Diesel Volvo V70: MOT pass rate

71.4% of diesel Volvo V70s pass the MOT first time, measured across 28,789 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 141,451.

Diesel against the other Volvo V70 versions

Fuel Pass rate Tests
Diesel 71.4% 28,789
Petrol 64.8% 12,658
All Volvo V7069.4%41,507

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 V70 specifically, diesel is the strongest at 71.4%, and this diesel version sits 2 points above the 69.4% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The diesel Volvo V70 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 V70 had covered 141,451 miles at test, against 140,567 for the petrol. That is very high mileage. Clutches, dual-mass flywheels and head gaskets have usually been through at least one repair by this point, so ask for evidence rather than assume the car is original everywhere.

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 V70 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Other Volvo V70 fuel types

All Volvo V70 MOT data · Every model