Overview & Reviews

Swedish-born Volvo has long been a forerunner in safety research, and its vehicles have the crash test scores to prove it. These days, the brand has improved its offerings by crafting vehicles that also offer generous amounts of style and performance.

In Latin, the word "Volvo" means "I roll." Volvo cars have been rolling ever since 1927, when the first vehicle (nicknamed "Jakob") was produced in the city of Gothenburg. The company's founders, Assar Gabrielsson and Gustaf Larsson, put an emphasis on safety, and that dictum still holds true today. The Jakob was joined by the six-cylinder PV651 in 1929, and by 1931, more than 10,000 Volvos had been produced.

Postwar, Volvo unveiled one of its biggest successes, the PV444. By the 1950s, Volvo had begun exporting cars to the U.S., and the PV444 — with its compact size and stylish looks — helped the manufacturer quickly make a name for itself in its new territory. The decade also saw Volvo building on its reputation for being a vanguard in the area of safety; it was the first manufacturer to make vehicles with a three-point safety belt.

The 1960s saw the launch of a new Volvo sports car, the P1800. The car's sculpted good looks helped earn it celebrity status when it was featured on the long-running TV series The Saint, with Roger Moore behind the wheel. Safety features grew more advanced during this decade and Volvo was again at the forefront of the action, offering features such as padded dashboards and energy-resistant crumple zones in front and rear.

Volvo distinguished itself as the exclusive home to a number of valuable new technologies during the 1970s. If you were looking for safety features such as childproof locks, collapsible steering columns and rear-facing child seats during this decade, you'd only find them in a Volvo.

Like BMWs and Saabs, Volvos became an American "yuppie" favorite during the 1980s. The company proved its technological know-how wasn't just limited to safety when it rolled out its first turbocharged car. By the end of the decade, Volvo had unveiled new models like the front-wheel-drive 480 hatchback (for Europe) and the Italian-designed 780 coupe.

In the early '90s, Volvo launched the 850. The car was Volvo's first front-wheel-drive executive car, and teamed performance with the company's trademark attention to safety. The decade also saw Volvo rolling out new models like the S40 and C70 — cars that updated the automaker's boxy image with a more rounded, sculpted aesthetic. The company became part of the Ford family when it was acquired by the automaker in 1998. Ford helped Volvo financially, while Volvo provided Ford with new safety technologies and car platforms. Due to Ford's financial troubles during the American recession, however, Ford sold Volvo to the Chinese automaker Geely in 2010.

It's unknown how Volvo's new owner will guide the brand long term, but chances are Volvo will continue to offer sedans, coupes and SUVs known for their combination of safety and driving excitement.

User Reviews:

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  Not great, but solid in most ways - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Darren Miles - July 7 - 10:16 pm

  The S40 is a great way for Volvo to reach a new crowd of drivers, the car is solid, but there are some minor annoyances. Seems as though I have the same likes/issues as most of the others on the list. I have replaced both the front and rear brakes (car only has 31,000 miles), the check engine light comes on/off constantly (its an emissions fault, but does not affect the car in anyway, but would make it difficult to sell if the light came on), and I have replaced the front bulbs 3 times, though the latest set have lasted over a year.

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  66% Unhappy With This Cae - 2003 Volvo S80
  By Two Out Of Three - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Leased three S80 T6s in Jan, 01. Two of us would never buy one again. Quality isnt there for a car in this price range. Electronics have been terrible: numerous bulbs replaced, shorts in one car, bad seals around the headlamps, the drivers seat on one rocks during acceleration or braking. The cars have high cost of ownership: never had a visit under $500, unless it was for a recall,which weve had three or four. Mileage makes us believe this is prevelant throughout, after three years we have one with 70K, another with 55K and the last one has 45K. BTY: Consumer Reports in April of 2002 ranks the S80 and the S60 as "do not buy"!

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  Money Pit! - 2001 Volvo V70
  By pdxfamily - July 4 - 3:33 am

  Purchased this wagon just before the arrival of our 3rd child. I wanted something safe and reliable. Every 6 months were at the shop with an EXPENSIVE fix. The worst problem was the throttle body (it was eventually recalled and we were reimbursed). The car surged and stalled and you never knew when you pulled out into an intersection if the car would hesitate and threaten to stall. Each time I pay for an expensive fix, I decide to just keep the darn thing. Then, of course, another huge repair 6 months later. The most recent problem, a vibration in right front area, is apparently an axle. Last one for me - my husbands toyota costs a whopping $150/year for service/maintenance. Done with Volvo!

