BMW X5 vs Volvo XC90
The BMW X5 has the better MOT record of the two — 16.3% fail rate versus 18.7% for the Volvo XC90 across comparable years. The biggest single difference is brakes, where the XC90 records failures noticeably more often.
16.3%
X5 fail rate
18.7%
XC90 fail rate
2.44pp
Difference
Side by side
| Metric | BMW X5 | Volvo XC90 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT tests analysed | 526,447 | 411,468 |
| Pass rate | 83.8% | 81.3% |
| Fail rate | 16.3% | 18.7% |
Where they differ
| Category | X5 | XC90 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 4.6% | 9.1% |
| Lighting & signalling | 6.1% | 9.6% |
| Suspension | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| Tyres | 6.4% | 5.5% |
| Visibility | 3.0% | 2.6% |
Methodology & source. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.