Your Authorized Dealer for volvo gloucester and Surrounding Areas
When you pull into the newly rebranded Waylands Volvo Gloucester on Cole Avenue and spot your XC90 through the interior viewing window—technicians working in plain sight, six EV chargers humming quietly outside—you realize this isn’t the same dealership you visited last year. It’s better .
TL;DR
Here is the most important thing to know about Volvo Gloucester right now: it has new owners. As of September 2024, Johnsons Volvo Gloucester officially became Waylands Volvo Gloucester . The address hasn’t changed. The phone numbers haven’t changed. Many of the friendly faces haven’t changed . But the company running the show—and the way they approach customer service—absolutely has.
Waylands isn’t some faceless conglomerate. They are a family-run outfit that has won Dealer Group of the Year at the AM Awards six years running . That is not a typo. Six consecutive years. They represent Volvo, Polestar, Kia, and MG across twelve locations . And now they run Gloucester.
This article breaks down what actually changes under Waylands, what stays the same, the honest truth about past customer complaints, and why the “Scandinavian-inspired lounge” with coffee and workspace might actually make your next service wait something you don’t dread .
Key Takeaways
- New ownership, same location: Waylands acquired the Cole Avenue dealership from Johnsons in August 2024; rebranding is now complete .
- Six-time AM Award winners: Waylands has been named UK Dealer Group of the Year for six consecutive years—a streak that signals genuine consistency .
- Facility upgrades you can see: New interior viewing window over the workshop, six EV charging points, and a calming Scandinavian lounge area .
- Mixed legacy reviews: Previous Johnsons-era reviews range from “one of the best I have encountered” to serious complaints about MOT outsourcing and damaged wheels .
- MOT and servicing clarification: The dealership is a licensed DVSA MOT test station (Site Number S001696), but some customers previously reported their cars being driven elsewhere without consent .
- Same team, fresh approach: All existing staff transferred to Waylands; early indications point toward the group’s “honesty and integrity” values rolling out locally .
The Big Change: Welcome Waylands, Farewell Johnsons
Let’s address the elephant in the showroom.
If you visited Volvo Gloucester in 2023 or early 2024, you dealt with Johnsons. If you visit today, you deal with Waylands. The handover happened in late August 2024, and the rebranding was completed by early September .
This is not a cosmetic name swap. This is a complete change of ownership, management structure, and service philosophy.
John O’Hanlon, CEO of Waylands, put it plainly: “Honesty and integrity, focus and care sit at the heart of our values.” . That sentence matters because some Johnsons-era customers felt those values slipped—particularly around MOT handling, communication, and damage accountability .
Waylands isn’t pretending the past didn’t happen. They are simply installing a different way of working.
What transfers over?
- Your Volvo warranty
- Volvo Service Promise benefits
- Existing service plans (check transferability with the dealer)
- The physical building and workshop equipment
What changes?
- Leadership and culture
- Customer service training standards
- Facility layout and amenities
- EV charging infrastructure
Chart: Waylands Volvo Gloucester – What You Actually Get Now
This visual breaks down the tangible upgrades available to you as a customer today versus the previous setup.
Radar scale: 0 = not present / poor, 5 = excellent / fully implemented. Based on facility announcements and customer review analysis .
The Honest Truth: Mixed Reviews, One Clear Path Forward
Let’s not sugarcoat it. The Johnsons-era reviews are a mixed bag .
The good stuff from Johnsons days:
Customers regularly praised Chantelle, Rob, Simon, and Oliver by name . One reviewer drove 40 minutes each way specifically because the dealership provided a private office space to work from while waiting . Another appreciated the “no hard sell” atmosphere and the freedom to browse without a salesperson hovering .
The bad stuff:
One customer booked a service and MOT weeks in advance, requested a courtesy car, and arrived at 12pm only to be told the courtesy car had been given away that morning . They were left stranded without transport, and the dealership did not offer a taxi—despite the Volvo Service Promise explicitly covering this .
Another customer discovered their XC90 T8 PHEV was driven to an external, non-Volvo MOT station without their knowledge . The car picked up a scratched alloy during the trip. The manager reportedly claimed that for three years, Volvo’s own technicians “were not able to spot issues” that an outside tester caught . That is not confidence-inspiring.
Why this matters under Waylands:
Waylands has built its reputation on transparency. The new interior viewing window lets customers watch work being performed . That single architectural change sends a message: We have nothing to hide.
The six consecutive AM Awards are not given to dealerships that outsource MOTs without consent or scratch customer wheels. Waylands knows this. The Gloucester team now operates under that standard.
Facility Deep Dive: What Actually Changed
The Scandinavian Lounge
Volvo is Swedish. Swedish design is minimalist, functional, and calm. The new lounge area reflects this—neutral tones, comfortable seating, dedicated workspace . One Johnsons-era reviewer mentioned using an office to work; that concept is now formalised .
The Viewing Window
This is the stealth upgrade nobody expected. A glass panel overlooking the workshop. You can see your car on the lift, technicians moving around, components being fitted. No mystery. No “it’s in the back.” .
