Skip advert
Advertisement

Volvo XC90 review - Reliability & safety

Volvo has always been a car safety pioneer and the new XC90 is well placed to continue that tradition

Carbuyer Rating

4.1 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.2 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Reliability & safety Rating

4.5 out of 5

Volvo had a goal of working towards zero fatalities in its vehicles by the year 2020 and the new XC90 was a big part of that bold strategy. High-strength materials combine with hi-tech systems to help you avoid having a crash in the first place and protect you and your passengers from serious injury if you do.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Reliability is more of a grey area with the new XC90, but a disappointing result from the closely-related XC60 in our 2022 Driver Power survey suggests reliability could be sub-par, as both cars share much of the same technology and B5 petrol engine.

Volvo XC90 reliability

The Volvo XC90 didn't appear in our most recent 2024 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey but the closely related XC60 did in 2022, coming in 69th out of the top 75 cars. Worryingly, 36% of XC60 owners reported a problem with their car in the first year of ownership.

Take a look at the reputation of Volvo as a brand, and the manufacturer performs well for customer satisfaction across the whole of its model range – it finished 13th out of 32 manufacturers in 2023, but again reliability was middle of the road. A slightly higher-than-average 27% of Volvo owners reported an issue with their car in the first year of ownership.

Safety

Volvo has really pushed the boat out when it comes to safety measures on the new XC90 and was rewarded with a five-star overall Euro NCAP crash-test score, a staggering 97% adult occupant protection rating and an 87% child protection rating.

The passenger compartment is constructed from high-strength boron steel and airbags deploy along the full length of the interior in the event of an accident, protecting occupants in all three rows of seats.

But the Volvo also aims to stop you having a crash in the first place. It boasts cameras that can detect pedestrians, large animals and cyclists you might have missed and warn you of their presence, as well as an automatic braking system that brings the car to a halt if it detects you’re about to run into the car in front. It also has systems that can alert the driver to slippery roads ahead and can provide early warning of hazard warning lights ahead.

The Volvo Pilot Assist II system uses a combination of active cruise control and lane-departure warning to almost drive the car itself in heavy stop-start traffic. The latest version of this system will control the car at speeds of up to 80mph. All this resulted in a 100% score for safety assistance from Euro NCAP.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Andy is Carbuyer's managing editor, with more than a decade of experience helping consumers find their perfect car. He has an MA in automotive journalism and has tested hundreds of vehicles.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Volvo XC90 review – understated upmarket large SUV
Volvo XC90 Best Buy cutout
In-depth reviews
29 Oct 2024

Volvo XC90 review – understated upmarket large SUV

Most Popular

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
1 Nov 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers

New Tesla Model Y set for a Model 3-inspired makeover in 2025
Tesla Model Y facelift render front quarter
News
31 Oct 2024

New Tesla Model Y set for a Model 3-inspired makeover in 2025

Ford Capri review – a comfortable, well-built EV
Ford Capri hero
In-depth reviews
29 Oct 2024

Ford Capri review – a comfortable, well-built EV

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024