Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV 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 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV 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 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV 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 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV A reliable?

Based on MOT data from 268 vehicles, the 2021 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV A has a first-time MOT pass rate of 94.6%, 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 XS Edition D MHEV 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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Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV A (2021)

268 real MOT outcomes analysed • 94.6% first-time pass rate

2021 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV A

CarHunch analysed 268 real MOT records for the 2021 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV 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 Defender XS diesel is notably reliable, passing its MOT first time in 89.3% of cases — well above the UK average of 80%. Dangerous defects are rare, affecting just 3% of vehicles, so safety concerns are minimal for this cohort.

At around 33,800 miles median, these cars are running low-to-moderate mileage for a three-year-old model, which supports the strong pass rate. Owners typically see only 0.16 failures per test and 1.1 advisories, suggesting the Defender's build quality holds up well; when shopping for one, prioritise full service history and a pre-purchase inspection focusing on suspension and electrical systems, where advisories tend to cluster.

We have limited data for the 2021 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV A — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

First-time pass

94.6%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.16

Over 2.1 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

34k

Middle half: 25k–42k

For context

These stats describe 268 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 268 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV A cars.

Before you buy a 2021 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV A

Based on MOT data from 268 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 3% 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%)	267	94.5%	0.16

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,727 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV A vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Black 73.6%

2,008

Silver 18.5%

504

Brown 7.9%

215

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV 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.

33,835

typical

24,698

low mileage

42,456

high mileage

Half of all 2021 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV A vehicles fall between 24,698 and 42,456 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 24,698 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.

✓ 24,698–42,456 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV As sit.

⚠ Over 57,315 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

0.16

Avg failures per vehicle

1.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Land Rover Defender XS Edition D MHEV A: All Defender XS Edition D MHEV A years → Which year to buy? →

2022 2023 2024

Or browse all models: Land Rover →

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