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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  Over 40k miles - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By 04silverado - March 1 - 5:17 am

  I purchased my 3.2 AWD with 22k miles when it was two years old. I have since put about 45k miles on it. What repairs have I done? Only one thing that I can think of besides brakes and tires. An emissions pump. I consider one repair outside of maintenance in almost 70k miles acceptable. Because of its weight if you drive aggressively expect it to eat brakes and tires and gas mileage to be in the teens. The original Pirellis had to be replaced shortly after I bought it because they were worn out. I put Sumitomos on it and have yet to replace them with over 40k miles. I do a pretty even mix of city/highway driving. I anticipate getting another year (15/20k miles) out of them.

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  good wagon - 2005 Volvo XC70
  By spotbearsd - February 26 - 8:03 pm

  Great deal w/ end of year discounts. A nice wagon w/ few faults. Ive been very happy in the last few months. Only had to go into dealer for a loose suspension part and was given a loaner. Pirelli tires tramline on concrete freeways.. no real option to swap out due to odd size.

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  Disappointed! - 2001 Volvo S40
  By Malinda - February 26 - 6:00 am

  My dad gave me this car after my mom drove it for a while. Its really great looking but I constantly had problems with it. The warranty never covered anything except my alternator, and it sat at the dealer for 1 month before it could be fixed. The check engine/service lights on constantly. Brakes and tires wore out way too early. I tried to trade in and was only offered $2500 for it (the AC finally went out and it was way too much to fix it). Literally in the shop once a month. The guys at the dealership know me on a first-name basis b/c Im there so much! Too bad, but its so cute on the outside! And the cupholder? Seriously? You have to take out your drink to change CDs!

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  Run or youll be walking - 2000 Volvo V70
  By JTB - February 23 - 7:16 pm

  Looks arent everything, unless you have one; towed 11 times. Axle bearings, transfer case, turbo oil leak 4x, etc. Pricey with high cost to maintain: Tires & brakes ~15k. Stranded my wife and little girl more than once. Not the volvo our parents had, but what do you expect from a company owned by ford? Would not buy another.

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  Beware of 99 S80 T6 - 1999 Volvo S80
  By jjc - February 23 - 12:50 am

  Have had three transmissions in three years, new mass air flow meter, five wheel alignments (wont stay aligned), transmission line solenoids, torque mount bushings, several transmission software fixes, lower ball joints, and other relatively minor problems -- all from Volvos flagship sedan. Am now facing a $900 bill for a new electronic throttle module.

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  Tried to lease from many dealers and failed - 2017 Volvo XC90
  By Manny Fernandez, Jr. - February 21 - 6:55 pm

  The dealerships are not very aggressive in selling their vehicles. They seem to have little to no wiggle room when it comes to leases. While the Volvo Corp website listed lease deals for the hybrid no one I contacted was interested in getting the car for me. It was what they had on their lot. I was really surprised at their kind of caviler attitude. The car is definitely interesting but not an inexpensive lease. Again I asked several times at more than 5 dealers if they would get me the car that Corporate was advertising and the answer was we would have to search. I would never hear back..... Must be nice!

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  Some issues - 2009 Volvo XC90
  By KEN MORRELL - February 9 - 8:23 am

  The XC90 looks beautiful. However, its not the most comfortable car to drive in. Theres not too much room in the front for the driver and passenger. At 14,000 I already needed a wheel alignment which is not covered. Also I had problems which needed service on the drivers side chair as well as indicator lights going off on the dash board for no apparent reason. After one year, Im looking to trade the vehicle in for a SUV that gets better gas mileage. This SUV consumes gas like I consume beer.

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  Stealth deal. - 2015 Volvo XC60
  By Guido Smet - February 8 - 11:05 pm

  This car is unkown to many it seems and does not get many reviews, but I would buy another one in a heartbeat. Awesome drivers car, great brakes, excellent steering feedback, and deceptively fast. Compared to BMW and Audi, this one is the way to go. Easily $5-8K less expensive, and has been very reliable. Great dealer support. Compared to my friends with Mercedes and BMWs, I am a happy camper! At 63K miles still trouble-free and very happy with this car. The 3.2 liter 6 cylinder is awesome.

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  lower front seats - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By Kirbart - February 7 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle BUT the front seats r up to high and not much leg room in back. A/C not that cold.

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  Enjoying my 850 Turbo-starting to worry - 1996 Volvo 850
  By TomH - February 3 - 2:00 am

  I bought my car 1 year old from the dealer. I had all scheduled maint. done at the dealer. I have been very happy with reliability for the past 5 years. It now has 73K miles and I am having to do some major maint. that is very expensive. New engine mounts (known to go bad), new struts, shocks, brake rotors, radiator, dented rim. Roads are rough around Dallas and I drive it hard, it just seems like a major overhaul. I was going to trade it but decided to do the repairs and hope to keep it for another two years/25K mi.