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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  costs on replacement - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Guiness - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Ive own my wagon for 6yrs now,min repairs other than standard parts like timing belts, tires. One area that I ran into now at 201,000 miles is the rear struts. On my car the cost to replace them is $550.00 per side..( will not replace) so Ill live with the bumps or pot holes, but its really not bad. I am known to keep my cars until the engine goes, most of my other volvos have gone 370,000 miles, so still have 3-4yrs left on this one. One key factor on volvos, they never need a tune-up. same plugs etc and the car is 13 years old. So if your thinking of this year 1998, go for it...I also own a 1989 saab and that has 250,000 and it looks/drives as good as the day it came off the line.

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  Throttle problem - 2002 Volvo S60
  By Adriano - September 26 - 1:40 am

  Got a problem at 94 k with throttle not working, needed ETM software upgrade and new accelerator pedal. I called Volvo and they said that this can happen with high mileage. Did not think that 94k is that high for a Volvo.

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  Hit or Miss - 1998 Volvo S70
  By zachattack - September 24 - 6:53 pm

  If this car doesnt have service records for Gods sake dont buy it! On the way home from the dealer it overheated. Then the abs went out. Then the exhaust manifold cracked. Then a tie rod broke. Then the heater core went bad. Check engine light on every other week, literally. All extremely expensive (esp. For an 18 year old). Some of these s70s are great cars, but some just absolutly are not. If it feels tight, still get it checked out. Learn from my mistake. All this went wrong between 90-100k miles. Although they look awesome and drive like a bat out of hell, they can become hell.

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  Pretty Nice Sedan - 2006 Volvo S60
  By kurt - September 22 - 9:50 am

  Bought this used through a dealership specializing in low mileage/one owner cars. The car is one owner- a leasee in a suburb of Chicago. As to low miles, the CarFax said 16,200 when I bought it so unless it was tampered with, that is what it was. This car excels on the highway; plenty of power, quiet, comfortable. In town it is a little less agreeable, mostly because the suspension is a bit more stiff than it should be. Mileage has been excellent for a car with this power- 24 in all-purpose driving, over 30mph strictly highway. Leather seats very comfortable, the radio is nice, auto climate control works great. No major complaints but overall the car is less luxurious than I desired.

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  Please keep running - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By Costly repair - September 22 - 5:36 am

  I thought that I had found the right car and for all its good qualities, I find that it eats front end parts, tires, head light bulbs and is too complicated for the servicing dealer(not the point of purchase dealer). So far the car starts everytime, but with angle gear replacement, brake booster failure, and miscelleanous odds and sods, I have enjoyed the $8,000+ repairs covered by the extended warranty ZI bought. The fit & finish however are superb, the ride is the best barco lounger for the long haul.. nobody makes a better seat. Funny though, for all I was told about "Boron" steel when I bought the car, a recent hail storm has told me its not as strong as was suggested by the salesman

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  Mostly Happy - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By mostly happy - September 22 - 2:00 am

  I totally enjoy driving my new Volvo. I feel that it is extremely solid and safe for my family. Many people comment on the good exterior look. Extremely happy to be out of the mini van.

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  Loved this car, but it was a lemon - 2005 Volvo V50
  By jtroop - September 19 - 2:00 am

  got this car as a Certified Pre-Owned, so I had a bumper-to-bumper warranty, which I used extensively. First to go was the ignition, which went out again later. Next went the radio, which went out again later. Next went the entire electrical system....the entire electrical system!!!! Next was some strange issue with the lug-nuts???? Then the headliner detached from the roof. Then the right side door lock messed up and required a new locking mechanism. Then the alarm started to go off intermittently for no reason. Finally some sensors started to fail and I got rid of it. None of this cost anything to me, but I had to take it into the dealership over and over. Great car but poor quality.

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  Nice Car, but Unreliable - 2005 Volvo S40
  By chanachi - September 17 - 9:03 am

  Purchased this vehicle in May of 2004 - the new body style. Nice styling, interior, and ride. In my opinion, reliability has been poor. The car has less than 23K miles and has had problems with brakes (bad rotors) and engine (all intake valves replaced). Thankfully the vehicle was covered under the warranty. I would not recommend this car.

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  Not as good as I thought - 2006 Volvo S60
  By LS - September 16 - 10:56 am

  I owned a 98 Mercedes C230 and was thinking about getting a new one. Instead I bought this car. I was in for a surprise. Here are the major issues I have found with this car: poor turning radius, loud engine noise, very rough ride and between 50 - 60 mph the car struggles with what the right shift should be so the steering wheel vibrates ever so slightly. Then there are the little things: headrest doesnt move, you have a button to open your gas tank but not one for your trunk, your driver door does not lock when the car takes off, the key is extremely bulky and heavy (I am a woman so I put it in my purse, feel bad for the guys that have to carry it around in their pockets).

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  starting to wonder - 1996 Volvo 850
  By A.J. - September 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this volvo with 100,000 miles on it. I did all my homework before I bought this car and I did a lot of questioning on wether or not this was going to be a good car for the mileage and all but every review was ranting and raving on how the 1996 850 was bullet proof and all the bugs were worked out. It is a great car but it is expensive to repair . All of the things that I have had repaired on it were wear and tear. Or were they? It needed brakes with one new caliper $720, O2 sensor $350, tracs light came on $500, check engine light $700, I now have 154,000 miles on the car.