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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  Volvo is Value! - 2007 Volvo S80
  By Best Car For Money! - October 6 - 4:00 am

  Wow, is all I keep telling myself. I picked up a loaded S80 3.2L on a 24 month lease and LOVE IT! I had a 1999 S80, and after many issues with that car, I looked to Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes. After test driving the 2007 S80 and comparing it to the competition, the S80 was the best car for the money. It drives like a dream and the amenities are endless. It is simple, elegant, easy to use, and sooo sexy! Only wish she was a bit faster - but dealership says there will be a software upgrade for the lag. Simply the best! Already have 3,000 miles - no problems!

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  Volvo S40 - 2003 model - 2003 Volvo S40
  By Cindy - October 6 - 12:03 am

  Have owned this car for 2 years. Excellent road car, great around town. A/C is exceptional, esp. for Texas heat. Turning radius is typical Volvo - turns on a dime. Love the car!

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  XC 60 is a First Class Vehicle - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By Ed Knodle - October 5 - 12:46 pm

  Our purchase of the xc60 was after 6 months of research and evaluation on practically every SUV from all manufacturers. This is our fourth Volvo in the past 20 years and we can say that the thought and attention to detail that goes into a Volvo is top notch. We traded in our ten year old S80 T6 for this car and the XC60 outshines the S80 in every respect, comfort, fit and finish, performance, and yes the mpg is comparable. MPG is a weakness but not disqualifying when compared to similar engine and drivetrain configurations. The 3.2 version improves the mpg but at the expense of power. In summary Volvo has come up with a winner.

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  Great car with just a couple of concerns - 2004 Volvo S60
  By NYT-GB - October 4 - 10:00 am

  The S60AWD is a rewarding and enjoyable car. The Australian spec AWD is well equipped. However, the standard 45 series tyres make the ride rougher than a billy cart ! 50 series tyres are better but, the ride is still not as good as the X-Type Jaguar. Nonetheless, the more I drive the S60AWD the more fun I have. Performance and handling are exceptional providing safety and excitement. Build quality is first rate and fuel consumption better than expected - 26 mpg (imperial) around town and over 31 touring. Beware of flare in the 2nd-3rd gear change. Dealers can reduce the flare but Volvo really need to develop a permanent fix. Well worth a test drive.

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  My S60R - 2004 Volvo S60
  By LA S60R - October 4 - 10:00 am

  Great stealth performer. Picked the S60R over the 04 Acura TL for the 300 HP and 4 wheel drive. Had to bargain hard with the dealers for the car and a little difficult to find. Love the 6 spd. manual. Looked at the GPS, but not worth the price for the functionality I saw.

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  Good Golly Miss Molly - 2004 Volvo S40
  By Lance - October 4 - 10:00 am

  Just purchased the T5 for my wife who initially wanted the 2.4i, however after test driving the T5, took me no effort to sell her on it. Dollar for dollar, far superior than BMW 3 series, and AUDI A4. Classy and sporty design inside and out. So far, no complaints just reassurance that we made the right decision. Car gets better everyday.

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  xc90 - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By dennis cuocco - October 4 - 10:00 am

  The Volvo XC90 T6AWD is what a SUV ought to be. Comfort, performance, duribility and price coupled with excellent safety features far exceed what other manufactures can offer. You can spend a lot more money for a similar type of vehicle and you can not buy a much better SUV.

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  Has been great for me! - 2004 Volvo S80
  By Jim - September 30 - 2:16 pm

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  Volvo Experience - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By Eric Burnette - September 30 - 5:30 am

  Quality construction, great reliability, excellent acceleration, eye catching design, only the Cayenne can compare (exterior design). Improve stereo sound quality (lacks richness and depth). Interior functionality (design, seats, storage, cupholders, tailgate) is genius, spartan in an exquisite sort of way. No wasted electronic frills, paint quality is superior, braking exceeds expectations. Lives up to the Volvo name and tradition.

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  Unique and fabulous - 2008 Volvo C30
  By rwisem - September 30 - 4:36 am

  Fell in love with the design and the test drive clinched the deal. Ordered custom built. Terrific to drive, comfortable and quiet, but is a tiger when you step on it. The sound system may be the best stereo Ive ever owned and I dont have the 10 speaker Dynaudio set up