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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  Know where the moneys spent - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Michelle - December 19 - 8:36 am

  I really got to see where the money was spent on this car, when driving through water-logged Interstates at night in November. I could feel a tire/tires losing grip on the flooded road, but the wheel never shook. The power was taken off the hydroplaning wheel & applied to the ones still grounded. Its been in bad weather where I appreciate this car the most. I never had a problem with its pick-up/power driving through mountain passes that are so steep and windy theyre only open in the summer. Love the car. Would highly recommend it.

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  NO MORE VOLVO - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Dash - December 15 - 2:46 am

  I wish i had done my research before I bought this 2000 S80T. Its been nothing but trouble. I loved the look of the car in simply NOT RELIABLE. Volvo are very pricey cars for them to be so unreliable. I had to replace so many things and ive always maintained it so well and always dealer maintained. but im done with this company

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  Good Car - 1998 Volvo S70
  By Jeff1976 - December 12 - 3:30 pm

  This is a good car. Some people dont like it because they take it to a dealer to get it fixed which is a big mistake. Over the years I have learned to fix things on it and overall its a pretty mechanic friendly car. One of the easiest oil changes I have ever done since the oil filter is forward of the pan. I am at 155,000 mi and going strong. Im going to keep this car with me for decades more since it is safe and has a fairly timeless design. Staying ahead of maintenance is the best defense to problems. Get it checked out unless you know what to look for and you wont be suprised with killer repairs. (70k change the timing belt). They are fairly inexpensive used. Buy one!

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  Very Comfortable but Brake and Trunk Pro - 2003 Volvo S60
  By allen - December 12 - 2:26 pm

  Bought this vehicle 6 months ago - very comfortable to drive and looks great but persistent problems with brakes and trunk. After 5 attempts the dealer finally fixed the trunk alignment problem but they have decided the brake noise is just "normal" for this car. Never had a "normal" brake noise on any of my previous cars (Toyotas and Hondas) The trunk is also too small to fit my golf clubs in without taking two of them out of the bag! Finally I have a low pitched "rumble" at highway speeds that despite three attempts to get the dealer to fix is still present. Car also needs a better coin box.

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  Safe, Reliable Car - 1996 Volvo 850
  By fusnyphi - December 11 - 2:00 am

  Bought new in 1996 and maintained regularly through the dealership until the warranty expired. Now serviced by a more trustworthy independent import repair shop. Save by buying parts online. A strong, solid, dependable car (150k miles). Excellent brakes, but rotors are not durable. No significant mechanical problems.

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  After 2 months - 2010 Volvo XC90
  By 4everyoung - December 10 - 5:16 am

  Overall one of the better values in the luxury suv market (especially one with 7 seats) and in my opinion one of the better looking suvs out there even if its an older design.

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  dissappointment - 1998 Volvo S70
  By badnews - December 10 - 4:36 am

  I am disappointed in the vehicle in that every time I turn around something need repair. Thank God for the extended warranty that I bought when I purchased it, but I will get rid of it before the warranties expiration. Never again!!

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  Brake Dust - 2002 Volvo S80
  By Gatoraid - December 9 - 10:00 am

  Great looks... Brake dust is worse than my wifes s70

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  Less Than Impressed - 2001 Volvo V70
  By JJR - December 9 - 10:00 am

  Replaced a wonderful and trustworthy 91 745T Wagon, believing that Volvo wouldnt let me down, was I wrong. Volvo seems to have lost their touch with build quality. Front end noises (clunking) began at 5K, replaced ball joints, bushings, and control arms. Thermostat replaced at 10K, geartronic transmission has been problematic requiring various software patches, 8 light bulb replacements (including the rear license plate bulbs!), replaced two cargo covers that have shreaded under nominal use. The car is sluggish in hot humid weather, too much body roll in cornering for a "sport suspension", steering is ponderous and heavy.

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  Great Car... Horrible support from Volvo - 2015 Volvo XC60
  By doktor - December 8 - 11:52 am

  I purchase a 2015.5 XC-60 4 cylinder turbo charged vehicle in February. The vehicle is great... Unfortunately, Volvo support is awful. The XC-60 comes with a print manual of about 200 pages and there is an on-line manual of 400 pages. Sadly, the manuals are either wrong or incomplete for many of the features. No mention of multiple dashboards, no mention of setting mpg vs instant mpg, low pressure tire indicator directions are wrong, no mention of how to collapse the back seat.... I could go on. The arrogance: I called Volvo and the young woman told me Volvo never changes their manuals once they are printed. I asked:"even on line". No never, more than $40K: this is customer service?