Six EV Charging Points
If you drive an XC40 Recharge, C40 Recharge, or EX90, this matters. Charging while you shop for your next Volvo or wait for service removes the range anxiety excuse .
MOT On-Site Verification
Here is the critical detail: Johnsons Volvo Gloucester held a valid DVSA MOT test station licence (S001696) . The facility always had the equipment. The complaints about cars being driven elsewhere were process failures, not equipment shortages .
Under Waylands, there is no operational reason to outsource MOTs. The licence remains active. The bay is present. Policies have changed.
Comparison: Gloucester Dealership – Then vs Now
| Feature | Johnsons Era (Before Aug 2024) | Waylands Era (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Johnson Cars group | Waylands family-run group |
| Awards | None specifically cited | 6x AM Dealer Group of the Year |
| EV Charging | Not advertised | 6 customer charging points |
| Workshop Viewing | None | Interior viewing window |
| Customer Lounge | Comfortable seating | Scandinavian-inspired calm zone |
| MOT Handling | Inconsistent; some outsourced | On-site, DVSA licensed |
| Staff | Mixed reviews; some excellent | All existing staff retained |
| Accountability | Customer-driven complaints | Transparency-focused culture |
Sources: .
What Real Customers Are Saying (The Balanced View)
We combed through 306 Google reviews and specialist dealer feedback .
Positive patterns:
- Staff named repeatedly: Chantelle, Rob, Simon, Oliver—these individuals have built genuine customer loyalty .
- No-pressure sales environment is consistently mentioned. Customers appreciate being allowed to browse .
- Collection and delivery service praised; one customer’s car was returned washed and valeted .
Negative patterns:
- MOT outsourcing was the single largest customer frustration .
- Communication breakdowns around booking times and courtesy car availability .
- Post-service damage not proactively reported .
The verdict:
The people at the dealership have always been capable of delivering excellent service. The system around them sometimes failed. Waylands inherits the people and replaces the system.
FAQ: Your Questions About Waylands Volvo Gloucester
Is Johnsons Volvo Gloucester still open?
No. The dealership was acquired by Waylands in August 2024 and is now Waylands Volvo Gloucester. The physical location remains Cole Avenue, GL2 5ER .
Does Waylands Volvo Gloucester do MOT testing on-site?
Yes. The site is a DVSA-licensed MOT test station (number S001696). Under previous ownership, some cars were taken elsewhere; this practice should cease under Waylands’ transparency model .
Can I watch my car being serviced?
Yes. The showroom now features an interior viewing window overlooking the workshop .
Are there electric vehicle chargers at the dealership?
Yes. Six public charging points are available on-site for customers .
What is the Volvo Service Promise?
It includes a courtesy car, fixed-price servicing, and genuine Volvo parts. If the dealership cannot provide a booked courtesy car, they should arrange alternative transport .
Who won Dealer of the Year six times?
Waylands won AM Dealer Group of the Year for six consecutive years—a national UK award .
Do the same staff still work there?
Yes. All existing colleagues transferred to Waylands as part of the acquisition .
Is Waylands Volvo Gloucester good for Motability customers?
Waylands has strong experience with Volvo’s Motability offerings across their group. Contact the sales team directly .
Why Proximity to M5 Junction 12 Still Matters
The dealership sits just off the A38, minutes from M5 J11A and J12 .
If you are coming from Cheltenham, Stroud, Forest of Dean, or Tewkesbury, this is your local authorized Volvo facility. You do not need to travel to Bristol or Swindon for warranty work or specialist Volvo diagnostics.
Note: Do not confuse this dealership with Volvo Truck and Bus Wales and West on Lower Tuffley Lane. That is a commercial vehicle depot serving HGVs and coaches—not passenger cars .
The Bottom Line: Second Chances Matter
Some of you reading this had a rough experience at Volvo Gloucester under previous management. Maybe your alloy was scratched. Maybe you spent four hours waiting for a courtesy car that never arrived. Maybe you felt like a nuisance rather than a valued customer.
That dealership does not exist anymore.
The building is the same. The phone number is the same. Many of the friendly, knowledgeable faces are the same. But the company setting the rules, the standards, and the culture is entirely different.
Waylands has spent six years proving they can run dealerships the way customers actually want—transparent, relaxed, and accountable. They did it in Bristol, Newbury, Oxford, Reading, and Swindon . Now they are doing it in Gloucester.
The viewing window is not just glass. It is a statement.
Have you visited Waylands Volvo Gloucester since the rebrand? Drop your experience in the comments—good, bad, or waiting-for-coffee. Real feedback helps the rest of us decide.
References:
- Johnsons Volvo Gloucester (archived location details; dealership now operated by Waylands)
- Maps24: Johnsons of Gloucester – Volvo Cars (historical reviews)
- Motor Trader: Waylands acquires Volvo dealership in Gloucester from Johnson Cars (August 2024)
- SoGlos: Leading UK motoring retailer acquires Gloucester showroom (September 2024)
- CheckMot.com: JOHNSONS VOLVO MOT Centre (DVSA Site Number S001696)
- Car Dealer Reviews: Johnsons Volvo Gloucester (detailed customer complaint regarding MOT outsourcing)
