Is the Volvo XC90 a good car?

What are the main things to look out for in a 2008 Volvo XC90? I'm looking at a high mileage example.

Ronan Mc Greevy (Westport)

May 2013 Filed under: reliability

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Expert answer

Hi Ronan,

Thankfully the potential glitch list on XC90s seems to be pretty small, especially if you go for the diesel engine and the Asin-Warner automatic gearbox. Apparently most XC90 problems relate to the petrol engined versions, running a GM gearbox.

Make sure that the timing belt has been changed at 100,000-mile intervals. Check for outer-shoulder tyre wear caused by suspension mis-alignment. The top suspension mounts can be weak on the early models, but as the one you're looking at is a 2008, you should be OK, as Volvo replaced many under warranty. Wheel bearings can wear, so listen for rumbling noises and the brakes pads and parking brake mechanism are both prone to early wear.

Hope that helps; let us know how you get on.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe