model's own record and SO −1.6 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 Sportage accounts for 0.70% of all tests in B and 0.80% 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: 85.3% vs 81.7%
  • Cars tested: 10,471 vs 4,390
  • Tests: 23,415 vs 10,930
  • Area average: 84.7% vs 80.6%
  • Model vs area: +0.6 vs +1.1 pts
  • Area rank: 16/118 vs 53/118
Kia Sportage in B against SO, measure by measure
Measure B SO
Sportage pass rate 85.3% stronger figure 81.7%
Sportage cars tested 10,471 4,390
Sportage MOT tests 23,415 10,930
Sportage's share of area tests 0.70% 0.80%
Area pass rate, all cars 84.7% 80.6%
Sportage against the area average +0.6 pts +1.1 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 Kia Sportage 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 Sportage against another model: Compare the Kia Sportage 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.