Volvo XC60 Problems

Although both these cars are similar in many ways, there’s one area where they take difference philosophies. And that’s in the way their hybrid systems are configured and prioritised.

While the Lexus is more of a conventional hybrid with the electric motor doing a lot of the heavy lifting, the Volvo is what’s called a mild hybrid., As the name suggests, that means the electric power is limited to a 10kW boost when taking off or when the driver requires maximum acceleration.

A mild hybrid layout does still operate the stop-start function and can harvest energy when slowing down, so it’s still a worthwhile slice of tech, but it won’t affect fuel consumption as much as the Lexus’ full hybrid system.

Reliability is a bit of an unknown with any new car, but it’s fair to say that the Lexus’ reputation will count for something come trade-in time. Not to mention that, as the more hybrid-focussed of the pair, the Lexus might also be a little more future-proof.

Australian delivered Volvo XC60s built between 2009 (when the vehicle was launched here) and 2017 were built at Volvo’s plant in Ghent, Belgium. For the current-model XC60 (launched in 2017) production moved to the Gothenburg plant in Sweden.

This is a pretty common complaint from owners of a lot of European makes and models. To maximise braking performance, a lot of manufacturers (including Volvo) use a relatively hard brake pad and a relatively soft brake rotor. With the result that by the time the brake pads are worn enough to be replaced, so too are the rotors (discs).

However, the general expectation is that a vehicle should be capable of covering about 60,000km before this work needs to be done, so the 30,000km on your car suggests the brakes work harder than perhaps you think they do.

As for the price, I’d assume that to be using genuine Volvo parts. Shopping around and using aftermarket replacement parts could almost halve that quote.

Yes, I think it’s reasonable, nothing lasts forever, and you’ve had a good run out of the car to date. Accept it and move on.

That is excessive. Try an independent mechanic or brake service outlet and you should be able to have it done for much less.

Maintenance lights are an important way your car tells you it needs to go to a mechanic and have consumables like engine oil, or faulty parts, changed. There are ways to turn these lights off when they illuminate, but that does not fix the problem (which is the reason the light turned on in the first place), so if you see the maintenance light come on just book your car in with a mechanic to have it diagnosed and fixed properly. They can turn the service light off for you.

Volvo launched the second-generation XC60 in 2017 and, given the first-generation model lasted nine years I wouldn't expect a new model soon!

Full petrol XC60 models are rated to tow 2400kg worth of braked trailer, or 750kg unbraked. Hybrid models can tow up to 750kg unbraked or 2100kg braked.

The second-generation XC60 is 4688mm long on a 2865mm wheelbase.