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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  excellent all round performance - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By pete - November 23 - 4:53 am

  I have used this vehicle on the school run as well as on long distance trips overseas in Europe. The comfort reliability and ability on and offroad is exceptional. A recent trip to france with 6 people luggage and 12 cases of champagne proves that this is really in a class of its own. Our Mercedes SUV and X5 dont come near in comfort and drive quality. Lastly, the interior space is unbelievable in the XC90.

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  Huge Repair Costs - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Brian - November 22 - 6:50 am

  I really enjoyed the car up until the 60k mile mark. The car slowly began to fall apart. I seemed to have had a $2K+ problem every few months. Every time I thought nothing else could go wrong, it did. I really figured the car was practically new from all the dealer repair visits. Lastly, after the transmission went (repairs exceeding $12k in a 3yr period) it was time to call it quits.

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  This is not Your Fathers Volvo ! - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Larry A - November 21 - 10:00 am

  The first thing that caught my attention was the fit, feel, and comfort of the seats. The side bolsters just beg you “drive the car”. It’s got to be the sleeper car of the decade. Was at 80 mph in second gear before the end of the entrance ramp. It’s the first time I ever had to slow down to merge onto the I-state. Turbo provides a solid kick in the pants with very little lag. Makes driving FUN. Blue gauges, aluminum accents, and blue stitching are sharp. Salesman said it would seem there was always someones bumper in your face and he was right. This is not your father’s Volvo – it’s my wife’s!

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  Love it - Love it - Love it! - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By arrowmm - November 21 - 10:00 am

  Such a great car! Did alot of research - Edmunds really helped. The child seat was my weakness. My son is 3 and cant use it till 4. I noticed how well worth it it was the first 5:00 am I drove to work. xenon headlights made a big difference and the handling on LA freeways was so comforting - coming from an explorer HUGE difference. Worth every penny.

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  Hmmmm - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Leeroy - November 21 - 10:00 am

  The styling and creature comforts in the XC90 are outstanding. For an SUV, the fuel economy is pretty good at an average 18.5 MPG in combined city and hiway driving. The engine and road noise are almost non-existant. We took it cross country from Louisiana to Washington State (2700 miles)loaded. It got a flat 20 mpg fighting a head wind and 93 degree temp. with the AC fully engaged across the State of Texas. In Colorado it saw mountain passes at 11,000 feet in elevation. The winding mountain roads were a testament to the nimble handling abilities of the XC90 as well as the powerful twin turbos when throttled at highway speeds. Overall review - excellent.

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  An Excellent Vehicle - 2012 Volvo XC60
  By beagleguy - November 18 - 12:54 am

  This vehicle was delivered just over two months ago. I am very satisfied with it to date. Before purchasing it I considered the Acura RDX, Audi Q 5, BMW X3, and Mercedes GLK. I decided on the XC60 as having the best combination of style, features and performance. As I live in an area where winters can be severe AWD was a given. That being the case, when similarly equipped, the price difference and fuel consumption between the 3.2 and the T6 are not that great. Given other comments Ive seen this was a wise choice. I would not hesitate to recommend to XC 60 for anyone in the market for this class of vehicle.

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  Worth the price - 2006 Volvo V50
  By J.Smeriglio - November 17 - 11:50 am

  The 2006 V-50 is an excellent every day driver. I put 150-200 miles per day on this vehicle and have not had any major complaints other than the complete battery failure at 51,000 miles (a $200 replacement at volvo). I have noticed 26-28 mpg consistently at 70 mph cruising speed. Excellent steering response, excellent brakes, and very comfortable driver seating. I would absolutely purchase this car again.

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  5 Years and still purring - 2001 Volvo S40
  By Tim - November 17 - 4:53 am

  I have owned a 2001 Volvo S40 for over 5 years now, and it is still runs the same as when I drover her off the lot. The car has a great interior, is fun to drive, and is the best value for its price range. It was cheaper than the BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Acura equivalents and comparable in features. It may not turn the eyes as much as an Audi, but it is a rock solid car. I had a friend that bought a 2001 Audi A4 Quattro that has been in the shop 10 times more than my car.

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  2004 XC90 T6 - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Andy - November 16 - 2:23 pm

  I purchased this car used in 2006 for my wife. It is a great family suv. My wife does not like large vehicles and the XC90 has been an easy adjustment for her, It drives more like a car than truck or big SUV. The pros of the XC90 are a good ride, good handling, and a comfortable interior. The cons of this vehicle are poor fuel economy (16mpg city 21mpg hwy) combined with a small gas tank. The range on the XC90 is about 300-350 miles.

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  Raider - 2008 Volvo S60
  By JimeeWho - November 15 - 12:46 am

  Second Volvo, sporty fun, acceleration is not fast off-the-line, but watch out when turbo kicks in. This vehicle gets-it at 40 to 90mph. Performance its there. Doesnt have all the bells and whistles of a Lexus, but who wants that? Thats for mom and grandma.