Audi
2,944 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Q7 S Line 50 Tdi Mhev Quat As pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 15.1 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
92.6%
Pass-after-fix
1.6%
Fail
5.4%
Avg miles
39,180
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Diesel cars registered from September 2015 generally meet Euro 6 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 2,944 tests
Pass rate climbs 1.5 points across the cohorts — newer Q7 S Line 50 Tdi Mhev Quat A examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
92.1%
Fail
6.0%
PRS
1.6%
Avg mileage at test
41,841 mi
Pass
93.5%
Fail
4.3%
PRS
1.7%
Avg mileage at test
33,669 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 1,154 MOT tests, the Q7 S Line 50 Tdi Mhev Quat A returns 89.3% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is windscreen damage. A seriously damaged tyre and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 31,323, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
A high-group car — insurance costs will be significantly above average. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
38–48
out of 50
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Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
86 occurrences · 2.9% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
71 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
35 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
Wiper blade defective
34 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
19 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
17 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
10 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
A tyre seriously damaged
7 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
6 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
5 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£95–£175
If every one of this Q7 S Line 50 Tdi Mhev Quat A's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 1.4-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Audi Q7 S Line 50 Tdi Mhev Quat A makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
93.5%
2021+ registration
the 2021-on band climbs to 93.5% — a 1.4-point improvement. Tests in this band average 33,669 miles — roughly 8K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has a cut in excess of the… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.
Band to be cautious about
92.1%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 92.1% pass rate against a fleet average of 93.5% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, has a cut in excess of the…, and blade defective. Average mileage on test for this band is 41,841 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2021+ (93.5% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (92.1% pass). That's a 1.4-point spread across 1,984 older tests and 960 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
Item 03 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
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Summit ADRG-215 Audi Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS
£9.89
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Summit
Summit ADRG-216 Audi Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS
£14.29
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Draper Expert
Draper Expert Oil Filter Socket for Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and VW
£18.69
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Draper Expert
Draper Expert Audi/VW Drain Plug Key, 1/2" Sq. Dr.
£21.99
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Click Mechanic · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
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Owner reports · Honest John
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
In the UK, the new Audi Q7 will initially be powered by a 272 PS V6 TDI engine. This complies with the Euro 6 emissions standard and its CO2 emissions have been reduced by as much as 50 grams per km.
Where it falls short
The new Audi Q7 comes standard with 19-inch wheels. Audi and quattro GmbH offer a large number of additional wheels in sizes up to 21 inches as options. Large, vented brake discs bring the SUV safely to a stop. They are gripped up front by aluminium six-piston calipers. The electromechanical parking brake, updated with convenient hill hold and startup functions, acts on the rear wheels.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Q7 S Line 50 Tdi Mhev Quat A and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
