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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  Never again! - 1999 Volvo S80
  By mstice - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I have been back to the dealer more times than I can remember with this car. One thing after another. I fix it and Ill be damned if it doesnt brake again. Leaks, rattles, and an all around poor experience is what i got with my S80T6.

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  Great car, terrible technology - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By NJVolvo - July 31 - 7:56 am

  The good: Car has great material, great feel, and great acceleration/braking. A ton of space and smooth ride. If the software was so terrible the car would be perfect. The bad/worst: Car has so many software bugs and issues, its just terrible. Voice command will sometimes disable the radio buttons, the system crashes, auto stop/start works whenever it feels like it, and worst of all, the accident prevention braking goes off randomly. Car decided to randomly apply brakes and almost caused our car to get rear-ended.

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  VERY Disappointed - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By VERYdisappointed - July 18 - 3:26 am

  We were thrilled to purchase our 03 Volvo XC70 but the excitement didnt last! One thing after another went wrong with the wagon... one year after buying it, the ignition went (sometimes the key would come out, other times it was stuck!)! The ball joints, brakes and rotars were shot. How many times do you have to replace a headlight bulb?!! The straw that broke the camels back: the angle bracket, which cost $2,500!! The car was constantly in the shop, and it was never inexpensive to repair!! We bought this as our family car... Volvo for life? We finally got rid of it and bought a Toyota Highlander Limited!!

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  Noisy and Bumpy ride - 2003 Volvo S40
  By jimwen - July 12 - 2:00 am

  This car has some (not a lot of zip)but the engine vibrates throughtout the car and you can feel through the gas pedal. Small wheels and size of vehicle give very bumpy ride. You feel everything. Brake pads only last 15k miles and the dealer acknologes that this was a design flaw but they do not give a price break to replace.

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  Dont Buy - 1999 Volvo V70
  By KaliforniaKaren - June 17 - 1:03 am

  Bought this car because I gave my Honda Civic to daughter. Thought it would be reliable and safe. Well it turned out to be safe, as an unmoving car is pretty safe. The car frequently stalls out for no reason and the dealership hasnt been able to figure out what the problem is (after changing out numerous electrical parts and sensors). I would get another car, but I went back to school and dont have the money too. Ive dumped about $3,200 into car, wish I would have never purchased.

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  In the shop over 80 days in the first 3 mos - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By David Zuech - June 13 - 9:46 pm

  I receive my inscription on 17 July 2015. After owning it for nine days I received a suspension error code followed by a safety restraint error code and promptly sent it in for service. It was in the Volvo dealership in Tulsa for over 30 days. After I received my car back I had it for less than one week before more electronic error codes again began popping up in addition to my virtual speedometer going black on rainy night. Despite dispatching numerous Volvo engineers who attempted to service my car, Volvo was unable to repair it and didnt give me a refund after four months of ownership. I would tread extremely carefully with this first model year car as it seems Volvo has no idea how to have the various modules interact with each other. I would visit various Volvo forums to better understand the gravity of this problem and Volvos pompous attitude to their new customers of the 2016 "car of the year"

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  NEVER AGAIN! - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By NYArtist - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I just purchased a 2003 XC with 130,000 miles. I have loved my 93 volvo wagon but decided it was time for something new. The mechanic checked it out but the fist day I drove it, today, the car wouldnt start. Low Engine Response. I may need a new engine. This is a the mother of all car nightmares. Never again Volvo. Im done with you!

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  No luck for me - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Sue - April 28 - 12:36 pm

  I was trying to save a bit of money so after doing much research, I turned in my BMW for a Volvo. In 4 months time, I have had 3 tire blow outs, replaced a rim, had a faulty passanger airbag that does not work(the sensor had to be ordered since the car is so new) and my ipod adaptor broke. I was tired of spending more time at Volvo service than driving the car. I was fed up with all this happening with a 4 month old car. Today I happily traded the Volvo in for a BMW which I know will be reliable and I am extrememly happy with my decision and my new car.

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  my car - 2004 Volvo S40
  By mike 1000 - April 6 - 10:00 am

  its just basic transportation. no frills . was in the shop for some electrical problems 2 times.

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  Never again! - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Mosey - March 19 - 2:00 am

  I have traded my cars in every 3 years so as not to have problems with them and this has been the most unreliable car Ive ever owned. It has been in for problems about six times in the past year and is about to go back for a recall with safety belts. Ill have to wait there for 1 to 2 hours for this and a loaner car would not be available for three weeks if I wanted to wait for that. Of course I wont take a chance with my childrens lives so Ill waste another day dealing with Volvo.