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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  No regrets! - 2001 Volvo V70
  By italophile - September 15 - 2:00 am

  We purchased this car used. It had 6K miles on it, and had been used as a rental. We bought it at significant savings, and because it had been used for part of the year, we were able to get the "extended warranty" for certified used cars. We have never had to invoke any warranty repair. The car has performed beautifully. The mileage is impressive for such a large car. Plenty of pick up to be had without the Turbo. Having previously driven a compact car, I can tell you I had no trouble adjusting to this one. It is easy to maneuver.

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  Great Car - 2001 Volvo S60
  By das2ski - September 15 - 2:00 am

  I have been very happy with the performance and reliability of this car! Very comfertable for long drives and sporty enough for fun on the back roads. I always get two positive comments from passengers. "These seats are amazing" and "this thing takes off!!!"

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  Great Little Wagon - 2006 Volvo V50
  By jjholmgr - September 14 - 5:36 pm

  Worth a look if you need a flexible vehicle for a small family. Power is solid even with auto although doesnt "feel" as quick as I expected. Seats are super comfortable. New cloth/suede material is very nice and seems to be more durable than old Volvo cloth/vinyl interiors. Gas tank is a little small compared to other Volvos but we average 27 mpg in mixed driving, best was 30. We already have snow on the ground and the DTSC keeps it sure footed even without AWD--Im not convinced it is worth the extra plus you loss mpg.

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  still love this car . . . - 2005 Volvo S40
  By smb83 - September 12 - 12:03 am

  I have had this car almost two years and am still very happy. 28-30 mpg consistently. No problems, just in for software upgrade on radio one time. Easy and fun to drive; great on highway and around town; great in snow and rain. Very happy, will definitely buy another S40 when ready to trade. Love my S40.

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  My Baby - 2002 Volvo S40
  By punkin2514 - September 9 - 10:00 am

  I am 25 years old and this is the first car that I have purchased on my own. It is a perfect introduction to Volvos line of cars. I started looking at cars in the Honda price range and made the mistake of test driving the S40. I fell in love with my car and got it loaded with all the whistles and bells. I havent had any problems except for a rattle in the front "fixed" headrests that luckily are covered under warranty. I would recomend that people take advantage of the internet for bargaining and pricing the car that they want. I ended up saving over $800 by purchasing in Tacoma and paid just below the Edmunds TMV price.

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  My First Volvo - 2004 Volvo V70
  By First Volvo - September 9 - 10:00 am

  Finally ditched the mini van (and all the squeaks, rattles, etc) and stepped up to the 2004 Volvo V70. Purchased the 2.4 Automatic, with Premium Package and Integrated Booster seats for my wife. She loves the car (and never lets me drive it!). Weve been on 1 road trip, with 4 adults, and everything fit fine, seating was comfortable, got great gas mileage. Best feature without a doubt is the integrated child booster seats. Love the heated seats!

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  Finally Got One - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Kirk Frady - September 9 - 10:00 am

  After 6 long months of waiting, we finally got our XC-90(2004 Model). Overall, its all the car we expected it to be and then some. The leather seats are extremely comfortable and provide adequate lumbar and under the knee support. The XC-90 handles more like a sports sedan than an SUV and takes the bumps well. Lots of safety features. Awesome vehicle. Having said all that, the XC-90 does have some minor drawbacks. First off, our Volvo dealer wasnt willing to budge on the sticker price, period. What you see is what you get. First time weve ever had to pay sticker on a car. Bottom line is....get one if you can.

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  great car - 2005 Volvo V70
  By volvolover2 - September 8 - 8:46 pm

  this is a great car. the rear leg room is a little short but it is pretty accomodating

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  First Volvo - 2008 Volvo S60
  By aikiman - September 7 - 8:46 pm

  This is my first Volvo, had an Acura and Maxima before this. Ive had this car for approx 18 mos, bought it used with 9500 miles and love it. It is built very tight and feels heavier than it is. The turbo gives it a lot of power when merging or trying to pass. Highway driving is excellent, it definitely loves to cruise. The back seat is tight, I have an 8 year old and 10 year old and I have to move the passenger seat and my seat forward for them. Quality so far is fine,front headlight washers needed new motors and the computer has had to be updated once because the immobilizer would occasionally get triggered preventing it from starting. Problem fixed but it still does it sometimes.

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  Safe and Fast - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Contaxian - September 7 - 5:00 pm

  After one initial problem with a connector for the 4C system, which was repaired very efficiently, this car is absolutely a joy to own. I put on a lot of highway mileage and am constantly surprised at the reserve of power available. Ramps and corners can be taken safely at speeds that would couse wrecks in other cars. The Canadian model comes with every option (except snow tires) that anyone needs or could want. I considered Audi, BMW and G35, but these cars just dont have the same power/safety per dollar value (the Audi and G35 are also very unattractive vehicles, in my opinion). BMW (M3)is too small, lacks 4WD, expensive to repair and more suitable for people who want snob appeal.