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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  Luv my swingn "SWED" S40 - 2006 Volvo S40
  By Grant - November 8 - 2:43 pm

  My wife and I bought our S40 in dec05 we have had a blast driving this car. we have had no problems just big smiles. The S40 gives a touch of class to the moderate spender. my wife drives it as her daily comuter and feels the Volvo sense of safety and good looks give this one a big thumbs up. Having had toyotas and Hondas all our lives this ones a step in a different direction, you will feel the european touch inside and out. As you wind through the canyons or comute on the freeway the sense of a high dollar sports car is what you get, without the price tag. We now have that car that sits in that driveway that gets the looks, you know the one its the Volvo S40. Oh thats right its mine!

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  Blood-Blooded Arrow! - 2015 Volvo XC60
  By Grama Jean - November 5 - 8:47 pm

  Purchased my 2015.5 Volvo XC60 in December 2015 as a dealer demonstrator with low miles and Volvo Certified. Absolutely love this vehicle! I had narrowed my search to a Acura RDX or the Volvo XC60 and found the safety features, the nimble and quick handling, sleek exterior design and the straight-forward, understated but more than adequate interior won out in the Volvo. The RDX had a dull feel to it compared to the energy and zip of the XC60 and the rear-end design of the RDX fell short. My gas mileage has been phenomenal using the ECO feature and it has the same getup and go as a Acura Integra I once owned. I have Blind Spot technology and the protection package, both features I find helpful. The cargo area is just what I was looking for and like the idea the seats all lie flat. Most of all it is fun to drive! I keep my vehicles for a long time and put lots of miles on them; 296,000 and 263,000 on previous vehicles (Acura and Nissan respectively) and hope to enjoy the same longevity with my Volvo.

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  The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - 2007 Volvo C70
  By gorj - November 5 - 4:30 pm

  I have recently purchased a 2007 Volvo C70 with only 32,000 miles and loaded with all the Volvo options. I am a life time Volvo owner with almost 2 million miles on them. That said, I am a very open minded critic of all vehicles. I have never had a new, off the showroom floor, Volvo. I have also never had a lemon Volvo. I maintain my vehicles well and correct issues before they become problems. I feel the C70 hardtop convertible, is very good on the eyes - I receive a lot of looks. For my type of driving it has all the performance and handling I want. Although seven years old, this C70 looks showroom new, which says something about the quality of the material and build.

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  Good enough for the money - 2011 Volvo S60
  By johnrush5 - November 4 - 9:59 am

  When I first got into the car I loved how wonderful the seats felt on my bottom. I have sat in every luxury sport sedan out there and this one still feels better after months of use than my 2009 Audi A4. The engine acceleration power,sound and smoothness was almost enough to sill the deal, but I had to see how it handled. The car is not as low to the ground but the rear torque vectoring offsets it enough to satisfactory overcome the height and front end weight on this 6 cylinder Porsche sounding (yes I just said that) engine to corner sharply. The brakes are just perfect in my opinion. They are not the in your face "right now" kind of brakes but do an admirable job without feeling taxed.

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  Great family car - 2000 Volvo V70
  By XC90_Owner - November 1 - 2:00 am

  This was our fourth Volvo. Tough car with very few mechanical problems. Comfortable on long drives or around town. The turbo makes this a great car for Colorado, where normally aspirated engines lose a lot of horsepower at altitude. Excellent in snow, with the right tires.

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  my xc90 - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By talwarp - October 29 - 1:53 am

  Very comfortable around town and commuting to/from work ... great on road trip with 4 golfers because their golf and clothes bags all fit in the back and no problems cruising the hills fully loaded ... easy to maneuver in and out of spots and it looks good in the parking lot.

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  love it! - 2002 Volvo S40
  By adchick - October 25 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car a week and love it. It was fluke how I bought it. I have been window shopping for a car for four months. I went to the Volvo dealership to check out the car. When I found out the sticker price and all the safety features, I drove home with the car that night. It has great power -- good decision on adding the turbo. I drive up and down the 405 in california for work and am stuck in traffic a lot. Its a great fun car to be stuck in LA traffic in!

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  best buy - 1999 Volvo S80
  By volovoman - October 25 - 10:00 am

  no complaints, everything is perfectly engineered and designed. nothing else compares with what you get for the money. i feel safe and secure driving my volvo

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  S80 is Super - 2002 Volvo S80
  By Go Noles - October 25 - 10:00 am

  We looked at alot of cars, for over three years. The S80 is simply the best car for the money. My wife and I literally fight over who gets to drive the S80.

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  XC90 THE BEST OF THE REST - 2010 Volvo XC90
  By Judy - October 23 - 6:23 am

  I have owned a 2004, 2007, and now own a 2010 Volvo XC90. My 2010 is an Executive Model. I did not think that the model could get any better but my latest VOLVO XC90 is spectacular!. The Executive Models interior is outstanding. I feel like I am sitting in my family room. The handling is "tight" and feels like a sport car within a SUV. The safety features are a plus when insurance premiums are due. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who appreciates quality within a sporty, pleasure to drive, as well as styling that commands head turning! This is a perfect vehicle in my book.