If you’re shopping for a new car that needs to be luxurious and solid in performance, you may be thinking about buying a Volvo. Are these Swedish luxury cars a good choice? You probably want to know about Volvo reliability.
How reliable are Volvo vehicles?
The 2020 Volvo lineup offers good reliability ratings, according to most experts, with awards such as:
- XC40: Good Housekeeping “Best New Family Car”
- XC90: “Car of the Decade” from Autotrader
- V90: “5-Year Cost to Own” award from Kelley Blue Book
- XC40: “Automotive Best Buy” from Consumer Guide
Using data from NHTSA, Vehicle History experts and consumers, and other resources, we’re able to take a closer look at Volvo’s reliability and really find out if this is the car you should buy this year.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most notable models and determine their reliability.
Volvo XC90
With a starting MSRP of $63,450, the XC90 is a luxury SUV with much to offer. Produced since 2002, it is currently in its second generation. This five-door vehicle is a mid-sized SUV and comes with a base 2.0-L 4-cylinder engine in the 2020 model.
The Volvo XC90 doesn’t have specific reliability awards for it, but here are a few other ways we can evaluate the reliability of this car.
At Vehicle History, our owner reviews offer a pretty positive rate of 4.77 out of 5 stars for the XC90. About 85 percent of reviewers gave it a 5-star rating. Our expert reviews are also positive, with 4.60 out of 5 stars.
Consumers offered a few notes about the car needing some repairs over time, including some notes about the tech not being as reliable.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers more insight. The group gave it a 5-star safety rating, which is the best available.
As of 2020, this vehicle had one recall: The automatic emergency braking system failed to engage as it should. It also has few customer complaints from owners. Those concerns center around early failures in the brakes and suspension system.
Volvo XC40
The Volvo XC40 is a compact, luxury SUV. It’s a bit lower in price with a starting MSRP of $33,700 and offers six trim options. The 2021 model is packed with tech, including smart storage, intuitive technology, and a panoramic roof that makes driving even more relaxing.
Volvo has produced this vehicle since just 2019, making it one of the newest in the lineup. It’s a fully electric vehicle.
At Vehicle History, our owners have given this vehicle a 4.46 out of 5-star rating, with 69 percent providing a 5-star rating. Some consumers noted the navigation system was troublesome, while others are not so happy with the panoramic window.
Our experts gave the XC40 a 4.7 out of 5-star rating. Limitations from them included lacking some tech features and having a shift-knob design that’s not ideal.
This vehicle has a few related awards, including the European “Car of the Year” award for the 2019 model. That award comes from noted innovative features but also a superior design. It’s a newer vehicle that hasn’t been heavily rated in the U.S. just yet.
When we take a look at the NHTSA ratings, the XC40 received a 5-star safety rating. That’s good from a safety standpoint. It has one recall on it, for the automatic emergency braking engagement failure potential, much like the previous model.
Volvo S60
The 2020 Volvo S60 is a luxury sedan with lots to offer, including a good 23 city and 34 highway MPG. The vehicle is made to be elegant and has a refined cabin. It comes with a base 2.0-L four-cylinder engine with options for upgrades. It also has a base price of just over $36,000.
When we consider Volvo reliability for this model, we turn to owners for their take. At Vehicle History, owners give this model a 4.77 out of 5 stars, with 85 percent of people giving it a full 5-star rating. Our experts offer a bit less rating, at 4.6.
Key concerns that could impact reliability include some technology and electrical glitches. Other consumers report good performance and few repair needs in their vehicle.
The NHTSA gave the Volvo S60 a 5-star rating overall. The 2020 model year does have one recall already related to it. That relates to a much larger recall spanning this manufacturer related to the automatic emergency brakes not engaging.
Volvo V60
The V60 is a Volvo wagon. The 2020 model has a starting MRSP of $40,295. It’s designed to offer refined style and advanced technology. It features a T5 front-wheel drive drive-e powertrain that’s capable of 250 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque.
This five-door wagon was first produced in 2010. The latest generation was manufactured in 2018. It features the Volvo Scalable Product Architecture platform. A cross-country version is also available.
The 2020 Volvo’s reviews and ratings are limited. Some of that is due to the limited access to this vehicle in the U.S. At Vehicle History, owners gave it 4.25 out of 5 stars. Our experts gave it just 4 stars.
The Volvo V60 has a good look to it, but it does lack a bit in terms of dependability. Repairs to the steering and fuel system are two key concerns.
The NHTSA provided the vehicle with a solid 5-star rating, much like most other Volvo vehicles of more recent production. There is a recall on the 2020 model, but again, that relates to the automatic emergency braking.
With Limited Awards or Features, is the Volvo Brand Right for You?
The good news is that Volvo does have positive reviews that outweigh the limited bad reviews and concerns. It’s a high-end model that’s available in limited numbers in some areas.
While it does not win any awards for dependability, the Volvo brand name – and there are plenty of other vehicles to choose from – offers solid performance overall.
Before you make the decision to buy, check out the make and model for the car you’re considering at Vehicle History.
