Volvo has six plug-in hybrids in its lineup, and they are all pretty reliable.
Volvo used to always have a good reputation for the reliability of their cars, but that reputation decreased significantly with the issues found in the XC90. However, despite the XC90’s issues, hybrid system-related issues are rare in Volvo cars. Volvo also gives an eight-year warranty for the battery pack, which is a plus point for reliability.
Volvo’s overall reliability
Volvo has been a reliable brand due to its safety and durability factors. The body of Volvo cars is even made to ensure safety. Volvo is one of the safest carmakers in the world. However, reliability doesn’t only depend on safety features. Repair costs and problems found in the cars are also big factors.
Volvo performs average in terms of reliability, but it is still ahead of many of its competitors. The safety and luxury features give Volvo an edge over the others. They rank 23rd in reliability ratings out of 40 car brands. Reliability Index also gave them a pretty average score of 127.
Volvo Hybrids: Reliability varies by model
Volvo stepped into the field of electrical systems just recently. They introduced the hybrid system for the first time in the XC90 in 2015. Since then, they have continued to shift towards only electric and hybrid cars. Excluding the XC90, Volvo hybrids cars are generally considered reliable because of the low complaints about the hybrid systems.
The XC90 was termed as the least reliable car by Consumer Reports. Other than that, Volvo cars perform well, especially the compact SUV, the XC40. The S60 is considered the most reliable plug-in hybrid Volvo.
Thank reliability ratings of Volvo hybrid models isn’t the same across the board, but varies slightly.
Volvo XC90 Recharge
The XC90 has its pros and cons. The car is called the best SUV by Volvo, but also the least reliable according to surveys. The XC90 is a big 7-seater SUV with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The XC90 faced some issues with the battery dead. There were 4 issues reported. The car has also faced many problems in the auto braking system, transmission system, and tires.
The 2004 model was the worst in terms of complaints. The car faced sever transmission issues as the transmission system was said to be prone to failures that could lead to severe damage. Some of the issues were fixed with the newer models, but they still persist to a degree today. J.D. Power gave the XC90 an average predicted reliability score of 71 out of 100.
Volvo XC60 Recharge
The XC60 is pretty reliable compared to the XC90. However, it also faces some issues with the engine fan control module, which can affect the air conditioning. In some rare cases, the car’s engine even stopped because of this issue. In 2021, the XC60 had an average score of 71 by J.D. Power.
Other issues include some problems with power steering fluid leakages. The joint between the power steering and the steering gear was the reason for this leakage. Fortunately, only a miniscule number of people reported this issue and Volvo promptly issued a recall.
A transmission issue was also present in some of the XC60 units. There were no battery issues found in the car.
Volvo S60 Recharge
The S60 is by far the most reliable Volvo present. The car faced some issues with its first generation, but the second generation solved the majority of its problems. However, some known issues with the transmission were still present in the S60 too. It has a reliability score of 78 by J.D. Power, which is just average.
Volvo S90 Recharge
The S90 is an executive saloon-shaped car made by Volvo. The car faced some issues like engine fires, which led Volvo to made a recall of around 70,000 units in the UK. The S90 has a comparatively poor reliability rating of just 2 stars out of five by J.D. Power. However, there are little to no complaints reported about the batteries of the hybrid model.
Volvo V60 Recharge
The 60 series station wagon is pretty famous for its safety. The car has one of the best interiors and luxury feelings among other wagons. It has certainly faced some issues, but the safety measurements and the luxury of this wagon outweigh the issues.
Volvo V90 Recharge
Packed with Volvo’s standard safety features, this wagon is also known for its luxury and comfort. The car, however, suffers in reliability scores, just like S90. J.D. Power gave it a below-average score of 2.5 out of 5. This really impacts its reliability, but it is still a good option for a luxury wagon.
Average reliability, but top safety
Volvo vehicles have average reliability scores, but certain individual models perform very well. It is important to note that Volvo is still ahead of its other rivals like Audi, BMW, Jaguar, and Mercedes. Volvo offers the best safety and crash management features, which makes Volvo many people’s first choice.
There are some issues that are prevalent in all models, like transmission failure. Other than that, Volvo hybrids are a good purchase. Especially, if your priority is safety features. Volvo’s luxury and comfort are also famous. Therefore, it is up to buyers- If you want safety and luxury, then definitely go for Volvo.
FAQ
What are the disadvantages of hybrid cars?
Hybrid cars run with a mixture of electric power and a fossil fuel engine. They definitely result in extremely low carbon emissions and better fuel economy. However, there are some downsides of hybrid cars, including:
- They are less powerful – They are not as powerful as the normal gasoline-based engines. Hybrids get better acceleration, but are less powerful overall.
- Hybrids are more expensive – They are way more expensive than normal gasoline-based cars. The reason for this is the expensive batteries.
- Poor handling – Hybrid cars are prone to having worse handling than other conventional cars.
- Dangerous accidents – in the case of a major accident, the high voltage battery could prove fatal for you.
- Expensive battery – The batteries prove pretty expensive when you need to replace them.
Is electric energy necessary?
Cars are a big source of pollution throughout our ecosystem. Cars emit carbon with carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and other water vapors that are very harmful to our environment. It’s hard to shut our industries down, but we can limit our emissions through cars.
Are hybrid cars better than electric cars?
Hybrid cars and EVs have their own pros and cons. Electric cars are way more expensive than hybrid cars. Hybrid cars can be a good option if you want to limit your fuel economy and care about car emissions because they at least emit less carbon than conventional cars. Electric cars offer to save more money on fuel because they run on electricity and prove efficient in the long run.
