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Audi SQ5 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Audi SQ5 car check

Is the Audi SQ5 reliable? We analysed 5,963 real MOT tests across 659 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 5,963 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.8%
Typical Mileage
64,972mi
Annual Mileage
7,346mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
13yrs

The Audi SQ5 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Audi SQ5.

Audi SQ5 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Audi SQ5. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Audi SQ5 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Audi SQ5 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

84.1%
2016
90.2%
2015
90.1%
2014
89.2%
2013

Audi SQ5 Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Audi SQ5 models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 82
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 32
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 22
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 16
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 11

Audi SQ5 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Audi SQ5 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,932 mi/yr
Typical
7,346 mi/yr
Average
8,385 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,574 mi/yr

Audi SQ5 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Audi SQ5 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2016 126 84.1% 42,513 60,825 78,968
2015 397 90.2% 41,639 61,875 83,737
2014 4,129 90.1% 43,762 64,704 87,398
2013 1,161 89.2% 47,094 69,816 94,293

How Long Does a Audi SQ5 Last?

Based on 659 Audi SQ5 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.1 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
13 years

Audi SQ5 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Audi SQ5 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
64,972 mi
75th Percentile
88,133 mi
95th Percentile
122,103 mi
Max Recorded
1,023,005 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Audi SQ5

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2015

90.2% MOT pass rate from 397 tests

Year to avoid
2016

84.1% MOT pass rate from 126 tests

The best year to buy a used Audi SQ5 is 2015, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.2% across 397 tests. The 2016 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Audi SQ5 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Audi SQ5 THIS CAR 89.8% 5,963 64,972 mi 13 yrs
Audi A3 78% 7,415,025 78,776 mi 29 yrs
Audi A4 76.1% 7,096,957 96,834 mi 31 yrs
Audi A6 78.4% 2,724,792 98,890 mi 31 yrs
Skoda Felicia L 64.4% 3,274 64,368 mi 30 yrs

Compared to the Audi A3 (78.0% pass rate) and the Audi A4 (76.1% pass rate), the Audi SQ5 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Audi SQ5 you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

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Should you buy a used Audi SQ5?

The Audi SQ5 has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.8% across 5,963 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Audi SQ5 with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Audi SQ5 owner drives around 7,346 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Audi SQ5 models stay on UK roads for around 13 years. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Audi SQ5 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Audi SQ5 reliable?
Based on 5,963 MOT tests, the Audi SQ5 has a 89.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Audi SQ5?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Audi SQ5 do per year?
The typical Audi SQ5 does around 7,346 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Audi SQ5 last?
Most Audi SQ5 models stay on UK roads for around 13 years based on our analysis of 659 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Audi SQ5?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Audi SQ5?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Audi SQ5 is 2015 with a 90.2% pass rate across 397 tests.