Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Audi Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA?

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 Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA?

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 Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA?

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 Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA reliable?

Based on MOT data from 895 vehicles, the 2021 Audi Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA has a first-time MOT pass rate of 95.1%, 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 Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA?

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 Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA (2021)

895 real MOT outcomes analysed • 95.1% first-time pass rate

2021 Audi Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA

CarHunch analysed 895 real MOT records for the 2021 Audi Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA. 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 Q5 S Line 40 TDI is notably reliable, with a 93.2% first-time MOT pass rate that significantly outperforms the UK average of 80%—and only 5.5% of vehicles have ever recorded a dangerous defect, keeping buyer safety concerns minimal. This diesel-powered model averages just 0.15 failures per vehicle and 1.2 advisories, suggesting well-built mechanicals that rarely demand urgent repair.

At 35,890 miles on average for a three-year-old car, these vehicles are running at typical mileage for their age, which supports the strong pass rates rather than hiding underlying wear. If you're considering one, prioritise a full service history and a pre-purchase inspection focused on the diesel particulate filter and transmission—the two areas where advisories cluster most—but otherwise this is a safe bet.

The 2021 Audi Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (95.1% 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

95.1%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

5.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.15

Over 2.1 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

34k

Middle half: 26k–44k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 95.1% 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 895 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 895 Audi Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Audi Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA

Based on MOT data from 895 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 5.5% 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%)	892	95.1%	0.15

Colour Breakdown

Based on 3,448 Audi Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 33.2%

1,145

Blue 31.8%

1,095

Grey 16.1%

556

White 12.7%

438

Silver 3.2%

111

Green 3%

103

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Audi Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA 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.

33,809

typical

26,075

low mileage

43,501

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Audi Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA vehicles fall between 26,075 and 43,501 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 26,075 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.

✓ 26,075–43,501 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Audi Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SAs sit.

⚠ Over 58,726 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

2.1

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.15

Avg failures per vehicle

1.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Audi Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA: All Q5 S Ln Ed1 40tdi MHEV Quat SA years → Which year to buy? →

2022 2023

Or browse all models: Audi →

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