Land Rover Defender Hard Top S D MHEV A (2021)
2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top S D MHEV A
CarHunch analysed 147 real MOT records for the 2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top S D MHEV A. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
This 2021 Defender diesel has a 94.7% first-time pass rate, well ahead of the 80% UK average, which is a strong sign of build quality. The 7.5% dangerous defect rate is comfortably below the red-flag threshold, so you're not buying into systemic safety issues.
At 44,439 miles average for a three-year-old vehicle, these are normally driven cars rather than garage queens, yet they're proving tough: only 0.16 failures per vehicle suggests the diesel engine and drivetrain are holding up well. Before committing, ask the seller for full MOT history to check whether advisories have been addressed—the 1.1 per vehicle average is typical, but tracking patterns will tell you if previous owners actually maintained their cars.
What to check before buying a 2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top S D MHEV A
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Land Rover Defender Hard Top S D MHEV A
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Mileage Distribution
Most 2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top S D MHEV A vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2021 Land Rover Defender Hard Top S D MHEV A vehicles fall between 32,771 and 54,337 miles.
MOT History Averages
Found a specific Land Rover Defender Hard Top S D MHEV A?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.