Hi Jen,

To be honest, it’s about even. Volvo has an excellent reliability reputation, but that 1.6-litre diesel does have its issues, with particulate filters, exhaust gas recirculation valves and water pumps being high on the agenda. The BMW is also a well-made car, but beware of turbo and electrical issues. Don’t buy either if they don’t come with a full and complete service history, and if reliability is really the most important thing to you, don’t buy either but go for a Japanese brand instead.