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 car, very good service - S70 T5 - 1998 Volvo S70
  By Will R - December 9 - 10:00 am

  My 98 S70 T5 has the best characteristics of the old and new. The styling is not too stodgy, and its solid, comfortable and agile. Kudos to Volvo for replacing all four door panels gratis 2 years out of warranty when the plastic liner bubbled! 56K miles and still looks like new (leather is beginning to wear, though). New front rotors, plastic engine guard, couple of bulbs, cup holder broke. I keep looking at other cars but cant rationalize getting rid of the Volvo, which fits like an old glove, even if its repair record is a bit riskier than some others. I would buy this car over the newer Volvos any day.

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  Excellent car - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By Wally - December 8 - 3:23 am

  An excellent car, firm ride. You have the feeling of being in a safe car. Goes through snow with ease. Very good handling. I recommend this car to anyone who wants a safe car. Gas mileage is a bit off and the gas tank is relatively small for a car of this size.

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  Outstanding car - 2002 Volvo S60
  By Bbear - December 7 - 10:00 am

  The car is the best Ive owned to date. Very comfortable on long road trips. Fun to drive. Lots of power. Love the styling. Id definitely purchase one again.

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  A "best buy" in its class! - 2012 Volvo S60
  By cars4fun - December 7 - 3:41 am

  I test drove a lot of cars. I mean a LOT of cars. My husband thought I was crazy, as this became a weekly thing for me to go out and test drive something. After owning the first gen Lexus RX for 12 years, I felt like a kid in a candy store, with so many cool features to explore. Since I was planning to keep the ute for bad weather and hauling stuff, I finally narrowed down my search to sporty 4 door cars. Almost bought a Volt. Then I almost bought a new 3 series. And then I went all the way back to one of the very first cars I tested, in January 2011. I wound up with a gorgeous sapphire black S60-T5. its fantastic!

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  Great car for the low cost - 2001 Volvo S40
  By Matt - December 6 - 5:06 pm

  I have had my Volvo for a couple of years now and I am getting ready to sell her (upgrade). I must say that this car was an incredible purchase, I bought the car so that I could use it as a travel car and ended up using it full time because it was such a nice car. I would recomend this vehicle to anyone that loves the luxury of nice product but does not have the money to get a BMW/Merc

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  Chose S40 over TSX - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Dewey Kinchen - December 5 - 2:53 pm

  I work for an Acura & Volvo dealership and was torn between the 05 Volvo S40 and the Acura TSX. Both have great styling. Volvo has a modern stylish interior, while the TSX has the more "Luxurious" interior. While the fit and finish of the Acura was tempting, it was the handling of the S40 that won me over. I purchased a black one with premium package and sport package. I am VERY VERY happy with my decision. Plus, with factory paid maintenance for 30,000 miles, how could I go wrong. Heck, I just have to put gas in the thing for the next 2 years.

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  I Love the Volvo S40.5 - 2004 Volvo S40
  By WFrankel - December 3 - 10:00 am

  After owning a 1986 Volvo 740 for 14 years, I drove a Ford Taurus for another 7. There is nothing like getting back into a Volvo, especially the S40.5. It may be smaller than a typical Volvo, but it is an awesome piece of machinery.

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  Jamie McBride - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By Jamie McBride - December 3 - 10:00 am

  I love my volvo. I feel so safe driving it. I have two small children and they love our car two. When they have friends stay over we have the third row seating so extra seating room. It is great. The only thing I do not like about the car is the soccer mom look of the exterior. I wish the bumper was not wrapped in the plastic look either

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  Fun for the Price! - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Doc_TCF - December 3 - 8:40 am

  Tje 2004 Volvo S60R is my wifes car and I have trouble not taking her car in the morning instead of my Lincoln Aviator! I have so much fun driving the R, that I insist on driving when my wife and I travel together. It has great acceleration with only a slight turbo lag at the start, but really starts to move in 2nd/3rd gear. The front seats are the most comfortable Ive been in. And as a young professional couple with a baby on the way, I feel great about having such a safe car as well. The AWD is also a bonus in the rainy NW. Volvo has better customer service than BMW. Only complaints are a recurring theme here: poor turning radius and the wheels scratch easliy.

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  exactly what I expected - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By kevin - December 2 - 9:23 am

  Dealer service not the greatest, but its not the cars fault. You dont have to fight the car at any time, you dont realize it weighs 4000+ pounds. Very solid but smooth feel, I think tire life will suffer. Reputation of longevity was deciding factor, I avg.18,000 - 22,000 miles per year.