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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  Fabulous, fun, fantastic!!! - 2005 Volvo V50
  By Ann Marie - November 22 - 8:53 am

  You are missing out if you dont drive the new Volvo V50--its pickup is great, the upgraded Bose sound-system is a must-have for any driver. Its also very easy to park, and has excellent dimensions for trips to Home Depot and picking up bigger items.

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  Better than expected - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By MKMVA - November 22 - 6:46 am

  When we purchased the XC90, we did not plan on moving and having to maintain 2 households 300 miles apart. We have already put 24k miles on our XC90 and have not had one problem. The fuel economy has been wonderful! Better than expected. Our navigation system has been a life saver in our new city. With 3 boys. We needed a comfortable and safe ride. This car has fit the bill.

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  V70 2.5T Wagon - 2005 Volvo V70
  By Jude - November 20 - 1:36 am

  This is our second V70, we had the first for 4 years. Purchased the first wagon used, had minor issue with brakes, oxygen senor however nothing major. Our second V70, 2005 wagon purchased it used, great car, looks and drives great.

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  Just Purchased - 2008 Volvo S40
  By ericp - November 19 - 10:53 pm

  I just purchased my S40 in Feb 09. I never thought of owning a Volvo but the dealer had this silver brand new 08, the sticker was $27,400. They let it go for $19,000 so how could I refuse. So far it is a very enjoyable car. Simple and very strong! I wish it had about 20 more HP, however it still is a wonderful car.

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  Awesome car to drive and looks great - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Steves36 - November 16 - 11:00 am

  We bought this the last month and just love it. We opted for all options and used Edmunds for the quote... Wow what a nice feeling buying a car without hassle. The car drives like a champ with the sport package, makes great turns and has good pickup. Back seats are OK, but could be a little bigger but my wife still car pools with 3 people. The warranty cant be beat and to include all routine stuff is great compaired to what we got with my car (Ford). If I had to do it all over again I would without thinking. Its an awesome car at an awesome price

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  Love my S60 2.5T - 2005 Volvo S60
  By Ronee - November 16 - 5:00 am

  Handled like a dream on the Autobahn. Back in the states, on our "POOR" roads and weather conditions, the S60 2.5T holds the road. For a car with a short wheel base, one hardly feels the bumps. I would recomend this car to anyone at any age. Volvos slogan- "Volvo for Life" is right, its the only brand I will ever own.

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  v-40 - 2003 Volvo V40
  By Patwest - November 15 - 10:00 am

  It is almost as heavy as my old 95 850T (which had 210000 on it). Handles like a larger car. It has a lot of zip with the turbo engine. It U-turns in 3 lanes. Plenty of room for a bike, wheelchair, or lots of luggage. Middle seat is short, but not as bad as some compact wagons.

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  S60R, 5 spd auto - 2004 Volvo S60
  By calberry - November 15 - 10:00 am

  Ive only owned this car for a month but so far its a hoot. It looks great, performs great and is a joy to drive. I have the 5 spd auto transmission and consquently there is noticeable turbo lag. Under accerleration it is hard to drive smoothly.

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  Turbo wagon rating - 2002 Volvo V70
  By jthomas - November 15 - 10:00 am

  Outstanding overall quality. Only required one minor warranty service in first 18 months. Suprising fuel economy for full sized vehicle. Neat interior features for hauling dogs, camping gear, etc. Integrated roof rack makes it easy to customize to carry toys. Highly recommended!!!

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  OLD VOLVO OWNERS-Your Reward is Here - 2003 Volvo S80
  By MR. BIG - November 12 - 2:00 am

  This is a fabulous automobile and quite the sleeper. It is a big sedan in the Euopean sedan tradition that uses space rather than wastes it. Performance is on par with sedans costing $15-20K more. And what boy racer in a Honda would ever expect a Volvo to blow right by them? The car handles the twisty stuff with sure-footed comfort. This is my 5th Volvo and my favortie by far. So far we only have 3,000 mi on it with no negatives. I have paid my dues with old Volvos. I am a fan. This is my reward! A pleasure to drive.