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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  Great Car! - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Jay W - December 1 - 1:10 pm

  Hands down, this is the best car Ive ever owned. Im a college student who does his own Preventative Maintenance & turns his own wrenches: Volvos: easy to work on, rugged, simple. Dont listen to the [non-permissible content removed] get gouged at dealerships. [non-permissible content removed].

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  Liked it so much, I bought another! - 2008 Volvo C70
  By 4mercoachrick - November 29 - 6:13 am

  We enjoyed our 08 C70 so much, we just purchased the slightly updated 2011 model. We kept the 08 for 3 1/2 years and just under 30K miles. It was never in the shop for anything other than scheduled maintenance and one warped brake rotor. The key-fob seat memory was a little balky...more of a nuisance than anything. Our avg mpg was 23ish for the total period, highway mileage was closer to 30 when we were trying to watch it. After owning the 04 ragtop version of the C70, the 08 was superior in almost every way. Very solid with the top up or down...no problems with the top or its operation. The FWD can get a little slippy if the driver sends too much power on slick roads, FYI.

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  Sleeper T6 - 2011 Volvo XC70
  By neilxc70 - November 27 - 2:42 pm

  A fine car. Comfy, functional, powerful, attractive, high quality, safe, and nearly a bargain compared with other "wagons". It replaced my wifes 1996 850 wagon- which I never liked-- and we bought it with European delivery for about $40k (with climate, convenience, incl taxes and license). We put about 3k mi on it in Europe and averaged, according to the display, 24.4 mi/gal. (But $140 fill ups are very painful). The mpg was a pleasant surprise considering the EPA rating (22 mpg hwy) and some of the reviews. Effortless cruising at 200 kph on the Autobahn. Overall, almost as impressive as my BMW 335i E92 but theyre much different beasts.

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  great used car value - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By pete - November 26 - 7:53 am

  I bought a 06 in 2013 and drove it 2 years before rear ending someone. The car fell apart as it should have but kept us all safe. It was a great road trip car being very comfortable and managed to hold camping gear for a family of four. Be ready to find an independent mechanic to fix some moderate to expensive repairs but this is a great car.

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  The Tank - 1997 Volvo 960
  By Tool Man - November 24 - 10:00 am

  Great engine, seats, stereo, turning radius, build quality, looks, interior and trunk space. Dealer service is expensive. Sunroof repaired twice, Neutral start switch replaced and bushings in suspension - both $400 each. Brakes wear very quickly. Have to replace rotors, Volvo doesnt recommend turning. Expensive. Heater core replaced @ 65k. expensive!! Maybe shes gotten through her mid-life crisis so to speak and will be good for another 200k.

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  Solid and Staid - 2001 Volvo S80
  By jlgcpa - November 24 - 10:00 am

  Terrible radio. Cumbersome to use, reception is the worst I have ever had in 50 years of driving. Turning circle too wide. Service is expensive at dealer, I get apprehensive when the bill is prepared. I wish I could get those billing rates. Memory seat has amnesia or Alzheimers. Trip computer needs a timer.

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  volvo - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By jamaras - November 24 - 10:00 am

  The volvo has its unique way of style. The comfort and fun to drive stability is great. For winter--an every day driveable vehicle. Its tough, has enough horsepower to push its way out of traffic, although it still seems to make fun of driving know matter what condition.

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  Volvo V-8 - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By Dave - November 22 - 6:36 pm

  My new XC-90 V-8 is a terrific vehicle. The ride is smooth & comfortable. Power from the V-8 makes driving fun. Volvo has the most comfortable seats in the business. Gas mileage has been decent at an average of 17.5-18.5 mpg in mixed local driving. This is better than my previous Ford Explorer V-8 (16.5-17.5) & my friends 6 cyl XC-90. The steering is a bit lighter than I would like, but handling is crisp. The new blind spot warning system is very helpful on the highway. All in all, a great vehicle.

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  Volvo V70 1998 - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Rose McG - November 18 - 10:00 am

  Love the safety and feeling of driving a tank. Very comfortable to drive long distances. Seat belts have been replaced in two seats! Replacing light/bulbs is a very common thing, very annoying. Driver Power window button had to be replaced, back seat is broken now; too many "little" but important knobs and lights had to be replaced. Other cars Ived owned, had never this experience!

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  good, bad and ugly - 2001 Volvo S80
  By ronia1 - November 7 - 3:56 am

  i sometimes refer to my S80 as my $40,000 bucket o bolts, but i was spoiled by my 94 960 sdn with 170000 trouble free miles. the S80 is gorgeous BUT: both struts noisy (mind you at 60K miles; that may be their life span), head seal leaking, sunroof noisy when opened because suspension is SO tight, windows squeak when going down (always on pass side, sometimes on driver side), and the finish put on plastic panels inside scratches...but I love Volvo!!!