Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A reliable?

Based on MOT data from 923 vehicles, the 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A has a first-time MOT pass rate of 93.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A (2021)

923 real MOT outcomes analysed • 93.9% first-time pass rate

2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A

CarHunch analysed 923 real MOT records for the 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI is a strong performer on the MOT bench, with a first-time pass rate of 91.9%—well ahead of the UK average of 80%—and only 6.8% of vehicles ever flagged with a dangerous defect, suggesting solid engineering and build quality. The petrol variant achieves an identical 91.8% pass rate, with no meaningful reliability split to worry about.

These cars are running relatively light at a median of 27,980 miles for their age, which partly explains the excellent pass rates, but the real story is in the fault pattern: just 0.19 failures per vehicle and 1.4 advisories suggest that when issues do crop up, they're typically minor wear items rather than structural problems. If you're considering one, prioritise a full-service history and a pre-purchase inspection of the hybrid system components, as the MHEV technology is newer and less proven across this cohort than conventional petrol engines.

The 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (93.9% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

93.9%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

6.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.19

Over 2.2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

28k

Middle half: 21k–36k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 93.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 923 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 923 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A

Based on MOT data from 923 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 6.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (98%)	907	93.9%	0.19

Colour Breakdown

Based on 3,658 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Grey 30.2%

1,106

Black 27.6%

1,009

Blue 22.7%

831

White 15.1%

552

Red 2.3%

Green 2.1%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

27,980

typical

21,121

low mileage

36,488

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A vehicles fall between 21,121 and 36,488 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 21,121 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 21,121–36,488 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S As sit.

⚠ Over 49,258 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

2.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.19

Avg failures per vehicle

1.4

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A: All A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S A years → Which year to buy? →

2020 2022 2023 2024

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