2021 Audi Q5 S Line 40 TDI Mhev Quat S-A 2.0L Diesel · RO21 LRF

The recorded DVSA history for this 2021 Audi Q5 is exceptionally brief, with only two tests on file, but the most recent pass on 14 July 2025 arrived with a cluster of advisories that warrant careful attention from any prospective buyer. All four notices from that test pointed to the consumables one would reasonably expect to be approaching the end of their service life on a vehicle of this age and use. Both front and rear brake pad sets were flagged as wearing thin, and both front tyres were recorded as worn close to the legal limit, with wear concentrated on the inner and outer edges. The intervening 2024 test on 27 June passed without any defects recorded, indicating that the wear pattern flagged in 2025 developed over the subsequent twelve months rather than being a long-standing issue carried forward from earlier inspections. With only two data points available, however, it is difficult to characterise this as either a stable or worsening pattern, and any prospective buyer should treat the absence of earlier failures as an absence of evidence rather than evidence of soundness. Mileage accumulation sits at roughly 14,042 miles per year, which is notably elevated for a five-year-old premium SUV and places this particular example firmly in the higher-use category of its cohort. The recorded 70,212 miles is concentrated within the period covered by the MOT records, and with only two tests available, there is no granular year-on-year data to confirm whether the mileage has been steady or whether there were significant gaps or surges between tests. For a 2.0-litre TDI mild-hybrid drivetrain of this specification, sustained higher mileage means that items not visible on the MOT, such as dual-mass flywheel wear, turbo actuator function, diesel particulate filter loading, and AdBlue system operation, will have been subjected to greater cumulative stress than a lower-mileage equivalent. The quattro automatic transmission and MHEV electrical architecture also benefit from regular use rather than long idle periods, so the higher annual figure is not inherently negative, but it does mean that ancillary service items are likely due or overdue. Given the advisory notes, a pre-purchase inspection should focus first on the braking system, specifically measuring remaining pad material and disc thickness on all four corners, as the advisories were issued only weeks before the current date and the pads may now be at or below the legal minimum. The discs should also be checked for lipping, hot spots, and uneven wear, particularly on the front axle where the wear was flagged on both sides. For the tyres, examine the front pair for uneven shoulder wear, which can point to misalignment, worn suspension bushes, or bent components, and verify that all four tyres are of matching brand, size, and tread depth, as edge wear on both front tyres simultaneously can indicate tracking or suspension geometry issues rather than simple ageing of the rubber. On a test drive, listen for any knocking or clonking from the front suspension over speed humps and uneven surfaces, paying particular attention to the anti-roll bar bushes, drop links, and lower control arm bushes, as these are known wear points on the Q5 and would not be visible on an MOT. Feel for any vibration through the steering wheel under braking, which could confirm front disc run-out or pad bedding issues following the recent pad change. The automatic gearbox should shift smoothly through all ratios without hesitation or flare, and the quattro system should provide confident, predictable traction with no binding on tight turns. Finally, with the diesel MHEV powertrain, check for any smoke on start-up, listen for any unusual turbocharger whine, and confirm that the AdBlue system is functioning correctly with no warning messages on the dashboard, as these items are not assessed at MOT but are common cost areas on higher-mileage TDI variants.