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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  Bad Stereo - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By xc90owner - October 17 - 2:00 am

  I purchased a loaded XC90 T6, W/NAV, 12 speaker premium stereo and 3rd row. THE STEREO IS FLAT OUT - FLAT. There is absolutely no bass (except for a bit from the door speakers. I was told that the optional subwoofer is not a possible option with a 3rd row. After spending $48,000, it is very disappointing.

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  Bi-polar Car - 1999 Volvo S70
  By sjdrury - October 15 - 2:32 am

  Overall, being a high-school kid who has parents to pay for silly things like $1000 repairs once every few months, I love it. Sometimes the dashboard warnings light up like a Christmas tree, and other times it tells me everything is running fine. Sometimes I feel like Im in a sporty sedan, other times, I feel like Im in an old boat thats about to fall to bits. Be ready for repairs. When its running as it should, its a sportier car than you would ever guess by looking at it, and the drivers seat is a nice place to be.

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  Scrap at 75,000 miles - 2000 Volvo S80
  By r_brian - October 14 - 9:50 am

  Front a arms replaced, timing belt, and now the fly wheel became toothless. Two thousand to fix this item and the value of these cars is gone.

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  Volvo98V70AWD - 1998 Volvo V70
  By DTW - October 12 - 10:00 am

  The AWD is wonderful! It will go anywhere in bad weather. Have had to make some major repairs that I did not believe would be needed on a Volvo.

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  Electrical problems frequent - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By Rossthewrench - September 28 - 12:00 am

  We bought this wagon used, it was always serviced by Volvo, and highway driven by female doctor. The condition was showroom. One week after purchasing, the information centre packed it in. Dealer said it was out of warranty. Cost to replace roughly 1200. So we said to forget it. Next month the instrument panel shut down, no guages at all, no speedometer either. Had the local garage change battery. Was OK, now it is back again. Nothing on instrument panel again. Now we just guess how fast we are going, fill the gas tank often, and hope we are right. Oh, the airbag info light came on just after we got it, neighbour Volvo same problem No warranty. Mechanically is good car,electrics terrible.

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  45K Mile Disappointment - 2007 Volvo S40
  By jamiefg - September 21 - 3:58 pm

  I purchased a 2007 Volvo S40 for safety and design. Ive been very happy since! I just picked up my car 2 weeks after a 45K mile checkup at Volvo and was devastated to learn that I had nearly $3,000 of repairs needed. I take great care of my car and was not expecting anything other than the basic oil change and repairs at such low mileage. I am extremely disappointed at this point, and afraid of the thousands of dollars I may need to sink into my car in time. Beyond, the Volvo service team was charging me twice as much as my family mechanic - and quickly met his pricing once I brought it up. I loved my car, but I also want a company I can rely on and trust for 100K miles!

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  L-O-V-E my Volvo! - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By krysann2 - September 20 - 9:01 pm

  Purchased my 2004 XC90 in 2009 with 48k miles on it, and as of today it has 73k. Within the first year, I was smelling gasoline when outside of the vehicle. My father in-law is an expert technician for Volvo and found out that there would soon be a recall on the fuel pump- was replaced at no cost to me. I have also had to replace the ignition since one day I couldnt even turn the key over. I truly love my car, and probably wouldnt have bought it if I did not know an expert; considering the cost to maintain and repair. If I had to pay for labor and full price for parts, Id probably not love the car as much as I do.

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  non turbo wagon - 1996 Volvo 850
  By off road monster - September 20 - 2:10 pm

  I had it for about two years and so far, i had to replace the header, the catalytic converter twice, O2 sensor, the starter, a CV axle and a head lamp wiper motor. It is a some-what easy car to work on and I would be willing to try my luck with another in the future.

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  Best value for the dollar in luxery - 2007 Volvo S80
  By kryfka012 - September 19 - 4:38 pm

  I never thought i would own a volvo bc i always liked the luxury sport feeling. when i saw the volvo s80 it caught my eye, and when i test drove the v8 it had the power i wanted. with the adjustible suspension i would wip it around the turns and take of when i need to. i think this car is great and it feels like it was built with great quality to the touch and eye.

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  More of a hatchback than a wagon - 2015 Volvo V60
  By threefingr - September 9 - 8:58 am

  Ive been driving my V60 with sports package for the last 3 months and have put 5000 miles on the car. The drive is nice, though theres a noticeable hesitation after stepping on the gas. Handling and ride are very good. Its much smaller than the boxy volvo wagons of old. The back hatch is adequate for groceries or a small dog (like my mini Aussie). But forget about bikes, even with the seats down. The legroom for backseat passengers is tiny. My pre-teen kids are ok but adults would be uncomfortable. The front seats on the other hand are exceptionally comfortable. The hi-tech & eco features are spotty, especially auto engine shutoff when stopped . MPG is well below EPA estimates.