Is the 2021 CITROEN C5 reliable?

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. 92% of CITROEN C5s from 2021 passed their MOT first time in 2026, based on 2,377 tests. That's 10 points above the national average of 82%.

How much does a 2021 CITROEN C5 cost to run?

Estimated annual running cost is £1,405 (£117/month), including £955 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2021 CITROEN C5?

The 2021 CITROEN C5 has a 92% MOT pass rate based on 2,377 tests in 2026. This ranks 1842 out of 3373 cars from 2021.

Which year CITROEN C5 is most reliable?

The 2020 CITROEN C5 has the highest MOT pass rate at 92%. The least reliable year is 2001 at 64%.

CITROEN C5 (2021)

Q: What is the average mileage for a 2021 CITROEN C5?

The average mileage for a 2021 CITROEN C5 is 25,060 miles, which is below the expected 37,000 miles for a 5-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 2,377 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,405

£117/month

MOT Pass Rate

92%

Excellent

Road Tax

£195

Flat rate/year

Insurance

Grp 5-15

1200cc Petrol

Great Choice

92% pass rate, £1405/year to run. 10 points above average.

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Petrol1200cc5 years old2,377 tests25k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1200cc)

~50 mpg

£955

Road Tax

Flat rate (post-2017)

£195

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200

Total per year£1,405

Per month£117/mo

Per week£27/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

92% MOT pass rate(Excellent)

0%National avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 10 points above the national average of 82%. It also outperforms the CITROEN brand average of 79%.

At 5 years old, 92% of CITROEN C5s from 2021 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 2,377 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 25,060 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2021 cars1842th of 3,373(top 55%)

Rank among CITROEN models73th of 599(top 12%)

vs national average+10%(82% avg)

vs 2021 cars average+0%(92% avg)

vs CITROEN average+13%(79% avg)

Mileage Analysis

25,060

Average miles

37,000

Expected for age

The average 2021 CITROEN C5 has 25,060 miles on the clock, which is below the expected 37,000 miles for a 5-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

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Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 2020 model with a 92% MOT pass rate, while the 2001 model has the lowest at 64%. The 2021 sits between the two at 92%.

CITROEN C5 by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2021	92%	2,377	25,060 mi
2020	92%	10,871	30,371 mi
2019	89%	11,830	37,099 mi
2018	76%	46	42,159 mi
2016	84%	186	70,192 mi
2015	83%	320	88,761 mi
2014	79%	405	83,642 mi
2013	77%	653	96,254 mi
2012	77%	729	106,625 mi
2011	75%	1,045	113,766 mi
2010	72%	2,297	119,800 mi
2009	72%	3,341	119,720 mi
2008	71%	2,251	122,178 mi
2007	69%	731	118,303 mi
2006	72%	827	118,553 mi
2005	69%	596	119,716 mi
2004	72%	691	117,451 mi
2003	69%	554	126,405 mi
2002	66%	426	125,296 mi
2001	64%	205	116,552 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

FORD FIESTA

2019 · 998cc Petrol

£1,400/year

91%

-1%

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

2019 · 1498cc Petrol

£1,582/year

92%

same

VAUXHALL CORSA

2019 · 1398cc Petrol

£1,732/year

88%

-4%

NISSAN QASHQAI

2020 · 1598cc Petrol

£1,582/year

93%

+1%

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About the 2021 CITROEN C5

The 2021 CITROEN C5 is a city car with a 1200cc petrol engine. 2,377 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a reasonably common sight on UK roads. Among all cars from 2021, the average MOT pass rate is 92%, and this model falls short of that benchmark.

With an average of 25,060 miles at 5 years old, CITROEN C5 owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2021 CITROEN C5 Fuel Costs

The modest 1200cc petrol engine keeps fuel costs low, which is a real advantage for a city car. Expect around 50 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £955 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2021 CITROEN C5?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,405 (£117/month), broken down as £955 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 92% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

CITROEN C5 Reliability Trend

Newer CITROEN C5s show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 13 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2021 CITROEN C5

At 5 years old, the CITROEN C5 offers good value with plenty of life remaining. Most manufacturer warranties will have expired, so a pre-purchase inspection is worth the cost. If you're flexible on year, the 2020 model has the highest pass rate at 92%.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2021 CITROEN C5's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Coil Pack Failure

Medium risk

Smaller petrol engines are prone to ignition coil failures, causing misfires and rough running. Replacement is £50-£150 per coil.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2021 CITROEN C5 stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Insurance	Total/yr
CITROEN C5(2021)	92%	£955	£195	Grp 5-15	£1405
FORD FIESTA(2019)	91%	£955	£190	Grp 1-8	£1400-£5
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF(2019)	92%	£1137	£190	Grp 12-25	£1582+£177
VAUXHALL CORSA(2019)	88%	£1137	£190	Grp 8-20	£1732+£327
NISSAN QASHQAI(2020)	93%	£1137	£190	Grp 12-25	£1582+£177

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.