Diesel Volvo V50: MOT pass rate
60.4% of diesel Volvo V50s pass the MOT first time, measured across 23,930 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 135,869.
Diesel against the other Volvo V50 versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 60.4% | 23,930 |
| Petrol | 62.6% | 5,975 |
| All Volvo V50 | 60.8% | 29,910 |
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 V50 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 62.6%, and this diesel version sits 0.4 points below the 60.8% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average diesel Volvo V50 had covered 135,869 miles at test, against 112,753 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 V50 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other Volvo V50 fuel types
- Petrol Volvo V50 - 62.6%