Is Volvo reliable?
Everyone raves about Volvos in terms of safety and reliability, but how good are they?
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Securing your dream car is one thing, but ensuring its reliability is completely different.
When buying your next car, you want to feel safe knowing it’s not going to let you down and will always get you to – and most importantly – back from your destination.
This is why Volvos are so popular because they truly are the tanks of our generation.
Without going to war, they will keep driving and driving, offering some of the greatest reliability in the automotive world.
What makes a vehicle reliable?
Defining what makes a car reliable is simple.
It needs to be a companion you can trust, with minimal issues and an easy ownership experience.
If you're having to take in your car for regular repairs that aren’t the standard worn tyres and brakes, you may find your vehicle is unreliable.
A reliable vehicle should not be breaking down regularly with many faults.
Another way to measure the overall build quality of your car is by checking its Euro NCAP ratings to gauge how safe it is.
If said car is scoring a full five-star rating, then you have very little to be concerned about.
Another good sign you’ve bagged yourself a reliable car is when it offers good fuel efficiency.
Cars that return high miles-per-gallon figures will always make for better cars to live with (and your wallet will thank you).
Are Volvos reliable cars?
There’s not really such a thing as an unreliable car these days. Unlike in the ‘70s and ‘80s where every other car would go wrong, you don’t find that so much these days.
One brand that has never suffered from this is Volvo. They never miss a beat when it comes to safety and reliability, with many of its cars surpassing half a million miles.
In fact, one careful owner has driven his 1966 Volvo 1800S more than three million miles – that’s more than 120 times around the world.
So yes, Volvos – like all cars – are reliable when taken care of and driven properly. But which are some of the best models?
Volvo XC40 reliability
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The Volvo XC40 is the smallest SUV that the brand makes, but it’s still a fantastic choice for most people.
This is thanks to a plentiful 452-litre boot and decent-sized cabin that can seat up to five people.
Following its most recent Euro NCAP crash test in 2018, the XC40 scored a full five stars for safety, offering exceptional passenger protection.
To match this, the engine options are great too, with petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and electric on offer.
The most fuel efficient is the diesel that returns up to 52.3mpg. But opt for the PHEV or electric and you can get 28 miles and 334 miles of range respectively.
Volvo XC60 reliability
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Sitting in the middle of Volvo’s SUV range, the XC60 is the best bet for most families because it’s practical, easy to drive and has a 483-litre boot for all your shopping or sports kit needs.
As far as safety is concerned, the XC60 scored a full five stars following its most recent Euro NCAP crash test in 2017.
It scored particularly highly for passenger occupancy protection and safety assistance systems such as lane assist and automatic emergency braking.
You can have it with a mild hybrid petrol engine, a PHEV, a diesel and standard petrol.
The most economical is the PHEV, which offers up to 122.8mpg and up to 32 miles of electric range.
Volvo XC90 reliability
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Sitting at the top of the Volvo SUV chain is the Range Rover-rivalling XC90.
If you’re a family of up to seven with a dog, then this is the one for you. It’s also incredibly safe and reliable.
It was last tested by Euro NCAP in 2015 and scored a full five stars, offering excellent protection across the board.
Engine options include a hybrid petrol, PHEV and diesel. Its fuel-efficient diesel engine offers up to 44.1mpg and its added torque helps it to tow caravans.
Volvo S90 reliability
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With rivals such as the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series, the Volvo S90 has a lot to live up to, but by also offering safety and reliability, it succeeds in doing so.
The S90 was last tested in 2017 by NCAP and scored – predictably – a full five stars.
It did this by offering sublime safety features such as automatic emergency braking and multiple airbags.
Being the brand’s leading luxury saloon, the S90 is available with a whole range of petrol, diesel and hybrid engines.
If you live in a city and appreciate fuel economy, the PHEV is the one to have as it offers 148.7mpg and an all-electric range of 55 miles.
Volvo V90 reliability
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Volvo was made famous by its popular estate cars, which have just become better and better over the years.
The Volvo V90 has been out since 2016 and is therefore a tried-and-tested machine.
Its most recent NCAP scores reflect this, with a full five stars and providing excellent all-around safety.
It’s got some reliable engines too, with the best being the T6 Recharge plug-in hybrid because it’s efficient, reliable and the closest thing you can get to fully electric power.
Electric-only range stands in at 53 miles and you can get up to a claimed 134.5mpg.
Which Volvo model is best for you?
With Volvo having such a broad range of cars on offer, it’s hard to know which to go for, but hopefully our short verdict will help point you in the right direction.
You should consider the XC40, XC60 and XC90 if you have a family and want as much space as possible, with the added benefit of practicality and strong reliability.
If you still want the practicality of an SUV but in a smaller form, estate cars like the V60 and V90 are the ones to consider.
The last remaining models are the S60 and S90 saloons, which are remarkable for luxury.
You can no longer buy brand-new Volvo saloons or estates here in the UK following the brand’s switch to an SUV-only range, but luckily there’s no shortage of them on the used car market.
If none of the above particularly interests you, Volvo also makes some all-electric models such as the C40 Recharge, XC40 Recharge and the brand-new EX90 and EX30 SUVs.
These are worth considering if you’re ready to make the switch.