Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto?

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 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto?

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 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto?

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 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto reliable?

Based on MOT data from 333 vehicles, the 2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto has a first-time MOT pass rate of 93.8%, 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 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto?

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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Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto (2021)

333 real MOT outcomes analysed • 93.8% first-time pass rate

2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto

CarHunch analysed 333 real MOT records for the 2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

Moderate sample. 333 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto passes its first MOT at 81.1%, marginally above the UK average of 80%, suggesting solid baseline reliability for this relatively young model. Only 6.0% have ever recorded a dangerous defect, which is reassuring and well below concerning thresholds.

At a median mileage of 28,398 miles for a three-year-old vehicle, these cars are running lighter than expected, indicating either conservative use or recent acquisition by current owners. With an average of just 0.18 failures per vehicle and 1.2 advisories, the Defender is proving straightforward to maintain—but before committing, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the hybrid system components, as electric elements on any MHEV are less proven at scale than conventional engines.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (93.8% 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

93.8%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.18

Over 2.2 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

28k

Middle half: 21k–39k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 93.8% 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 333 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 333 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto

Based on MOT data from 333 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 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
Petrol (99%)	330	93.8%	0.18

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,198 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 38.4%

460

Grey 32.6%

391

Brown 15.3%

183

Green 9.8%

117

Silver 3%

Bronze 0.9%

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto 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.

28,398

typical

21,215

low mileage

38,754

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto vehicles fall between 21,215 and 38,754 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 21,215 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.

✓ 21,215–38,754 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Autos sit.

⚠ Over 52,317 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto — Still on the Road

Almost all 2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Autos are still on the road.

Strong survival — 278 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 100% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2023–2025.

MOT History Averages

2.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.18

Avg failures per vehicle

1.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto: All Defender X MHEV Auto years → Which year to buy? →

2020 2022 2023

Or browse all models: Land Rover →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 Land Rover Defender X MHEV Auto stacks up against a rival.

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