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What to check: Volvo XC60

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Ranked across all years of the Volvo XC60, from its own MOT record and from what owners report. Tick it off at the car.

From this model's MOT record

The physical checks its own defect data says are worth your time, most telling first.

Coil springsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the bottom coil of each spring; when springs snap it is usually there, and the break is visible. Step back and check the car sits level too. A dropped corner is often a broken spring.Recorded on 4.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.4%

Lights and horn walkroundRuns high on this modelWith a helper, run every light: dipped, main beam, indicators, brake lights including the high-level one, reverse, fog, and the horn. On newer cars a dead LED section can mean replacing the whole lamp unit rather than a bulb.Recorded on 3.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 1.2%

Bushes and ball jointsDrive slowly over broken tarmac with the windows down and listen for clonks from either end. Back at the car, have someone rock the steering wheel while you rest a hand on each front wheel; play you can feel through the tyre is a worn joint.Recorded on 4.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 5.9%

LeaksLook at the ground where the car usually stands, then glance under the engine after your test drive. Fresh drips of oil or coolant are the cheapest warning you will ever get about a car.Recorded on 1.9% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Warning lights on ignitionRuns high on this modelTurn the ignition on without starting the engine and watch the dash. Every warning light should appear, then go out once it is running. Be more suspicious of a light that never comes on at all than of one that stays on; warning bulbs have been known to vanish before a sale.Recorded on 1.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

Steering playRuns high on this modelWith the engine running and the car parked, waggle the wheel lightly about the straight-ahead. The wheels should respond almost at once. A dead zone before anything happens means wear in the rack or the track rod ends.Recorded on 1.0% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

Rubber boots and gaitersOn full steering lock, look in behind each front wheel at the concertina rubber boots on the driveshafts and steering rack. Splits, or grease flung around the arch, mean dirt is getting into a joint that costs far more than the boot protecting it.Recorded on 1.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.7%

Worth doing on any used car

These judge the seller's upkeep rather than the model.

Tyres, all fourCheck the tread across the full width of each tyre, inner edge included, and look for cracking and mismatched brands. A set of decent tyres is £500 or more on most cars, which makes this the easiest money to take off a price. If the pressure warning light is on, budget for sensors too.Recorded on 25.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 20.1%

Pads and discsRuns high on this modelLook through the wheel spokes at the brake disc. A pronounced lip on its outer edge, or a rusty and scored face, means discs and pads are due all round, a few hundred pounds on most cars. A haggling point rather than a reason to walk away.Recorded on 15.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 8.7%

Windscreen and wipersScan the glass in daylight for chips, especially in the driver's line of sight where even a small one can fail the MOT. Run the washers and check the wipers clear without smearing.Recorded on 2.2% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

Because of what owners report

Drawn from the owner reports rather than the MOT data. These are the model-specific ones.

Cold-start the D4 diesel and take it on a longer test drive if possible.An engine management light, rough running, or limp mode points to a clogged EGR cooler.

Check the service history for D4 diesel EGR cooler, valve, or inlet manifold recall work.No record of this on an older D4 with high miles means the expensive failure may still be ahead of you.

On an automatic, cycle through reverse to drive a few times and try some hard and gentle downshifts.A clonk, jerk, or hesitation before the gearbox responds suggests the transmission fault owners report.

On a T8 plug-in hybrid, drive it in pure electric or economy mode.Noticeable lag or hesitation in this mode is a known owner complaint on this variant.

Listen for creaks or clunks from the rear over speed bumps and check the tailgate holds itself open unaided.Clunking points to rear suspension bush wear; a drooping tailgate means the gas struts are on the way out.

Read the full MOT history, not just the pass/fail.A repeated suspension advisory over several tests means the underlying wear was never actually fixed.

Check the headlining near the windscreen and any ceiling light fittings for damp staining.Discolouration here can indicate a past water leak that may have reached nearby wiring.

Full Volvo XC60 reliability report