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.first - 2006 Volvo S60
  By John Klinger - November 14 - 9:30 pm

  AWD provides great stability and safety in inclement weather. I love the look of the 260. Drives great. Excellent power. Great local service.

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  Good enough to buy again - 2008 Volvo XC70
  By Schubtone - November 14 - 1:40 am

  Weve had this car for just shy of two years and have always liked it much more than the auto mag reviewers. It fits our familys needs perfectly. Its my wifes daily driver and she appreciates the tank like solidity and the overall sense of quality it exudes. The front seats may be the most comfortable of any car out there, especially for long trips. We make many trips to the ski slopes a year and the AWD makes this Volvo unstoppable. The boxy interior configuration is very efficient, great for hauling all sorts of stuff. A great “does it all” vehicle. Not particularly sporty or fuel efficient but very luxurious. That’s why we’re getting another now that our lease is coming to an end.

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  Terrible can for snow weather - 2005 Volvo S60
  By newyorkgal - November 12 - 8:03 pm

  I bought the car with the sports package, what a mistake!!! I live in New York city. With all the potholes and the snow, I have already had two flat tires and two rims replaced, all in the 4 months I own the car!!! I dont recommend the sports package for anyone living in the northeast and drive on roads with a million potholes.

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  Pleasantly Surprised - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By JrDriver - November 12 - 6:10 am

  I had no idea Volvo made such a cool car. This one drives great. Good pickup, excellent handling. I would say it took me a thousand miles to feel this way about it, but I am really impressed. Even better, I bought it because it was super comfortable inside with excellent cargo space and those factors have not disappointed. We looked at a lot of cars and are thrilled that we bought the right one.

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  Worth every penny - 1998 Volvo V70
  By AlexS - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Worth every penny I paid for it. As for lowered rating for reliability (9), its due to the window that got stuck and was replaced (for free - it was still under warranty) with the motor, guides, and everything that goes with it. No other problem whatsoever.

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  RELIABILITY? - 1996 Volvo 850
  By IAN L - November 12 - 2:00 am

  EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILLS, A/C EVAP,BRAKE PROBLEMS, NOISES, RATTLES,20MPH R/F CRASH AND DASH NEVER ALIGNED THE SAME. SOME CHRG AND ELECT PROBLEMS

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  Unreliable Volvo - 2000 Volvo S80
  By proacman - November 12 - 2:00 am

  We have had this car for two years. In that span, it has broken 15 times, for items such as suspension, electrical, mechanical and ignition.

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  Perfect Car!!!!! - 2001 Volvo S40
  By dr.wildcard - November 12 - 2:00 am

  Very Great car, great engine. Perfect acceleration, easy to handle!

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  Smile on the open road - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Larry - November 11 - 9:00 am

  An enjoyable balance between an all out sports car and a family sedan. A wolf in sheeps clothing, the S60R does not have the immediate name/visual recognition of other 300 hp sedans, but the reliable and responsive turbo engine literally presses you back in the extremely comfortable seats. With respnsive AWD power and steering, the computer controlled suspension keeps the car on the road with minimum effort from the driver.

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  MOST RELIABLE VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED - 2007 Volvo S40
  By volvo84 - November 10 - 6:49 pm

  I purchased my 2007 Volvo s40 in late 2007. The vehicle had less than 5,000 miles and was in perfect condition. I have always been an import buyer yet never owning a Volvo I was a little skeptical. The i5 provides the car with more than adequate power. The acceleration was great and I never had any problem overtaking other vehicles. As the title of the review says, the s40 was literally the most reliable car I have owned. For the 3 years I owned the s40 and putting upwards of 130,000 miles on the odometer, I forgot what it was like to have my car reparied. No problems with anything other than a right front wheel bearing.