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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  Transmission exploded after one month - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By bp - April 26 - 4:16 am

  Do not buy this year xc90 under ANY circumstances. Had it one and a half months, transmission exploded. Car has low miles (45,000) and I bought the aftermarket warranty. They will not cover the loss due to a clip failure in the transmission, which fails due to a too short lube tube from the pan. Thumbs way down.

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  A little noisey for a European car - 2002 Volvo V40
  By tkreimes - April 17 - 10:00 am

  I find it overall a descent car. I like the way it looks. I had an Audi A4 in the past so I am a bit spoiled. My next car will be another A4. Dont be discouraged, if you like American cars, you will love the V40. When driving on dirt roads, the DSA system works great.

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  Avoid this car at all costs - 2000 Volvo S80
  By SadCarOwner - April 14 - 4:13 pm

  Bought this car in 5/05. So far: - Sunroof broke - SRS system broke (three different sensors needed replacement) - AC System broke - Oil Leak (Trap/Seals/Pan) - Engine Light constantly So far, about 5K in repairs for this car. Edmunds just told me that the car is worth between 6K and 8K depending on who I sell it to. These cars are pieces of junk, dont retain value, and is worth more to me if I drive it off a cliff.

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  I Love It - But Im Nervous - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By MichelleF - April 4 - 8:03 am

  Ive had my T5 for 2 1/2 years and have had no major issues. However, dealer just told me all 4 tires need replacing, and I am only at 27K miles. Also, a co-worker had one from same year as mine, and he warned me that he started having lots of expensive problems with it after 30K miles, so I am a bit nervous. I think the new V8s probably get the same gas mileage as my Turbo 5 cyl, so would recommend people just get the V8. Dont get the T6 though - the transmission is very sluggish in low gears, and I prefer the faster pick-up of my T5, though you will hear the engine hum a bit when you accelerate hard and fast.

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  2000 Volvo S80 T6 - 2000 Volvo S80
  By sujaha - March 30 - 10:00 am

  What a sweet, sweet car. Its responsive and a joy to drive. More than enough power. Supreme comfort. No major problems at all.

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  my best car - 2003 Volvo S60
  By abdulaziz - March 30 - 10:00 am

  this is my 3rd car after camaro and polo well this car my best choice and right choice to family car ever .. very safe and very strong ..

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  So far so good!!! - 2010 Volvo C30
  By Franky - March 28 - 11:40 am

  Got one of the last 2010s with the old front design. Love the car. Ride is stiff but not as stiff as my old 07 GTI. Engine is strong and satisfying, got it with a 6spd manual. Interior materials are really nice, but a little rattly (more so than girlfriends S40). Stereo and navi are superb, and everyone looks at it on the road...really unique!! No reliability issues so far, the car has a decent exhaust note, and it actually handles really well!! The seats are superb and they look great with the contrast stitching. I found the car to be sluggish with the automatic but quite powerful with the manual trans. Would buy it again if I had to do it all over.

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  Dont buy used - 1998 Volvo V70
  By $$$outthewindow - March 25 - 10:00 am

  This car has been great up untill the 70K mile mark. Now its falling apart. Ive spent $3,200. in the first half of this year. on repairs & maintenance. Check Eng. Light is a constent. problem. I have never heard of putting a new gas tank & gasket in a car before, but the service dept. said this was the reason for the check Eng. Light. Just $ 1,400. and I was on my way. They could give me no good reason why it needed to be fixed. The C.E.L. came back on 4 weeks down trhe road. This time hoses.

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  You wont know unless you ask - 2007 Volvo XC70
  By Jordan - March 13 - 2:50 am

  Had tinted windows applied after factory. My kids put the windows down. the windows would not go back up . called dealership. Had to drive to dealership (30 minutes away) in the rain... They got the windows to go back up. They told me not to put the windows down for a week. Decided to apply winter tire package. Waited 1.5 hrs in service. Cost me $1100.00. Drove 20 min away. message comes on tells me I need service on my tires. Call service, I am told they forgot to add the sensors with the tires. This, apparently, is something new and needs to be added for a price of $350.00. I tell them, Ill be back another day. I return. Wait another 1.5 hrs.. Drive 20 min. down the road and message.

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  I would do it again - 1998 Volvo S70
  By cls8888 - March 11 - 5:05 am

  I bought this car while pregnant in 98. My husband & I joked that the baby would drive it someday...and he is! My car has had the usual repairs but nothing unusual. It was garage parked for the first 8 yrs, outside for the last 7--just starting to rust around the sunroof rim. The leather delaminated from the doors within the first year & Volvo didnt cover it--peek in the windows of any 98 S70 and you will see it (thus the 3 rating for interior) Also--if anyone is pulling on the door handle when using the key fob unlock the locks will break. How did that get past Volvo engineers? Other than those 2 things and a cruddy local dealer I have been extremely pleased. No regrets at 190k mi!