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  not up to par - 2001 Volvo C70
  By ttkober - May 30 - 6:23 pm

  This car was not meant to be driven on a regular basis. Every interior piece made of plastic thats almost the whole interior has fallen off or craked off since purchased. including drivers mirrors. shade visors dashboard lower panels , door moldings . In addition the transmission has has to be adjusted on a regular basis. the wheels are in constant need of refubishing to to being to thin to deal with winter pot holes in NY , finally threw them away and got sturdire stell wheels and hub caps not pretty but saves on blown tires. about 8 in three years at 65 per tire . I may keep the car as a subday toy for the kids but will probably go back to the Cadillac that I previosly had. Oh the AC CD pl

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  Theres a sucker born - 2000 Volvo S70
  By jackal11 - May 27 - 2:00 am

  There is a good reason why this dog is on the Consumer Reports "watch out" list and its because the car has major defects. In my case the electrical system ran the battery down, six times in one year. Volvo couldnt fix it and kept putting in new batteries, I finally disconnected the nifty after blower and that fixed it...

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  Lemon Alert - 1999 Volvo S80
  By jennifer - May 26 - 4:36 pm

  I bought this car right after my Son was born because I wanted a safe, spacious and comfortable car. 2 days later it wouldnt start and its been in and out of the shop over 10 times since. I have poured thousands and thousands of dollars into it and it continues to have more and more things wrong with it. I just last week had a new transmission put in and it has about 6 new things that need to be repaired. There is constantly an emission light/ check engine/service required light on and no one can ever seem to fix it for more than a few days. It has been one heartache after another. I would not recommend this car for anyone who wants to remain sane.

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  Made Me Crazy! - 2001 Volvo C70
  By Shannan - May 3 - 10:00 am

  This was the most annoying car I have EVER driven. It would NOT stay on the road (and I got it virtually new). It was downright dangerous. With the top down you could not have a conversation with a companion. It was incredibly loud. The cup holders are the flimsiest things. This sounds petty, but after you have spilled a few drinks while cornering it ceases to be trivial. The top is stunningly slow to put up and down and can be cranky. Aside from all this... it is hard to make the carefree feeling of convertible driving mesh with the ultra conservative reputation of a Volvo. There is a reason they do not make them in 2002. Good decision.

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  Worst driving car Ive ever owned - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Bandit1 - April 30 - 1:46 pm

  We had a 1998 S70 and loved it so much that we decided to upgrade to a 2001 V70 T5. What a mistake. I hate driving this car. The adaptive transmission never reacts the way you want it to. When you come to a stop, the transmission shifts to neutral (fuel saving feature). But when youre ready to go, you have to wait for the car to get back in gear before you start moving. Dealership has reprogrammed the transmission 3 times with no improvement. Press the accelerator and nothing happens. Press it more, and the car lurches forward. Volvo customer service told me "we sell lots of cars so it must not be a problem." LAST VOLVO ILL EVER OWN.

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  beware of the S-80 - 1999 Volvo S80
  By J Morgan - April 26 - 5:33 am

  I just traded in my S-80 on an Acura. I will not own another Volvo. The S-80 was wonderful when it ran but was the most unreliable car I have owned. In 36 months, I had over 20 problems over and above scheduled maintenance. Most seemed to be related to computer problems, and fuel pumps. The car would die at inopportune times. Sometimes it would restart - sometimes not. I lost faith in what should have been a premium automobile.

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  Is it the dealer or is it the car??? - 2001 Volvo S80
  By Hokie in NC - April 9 - 10:00 am

  I bought my S80 in 2001. The stereo leaves something to be desired. It drove great for the first 20K miles, but then the problems started. I have it in the shop AT LEAST once a month for repairs (mainly light bulbs). The scheduled maintenance is ridiculously expensive – almost $300 for an oil change!!! I have had a ton of problems with the Dealer in New Bern, North Carolina – ranging from rude treatment to incompetent repairs. To make matters worse, the car is starting to “loosen up.” At 45K miles, the car feels as old as my 200K mile Toyota I traded in for it! Don’t even think about this car unless you have extra money to burn!