Volvo S40 vs Volvo Xc90 inscription b5 mhev awd a: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Volvo S40
70%
MOT pass rate · 104,637 vehicles
Volvo Xc90 inscription b5 mhev awd a
88%
MOT pass rate · 1,069 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Volvo Xc90 inscription b5 mhev awd a is the more reliable of the two — 88% pass first time versus 70%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Volvo S40 | Volvo Xc90 inscription b5 mhev awd a |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 70% | 88% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 30% | 12% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.1 | 1.0 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% ✓ | 8% |
| Average mileage | 123,409 mi | 47,637 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 104,637 | 1,069 |
Most common faults
Volvo S40
- 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)
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
- Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
Volvo Xc90 inscription b5 mhev awd a
- Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Volvo Xc90 inscription b5 mhev awd a is the more reliable of the two — 88% pass first time versus 70%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Volvo S40 report Full Volvo Xc90 inscription b5 mhev awd a 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.