Audi A3 vs Audi S5 quattro: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Audi A3
78%
MOT pass rate · 586,036 vehicles
Audi S5 quattro
81%
MOT pass rate · 5 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Audi A3 (78%) and Audi S5 quattro (81%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Audi A3 | Audi S5 quattro |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 78% | 81% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 22% | 19% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.8 ✓ | 1.9 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 3% | 1% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 112,882 mi | 64,028 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 586,036 | 5 |
Most common faults
Audi A3
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Audi S5 quattro
- Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)
- Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge front tyres worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Rear Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.7.1 (b) (i))
- Front Inner Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Both front straight arm inner bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Audi A3 (78%) and Audi S5 quattro (81%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Audi A3 report Full Audi S5 quattro report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.