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 SUV - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By ilv2laugh - July 25 - 10:30 pm

  I have owned my XC90 for two years now and I can tell you that I still LOVE it! I own the smaller engine model (T5) and I get 19.5 in the city and 26 on the highway MPG. Not bad considering any other luxury SUV gives you much less! People still stop me and tell me what a beautiful car I have. I feel very safe with my two toddlers in tow all around town.

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  Very Happy - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Michele - July 25 - 1:40 pm

  My husband and I had never owned a Volvo before this one, and we are very pleased after the first year. We chose this SUV over others after attending the NYC car show, and we also have a neighbor who highly recommended it. It is much easier to drive than the minivan I used to have, and my husband felt that the XC90 is similar to but an improvement upon his Acura MDX that is about 5 years old. We have not had to make any repairs. The navigation system is great. The backup beeper is terrific for those hidden objects behind. I would highly recommend this vehicle.

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  May be the best in the segment - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By eliseo.eugenin - July 23 - 4:03 am

  Excellent quality and performance. However, please do not buy this car if you look for fuel economy is (19 or lower). Instead you get AMAZING quality, free maintenance for 5 years (compare prices with audi, MB or acura), fun to drive and a lot of safety features that are extremely fun a useful (even that in the beginning i complain that have to many lights and warnings), stability, room and a look of extra stuff like hicht, and other accessories, really fun.

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  Lemon? - 2007 Volvo C70
  By Sharon Lewis - July 22 - 6:33 pm

  I have had nothing but trouble with this car. It began at about 3,000 miles with a new fuel injector, gas tank & line, then moved on to strange noises upon starting, broken button on seat, first the passenger window quit working, now the driver window wont stay closed. I have had it in the shop 5 times for 8 problems. I am in the process of trying to sell them back this car.

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  sweds build a nise knife - 2001 Volvo S60
  By salbfone - July 22 - 10:00 am

  nice car abit small in side, brakes to quick to grab, wish volvo had a v6, gas door does not lock, no trunk or gas release lever very annoying, radio reception not great, but besides these small but important things a very nice car with very good promise.

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  Surprise Vehicle - 2007 Volvo S60
  By arbitrage - July 21 - 6:40 pm

  The new Volvo S60 2.5T is a terrific vehicle. I have owned Audi 6 and Lincloln LS prior to this and have found the Volvo to be: more comfortable, better pick-up, interior design to be well built and the leather sport seats are most comfortable of any car ever driven; the exterior lines rival the Audi A 6! The only negative found is in the turning radius; otherwise this car combines significantly better safety, terrific seats and exterior design as well as any competitively priced and/or higher priced autos.

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  v70 - 2004 Volvo V70
  By pegnaderic - July 21 - 3:33 am

  Other than a very irritating noise when turning left, it is a great car.

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  nice suv - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By jaclyn - July 17 - 10:53 am

  This is our first high-end suv. I must say you get used to the creature comforts offered by this class of suv very quick. The performance is excellent, the ride is excellent for an suv, and the fit and finish is perfect. Fuel economy is okay, as we obtain an average of between 17 and 17.5. We also have a mid-priced suv, and all you need do is take a ride in each of them to see the difference. Other than scheduled service intervals, the only repair has been to a faulty cd player, and a tire vibration at 2k miles. The dealer replaced both items with new ones.

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  More fun than I expected... - 2004 Volvo S60
  By AMD - July 16 - 10:00 am

  After many weeks of test driving cars, I finally returned to my favorite Vovlo dealership to test drive a 2004 S60. As a former S40 owner, I was quite skeptical, since I had some mechanical issues with the car and the scheduled maintenance was expensive. I was trying to decide between the Volvo S60, the Audi A4, the new Acura TSX and a 2002 BMW 325i. I had tested the 2003 S60 and found it to be a little sluggish, but the 2004 was much peppier. I also like the small changes to the interior and, of course, the free scheduled maintenance. Its a fun, safe, solid car. Also, after wrangling with the dealership, I bought mine for just under invoice....

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  Couldnt be happier. - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Washout - July 16 - 10:00 am

  Build quality: excellent. 0 defects. Steering: tight and assured. Fine acceleration. Cargo capacity: plenty yet easy access to extra seats. My mileage: 22 Highway 15 City. Interior materials feel solid, even the fake wood feels good. Control layout: intuitive and clear. Turning circle is too large. Smooth transmission, way better than T6. Considered the X5, but I couldnt be happier. Oddly crappy radio reception.