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What to check: Volvo XC90

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Ranked across all years of the Volvo XC90, 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.

Bushes and ball jointsRuns high on this modelDrive 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 11.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.9%

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 5.7% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.4%

Rubber boots and gaitersRuns high on this modelOn 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 3.4% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 0.6%

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 2.3% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.0%

DampersLook for oil misting on the damper body behind each wheel, then push down hard on each corner of the car. It should settle in one bounce. A floaty or crashy ride on the test drive is the same fault felt from the driver's seat.Recorded on 1.1% of tests at age 6-9 · class average 2.3%

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 21.9% 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 16.5% 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 2.8% 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.

Ask for timing belt, tensioner and water pump receipts on any pre-2015 D5 diesel.Nothing done by 60,000 miles or 4 years means budget for it now, or the engine is a gamble.

Rev it cold and listen for a rattle or rough idle from the inlet side on D5/2.4D diesels.Can point to a swirl flap starting to break up before it drops into the inlet.

Move off from a stop and through a tight, low-speed turn on any four-wheel-drive car.A clonk or knock from underneath is the classic sign of a worn angle gear.

If the car has a tow bar, ask how it was used and try to feel the gearbox under load.Flared or hesitant changes on a hill point to the Geartronic gearbox struggling with towing.

Walk around the car after it has sat overnight and compare ride height corner to corner.One side sitting visibly lower is a leaking air spring on cars with adaptive air suspension.

Cycle through every infotainment screen and check for a recent low-battery or charging warning.Repeated reboots or a stored 12V fault suggest the electrical gremlins some owners report.

On a T8 hybrid, check the indicated EV-only range against the original spec figure.A big shortfall means the high-voltage battery has degraded and a costly pack may be on the horizon.

Full Volvo XC90 reliability report