MOT performance
Volvo XC60 vs BMW X3: MOT pass rates compared
In 2023–2024, 80.3% of 216,923 Volvo XC60 MOT tests and 79.8% of 204,786 BMW X3 tests passed first time — 0.5 points in favour of the Volvo XC60. Once age, mileage and fuel are allowed for, the two fail about as often as each other (0.81× and 0.79× the national rate for comparable cars).
216,923 Volvo XC60 and 204,786 BMW X3 MOT tests, 2023–2024
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| Figure | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Volvo XC60: first-time pass rate | 80.3% | ±0.2 pts (95%), n = 216,923 |
| BMW X3: first-time pass rate | 79.8% | ±0.2 pts (95%), n = 204,786 |
| Volvo XC60: failures vs similar cars | -19% | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| BMW X3: failures vs similar cars | -21% | same age, mileage and fuel = 1.00 |
| Volvo XC60: dangerous defect | 6.5% | n = 216,923 |
| BMW X3: dangerous defect | 5.6% | n = 204,786 |
| Average age at test | 6.9 vs 7.8 years | Volvo XC60 vs BMW X3 |
Why the raw pass rates can mislead
The BMW X3 was tested at an older average age (7.8 years against 6.9), and older cars fail more often whatever they are. That is why the table above also shows failures against cars of the same age, mileage and fuel: it compares the models, not their fleets. Here the adjustment reverses the raw result: the BMW X3 has the lower pass rate but fails less often than comparable cars.
Failure areas side by side
Share of MOT tests that failed on each area, and in brackets how that compares with cars of the same age, mileage and fuel (1.00 = national average). The clearest difference is steering, where the Volvo XC60 fails 4.4 times as often on an adjusted basis.
| Area | Volvo XC60 | BMW X3 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 4.0% (-25%) | 3.4% (-44%) |
| Steering | 1.6% (+18%) | 0.4% (-73%) |
| Suspension | 4.9% (-24%) | 4.6% (-38%) |
| Tyres | 5.5% (-18%) | 6.1% (-7%) |
| Road wheels | 0.1% (-65%) | 0.4% (+4%) |
| Lights, reflectors and electrical | 5.4% (-33%) | 6.9% (-24%) |
| Body, chassis and structure | 0.8% (-64%) | 0.8% (-73%) |
| Driver's view of the road | 2.2% (-42%) | 3.5% (-14%) |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.2% (-46%) | 1.4% (-44%) |
| Seat belts and airbags | 0.4% (-44%) | 1.0% (+5%) |
| Registration plates and VIN | 0.2% (-31%) | 0.3% (-8%) |
| Speedometer and driving controls | 0.0% (+66%) | 0.0% (+38%) |
Pass rate at the same age
Comparing cars of the same age removes most of the fleet-age effect from the raw rates.
| Age at test | Volvo XC60 | BMW X3 |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 years | 89.4% (n = 39,236) | 89.5% (n = 45,384) |
| 5-6 years | 84.2% (n = 49,808) | 85.6% (n = 33,340) |
| 7-8 years | 77.2% (n = 51,938) | 79.4% (n = 30,468) |
| 9-10 years | 73.4% (n = 27,973) | 74.2% (n = 26,583) |
| 11-12 years | 70.7% (n = 18,620) | 71.5% (n = 20,473) |
| 13-15 years | 68.5% (n = 14,656) | 70.0% (n = 9,704) |
Most common failure item
- Volvo XC60 · coil spring: fractured or broken (3.72% of tests)
- BMW X3 · coil spring: fractured or broken (2.38% of tests)
MOT results reflect how cars are maintained as well as how they are built, so a gap between two models is a difference in test performance, not proof that one is more reliable. For one car, its own MOT history says more than any average.
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About this data. These are MOT test results, not a measure of mechanical reliability: a car's MOT outcome reflects its condition on the day, which depends on how it has been maintained and driven as well as how it was built. Figures cover class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans), normal tests only (retests excluded), outcomes pass, fail and pass after rectification at the station; vehicles at least 2.5 years old at test. Tests from 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-30. “Compared with similar cars” means compared with the national rate for cars of the same age, mileage band and fuel. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Makes and models are matched to 73 Auto's vehicle catalogue; tests that can't be matched are left out rather than guessed. See how the MOT figures are produced.