Volvo
2,435 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Xc40 Inscription B4 Mhev Awd As pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 15.8 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
93.3%
Pass-after-fix
2.0%
Fail
4.4%
Avg miles
24,810
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 2,435 tests
Pass rate climbs 3.7 points across the cohorts — newer Xc40 Inscription B4 Mhev Awd A examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
90.9%
Fail
4.9%
PRS
3.3%
Avg mileage at test
27,657 mi
Pass
94.5%
Fail
4.1%
PRS
1.3%
Avg mileage at test
23,453 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 462 MOT tests, the Xc40 Inscription B4 Mhev Awd A returns 91.8% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. A tyre with the cords showing and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 22,541, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
ABI Insurance Group
Above average — worth comparing quotes before buying. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.
Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →
26–36
out of 50
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A tyre seriously damaged
52 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
30 occurrences · 1.2% of tests
Wiper blade defective
19 occurrences · 0.8% of tests
A tyre cords visible or damaged
14 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
9 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
6 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
4 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
3 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
3 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
3 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£100–£185
If every one of this Xc40 Inscription B4 Mhev Awd A's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 3.7-point gap between bands means the year you buy Volvo Xc40 Inscription B4 Mhev Awd A has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.
Best band to buy
94.5%
2021+ registration
the 2021-on band climbs to 94.5% — a 3.7-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: has a cut in excess of the…, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.
Band to be cautious about
90.9%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 90.9% pass rate against a fleet average of 94.5% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: has a cut in excess of the…, damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, and does not clear the windscreen effectively. Average mileage on test for this band is 27,657 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2021+ (94.5% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (90.9% pass). That's a 3.7-point spread across 789 older tests and 1,646 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
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Click Mechanic · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Owner reports · Honest John
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
The Volvo XC40 is a premium compact SUV on the CMA platform, offering genuine Volvo quality at a more accessible price. The B4 and D4 engines are efficient and reliable. Google-based infotainment on newer variants.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Xc40 Inscription B4 Mhev Awd A and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
