Diesel Volvo S80: MOT pass rate

76.5% of diesel Volvo S80s pass the MOT first time, measured across 5,371 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 128,547.

Diesel against the other Volvo S80 versions

Fuel Pass rate Tests
Diesel 76.5% 5,371
Petrol 72.1% 1,691
All Volvo S8075.4%7,078

Why the fuel type changes the number

Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.

On the Volvo S80 specifically, diesel is the strongest at 76.5%, and this diesel version sits 1.1 points above the 75.4% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Volvo S80 is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average diesel Volvo S80 had covered 128,547 miles at test, against 115,201 for the petrol. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Volvo S80 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Other Volvo S80 fuel types

All Volvo S80 MOT data · Every model