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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  A feminine critique!! - 2004 Volvo S60
  By lkscott - March 27 - 10:00 am

  Wow! What a fun car. Love the acceleration. Have trouble with back- firing when shifting around 3500 RPMs told by Volvo that this is normal variant of the vehicle with standard trans---with 300 HP why would you have an automatic!! The Black sapphire looks sharp. Was worried about the blue interior--but it is eye catching with the blue weave. Love It!!

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  2004 Volvo S60 R - 2004 Volvo S60
  By cpbarton - March 27 - 10:00 am

  The S60 R is an owners delight. Performance is the most important aspect, 295 lb/ft of torque throw you back in your seat. The three chassis settings add versatility that few other cars in this price class can match (Advanced is great for right-lane interstate passing). 120 mph is smooth & quiet. The brakes are perfectly smooth & effective, not to mention good looking. The metalic blue interior gauges look great, especially at night. And with all of the sportiness, you still get a luxurious, safe, practical, understated (adult) car.

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  good suv - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By nac - March 27 - 10:00 am

  impressed with fit and finish . I am not really into sound systems but truely and excellent sound system ( no tape just cd ). Lag of turbo takes alittle getting use to and view outside (sideview) not great .Very solid ride especially in the rain and very easy to fold and adjust seats. Climate controls alittle awkward but work well. Needs more center storage in front ( very good storage in back ) compared to acura mdx, i am sure the engine in the acura is better but the material inside the acura are cheesey and overall the folddown split rear seat is much nicer. Acura dealer in this area was rude to say the least.

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  Its a looker...for a wagon! - 2009 Volvo V50
  By Joel in Germany - March 23 - 3:23 am

  I drive it on the Autobahn in Europe, my normal speed...100 - 115 mph. It has plenty of power, comfortable seating, plenty of cargo room...it is what it is...a sportswagon. I purchased a few extras for it that you cant get in the states to include the color. Great experience with Volvo! Nice car! It replaced my 2002 Mini Cooper. I hope to have this Volvo for years to come!

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  Awesome car - 2009 Volvo S40
  By V.N - March 22 - 12:36 am

  Many people may think Volvo is all about their safety, although i was very impressed when i first bought my car and took it home from the dealership, my dad was also impressed being our 2nd Volvo we have bought, being 17 and first getting this car is excellent

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  VW Lover Falls for Volvo - 2008 Volvo S40
  By atmf96 - March 20 - 12:50 pm

  I recently bought my first Volvo in Dec 08. This car is absolutely gorgeous, both inside and out. The exterior lines are very clean, and smooth. It gives the vehicle a sleek design, even sporty. It is easy to appreciate from all angles. And the interior is extremely comfortable. Leather seats are very soft and smooth, slightly fitted on the sides so you fit nice and snug. The layout of the console is simple yet robust. There isnt an abundance of knobs and dials to confuse you. In addition to great looks, the car drives great. Its very quiet at highway speeds, and the hi-performance audio sounds great. If youre looking for a sporty sedan, with clean looks inside and out, this is for you.

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  Love those Volvos - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Rosey - March 18 - 7:43 am

  This XC90 is my third Volvo. I bought a new 1993 850 and put 200,000 miles on it without issue and sold it for what I thought was good money; $7500. I then bought a Lexus LS 400, which was beautiful but I just didnt feel as safe in it as the Volvo. I also spent much more servicing the Lexus. So, I bought a 1999 S80. I loved that car until my job determined I needed more space for samples. So, I bought a 2003 Ford Expedition... What was I thinking... Huge... Huge gas bills... after 10,000 miles... it was a truck... Why did I ever think Id be anything but a Volvo man for life. Volvo, you keep building them and Ill keep buying them. Im crazy about my XC90!

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  Problem free - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Marin - March 16 - 4:03 am

  Best car Ive ever owned. Superb for long trips. The only problem I have had is that the radio wont keep its settings. Others complain about headlight life, but mine were upgraded as part of a recall and have been trouble free. The interior has held up very well and people still complement the exterior styling. Obtain 22 mpg in mixed driving, 26+ on the highway. Replaced tires at 43,000 miles.

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  First of many Volvos - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By JessH.CO - March 15 - 3:50 pm

  We bought our XC60 a few weeks ago and WE LOVE IT! We researched nearly every midsize SUV in the market (Acura RDX, VW, Nissan, Infiniti, Subaru, Jeep, Honda, GMC, Mazda, Lincoln, Lexus, Audi, Mercedes) and we always kept comparing them to the Volvo XC60. We love everything about this car! We went with the T6 w. climate, premium, & convenience packages. We love the power and responsiveness of the T6. Other SUVs we looked at had an annoying turbo lag. The fuel economy isnt fantastic but we knew that going in and it hasnt disappointed. On a long road trip we average 22 MPG. This is our first Volvo and I know that it wont be our last!

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  Great T5!! - 2002 Volvo V70
  By jeffandr100 - March 13 - 10:00 am

  Sport trimmed seats were definitely appreciated in the T5 as the side bolsters are much better than the standard seats (just take a curve quickly in a v70 with standard seats and compare). 17" rims/tires were a very decent deal for $500 extra (compare to buying this aftermarket). Safety features much appreciated. Dynamic stability control was a must when I made this purchase, great for peace of mind in wet driving. Seemingly very stable, stiff chassis. Wife loves it.