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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  Nice; car, ride, feel, some minor repair - 2002 Volvo S60
  By UofA Grad - March 14 - 11:36 am

  This car is nice. Had a few immediate problem after initial purchase. The drivers side door (inside handle) went out of commission. Since the car was certified the warranty cover it. The check engine light came on after 60,000 miles, that cost $200 to fix. The stock radio does not work well with cell phones in the car. Overall not bad, its a fun sedan to drive.

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  Terrific Vehicle! - 2008 Volvo S80
  By dstogsdill - March 13 - 12:43 am

  I picked up my 08 S80 at the end of 09. This S80 had every option that Volvo made for it in 08, including the navigation, rear dvd system, and adaptive cruise with lane departure and collision warning. The car is made for cruising and is extremely comfortable and has a solid and powerful feel. The safety features are truly advanced and work well. In fact, due in part to the BLIS and Lane departure systems, I feel my driving has actually improved. The T6 is very quick and has tremendous power in all situations. Of course, we will have to see about the reliability of all these advanced features, but so far the car has made me fall in love with Volvo!

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  not so sure about this car - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By Cleen - March 9 - 10:00 am

  Bought this car used from the local Volvo dealer. With only 38,000kms on it & half the price of a new one it seemed like a no brainer. It also came with the entertainment package & third row seating. I want to love this car. I think it is the best looking SUV out there. It handles beautifully its unassuming & overall a great family vehicle. But. I cant get over how loud the engine is, and how poorly it accelerates. Go up a slight incline it sounds like the transmission is slipping. Coming down a decline, it does the same thing and clunks into gear. It really bothers me. I keep thinking it has transmission problems. Also, at 2500 rpm it revs really loud! Its being traded in for an LR4.

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  New volvo experience - 2009 Volvo C30
  By New c30 owner - March 9 - 5:03 am

  In general I am happy with my volvo c30 purchase. The 6 spd manual is fun to drive and it does carry a sleek look that is not too common. However I am missing the rear wheel drive fun of my last vehicle (mercedes c230). Really satisfied about the 5 yr bumper- to-bumper, 5 yr maint plus wear and tear I got with this purchase.

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  The Vehicle is OK - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By Mike - March 1 - 10:23 pm

  If you really want to buy this vehicle, buy it for what Volvo is known for. (Safety) The vehicle is a smooth ride and feels like a tank.

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  Love my XC70, can be expensive though - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By James Kaufman - February 28 - 4:10 am

  My father bought the car in 2007 for about $18000 with 60,000 miles on it. Personally, I love the car; it starts every key turn and is great in the snow. If you give it enough gas she will really get moving too! clocked about 0-60 in 8 seconds, not bad for 190,000 miles that it has today. the car is also super comfortable, leather seats and heating makes any drive awesome. The issues I have with the car are that we bought it used and the repairs. The previous owner towed with the car so we needed to replace odd things like the bevel gear. Since it is so old, it needs repairs quite often which are usually several hundred dollars. In conclusion, the car is really fun to drive, safe, can be $$$

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  Very Good Car/Great Value - 2014 Volvo S60
  By darkhorse2 - February 27 - 5:15 pm

  I just picked up my S60 a few days ago after comparing quite a few cars. Audi A4, Buick Regal, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Cadillac ATS, BMW 3 series & Mercedes new A class. The Volvo was overall the best choice for me as an everyday car. It does all things well and represented a great car for the money. A bit more money than the fully loaded Ford, Buick and Honda but with better quality and features. The same feel and features of the Audi, Mercedes and Cadillac but without a higher price tag and the horrible excuse for a back seat.

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  Thank God Volvo buys back - 2004 Volvo S40
  By david047 - February 22 - 10:00 am

  Had the car less than 2 days and Volvo still cant figure out what is wrong with this thing. This is my second Volvo , 850 turbo was the first, a better car but Ford didnt own them then. They are currently replacing the whole emission system. At least the dealer Buys back or replaces which is where I am at the moment.

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  Versatile, fun, well-constructed........ - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By DJCA - February 22 - 10:00 am

  We use our thrid row seats infrequently, but when we do....sure nice to have. The vehicle is solid as a rock, it drives very car-like and the engine is spirited, though it probably could use another 25hp. I wish we had purchased the navigation system.....would have been a fun accessory. The sound system is amazingly good once programmed, but trust me, to unlock all of the audio features you have to spend 2 hours on the setup.

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  Shame on Volvo makers - 2000 Volvo S40
  By displeased - February 20 - 10:00 am

  This is the worse vehicle purchase of my entire life. the constant visits to the shop, brakes replacement, engine light comes on, noises in the dash. Constant replacment of the seals for oil problems, headlight replacements. being impressed with volvos reputation made me purchase this car, but Volvo has really let consumers down on this model. Save yourself time and money, and move on to a better car purchase. The only great thing is the dealership is very kind they give you a loaner to drive until your vehicle is finish.