Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI 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 Sport 35 TDI 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 Sport 35 TDI 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 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S A reliable?

Based on MOT data from 625 vehicles, the 2021 Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S A has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.1%, 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 Sport 35 TDI 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 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S A (2021)

625 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.1% first-time pass rate

2021 Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S A

CarHunch analysed 625 real MOT records for the 2021 Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI 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

This 2021 Audi A5 diesel passes its MOT first time at 82.6%, slightly above the UK average of 80%, suggesting solid overall reliability—though the 9.6% rate of dangerous defects is worth noting as a buyer concern, as it's meaningfully higher than you'd want to see. With a median mileage of 33,481 miles for a three-year-old car, these examples are running light, which partly explains the respectable pass rate; when failures do occur, they average just 0.33 per vehicle, but advisories pile up at 1.7 each, pointing to minor wear items like brakes and suspension components. Before buying, request the full MOT history and pay particular attention to what those advisories reveal about maintenance patterns on the previous owner's watch.

The 2021 Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S A passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (89.1% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 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

89.1%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

9.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.33

Over 2.2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

33k

Middle half: 26k–44k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 89.1% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 1.7 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 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 625 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 625 Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S A cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S A

Based on MOT data from 625 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 9.6% 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
Diesel (100%)	623	89%	0.33

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,309 Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S A vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 47.9%

627

White 23.3%

305

Grey 12.4%

162

Blue 9.8%

128

Silver 6.1%

Green 0.5%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI 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.

33,481

typical

25,593

low mileage

44,084

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S A vehicles fall between 25,593 and 44,084 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 25,593 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.

✓ 25,593–44,084 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S As sit.

⚠ Over 59,513 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

0.33

Avg failures per vehicle

1.7

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S A: All A5 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S A years → Which year to buy? →

2020 2022 2023

Or browse all models: Audi →

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See how the 2021 Audi A5 Sport 35 TDI MHEV S A stacks up against a rival.

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