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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  Great Value and Fun! - 1998 Volvo S70
  By kmagman - March 5 - 10:00 am

  I bought my current S70 on Ebay and having been holding my breath about the car for the last year. Overall, the experience has been good, but the A/C evaporator had to be changed (fortunately under warranty) and the battery had to be replaced recently. The GLT has a nice combination of turbo power with very predictable handling. Little or no turbo lag compared to turbo Saabs I have owned in the past. Interior fit and finish is a little cheap compared to Japanese cars in the same price range. I suspect the brake rotors will have to be changed soon. Be sure to service the transmission in spite of Volvos ridiculous maintenance suggestion.

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  Could be a great sports car - 2001 Volvo S60
  By IzMo - March 5 - 10:00 am

  Overall I like the car but thought it was more sports oriented than it actually is - it sure looks the part. The drive train is fine, just that the suspension is weak. I love the fit and finish, the seats are incredible and the optional sound system is the best I ever heard.

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  S60 AWD - 2002 Volvo S60
  By trusgold - March 5 - 10:00 am

  I am very satisfied with the car, one exception is I have a tough seeing out of the car. I have not seen anyone else say that but I am so suprised at the poor visibility. The other complaint, my gas milage is at about 16 mpg, but it has been hot and the a/c has been on the whole time.

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  Too many expensive repairs - 2001 Volvo S80
  By Dil - February 27 - 4:26 pm

  Ive owned this volvo since Oct. 06 and its been trouble since then. Sway bar links, turbocharger drain o-ring, breaks/rotors, 60K maintenance, and all the recalls on it. Im still waiting from the dealership about changing the Catalytic Converter, which is thankfully covered by under 80k warranty, otherwise it wouldve been $1,500 to replace it. Its a very nice car, and Ive read some positive reviews on it, but Id never expected to encounter these many problems from it. I hope theres no more trouble to see on this car because Ive already spent $3,100 on it fixing the above plus problems. This volvo didnt meet my expectation of a volvo vehicle that ive heard about in the past.

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  Solid Choice - 2009 Volvo XC70
  By A.R. - February 22 - 2:10 pm

  We bought the XC70 T6 to replace a Passat wagon that was totalled in a car crash- both kids inside. Not as sporty and fun as the Passat, but all of the practical features surpass it easily. The higher ground clearance is great for our winter climate, the AWD is reassuring and the T6 is great for hwy accelerations. As a family with two small kids, the cargo space is excellent and getting kids in/out is easier than in the lower Passat. Fuel economy could be better, but my kids safety is worth it, especially after our accident. Great interior space for tall/ leggy people too.

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  Fun car. Buggy with age. - 2005 Volvo S40
  By cygnuspix - February 21 - 8:46 am

  I have my 05 T5 (FWD) since day one - just a hair over 9 years now (and is an auto transmission, but somehow not an option here). I still love getting in to it twice a day for a 30 mile commute. The fuel economy is tough to beat, averaging 32MPG. However, it is fussy and likes to be babied to avoid issues. My fuel pressure sensor failed, causing tremendous ride issues, but no error code was generated, therefore the dealer threw up their hands at the issue, and wanted $450 parts/labor to replace it. The part is $50 on Amazon.com, and takes 1 hour to install. If you feel the car lose power or otherwise ride rough, look into changing this sensor!

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  Junk on wheels - 1998 Volvo S70
  By redoctober - February 19 - 11:16 pm

  There are not enough curse words in the world to describe how I feel about this car. Extremely unreliable and expensive to fix. Sensors broke at least 10 times. Lights burn out montly. Engine leaks. Brakes wear out twice a year. Door locks broke 3 times. Windshield fluid pump exploded. Extreme lifter noise. Battery dies twice a year. Cannot pass emissions. Repairs cost a small fortune. Even an oil change is a big deal. Windows stopped working 3 months ago, but I no longer have the money to fix it. Electric mirrors and sunroof dont work either. All this started happening right after the warrantee ran out. STAY AWAY ! ! !

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  Expensive Comfort - 2000 Volvo S80
  By JohnnyBo - February 17 - 5:23 am

  This is a great ride. Smooth and comfortable. But the mechanical reliability is horrible. I have had all the same problems reported by others here; ABS controller; throttle, sunroof, universal joints. I rarely get in and out of service for under $300. Usually much much more. Ford reliability is showing through.

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  Fun to drive! Reliable? - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By PJM - February 16 - 6:23 am

  Enjoy the comfort, handling and many features. Very disappointed with fuel economy, tire life, radio (why do we have to press Enter when it picks up a dgital station) and other problems (a/c damper motors replaced, computer module which controls head beams and tail lights - at $400/ea plus labor, I hope the other 3 last longer). Cargo space is fine.

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  Love the XC so far - 1998 Volvo V70
  By pete_427 - February 15 - 10:00 am

  We bought a used XC a year ago and so far, despite a couple nagging bulb- related problems, we really like the car. The ride and comfort are excellent, it has plenty of power, it looks fantastic, and its great in foul weather. The "check engine" light just came on and we are scheduled to have it looked into. I hope were not about to enter "check engine light" hell (as described by other reviewers). Overall a really nice car, but Ill agree not what Id have expected for $40k when new (in terms of attention to build-quality details).