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 - 2000 Volvo S80
  By zoramz - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I enjoy the ride in this vehicle. It drives smoothly, you hardly know you are in a car, it handles very nicely. I also like the style, I bought it because of its looks, also because I feel it is a safe car for family and friends.

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  a truly great car and hard worker - 1996 Volvo 850
  By krizy1 - September 18 - 6:53 am

  i bought my volvo from a friend of mine.. he had neglected to car somewhat,so i had to do a few maintenance things. this car is easy to work on,parts for the most part are inexpensive. although there are a few things i wouldnt fix myself. over cheap to up keep.. fun as hell to drive.,flip it into sport mode and away you..,its fast,.,responsive,over engineered.the only complaint would be gas mileage in the city.,but still not awful.. just could be better.. i love my volvo.

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  My S60 - 2001 Volvo S60
  By joeyedgins - September 14 - 8:30 am

  This car is awesome. I bought it with 85,000 miles on it. I had to immediately take it in for its scheduled maintenance (90,000). The dealership didnt do anything to it before selling so I had to replace the control arm bushings, tighten the sunroof cables, download the latest transmission software for the transmission, adjust the engine heat shield, etc. (1,900 dollars including the scheduled maintenace at dealership) Do not let the price scare you! It is amazing car-especially if you want to keep your wife satisfied. I cant keep her out of it. She never drives her Mercedes anymore. The car has plenty of power for not being a Turbo. I willdrive until the wheels fall off!

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  New S40 T5 is a great ride - 2004 Volvo S40
  By Morvran - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Volvos used to be too plain for my tastes...but not anymore. From the second you see the new S40 you realize this isnt your mothers Volvo. It has a much more aggressive look than their other sedans (much more so than their older S40s), especially with the sport package. The interior is just as nice. They have changed the navigation system controls for the better. The driver now has more of a joystick on the wheel to cycle through options, which makes it SO easy to use. There is also still a remote control.

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  Fun, comfort, annoying quality issues - 2002 Volvo S60
  By RAS - September 12 - 6:26 pm

  Exceptional value for the price. Styling, comfort, safe and firm feel all make this a pleasure to own. We did experience many problems that were annoying, but the overall experience overshadows the design and quality shortfalls. I am considering a newer (2007) S60 AWD purchase and will likely keep this one for my daughter to use. Front wheel drive was just adequate in snow. Next time Id buy AWD. Transmission shift problem required three dealer visits to fix during early warranty period. Fuel filler door broke off. Headlamps and tail light bulbs constantly burn out.

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  What A Great Car - 1998 Volvo V70
  By tostik - September 9 - 5:07 am

  Found a 1998 v70xc last year (2010) at a used car dealership with a 104,000 miles on it. The dealer had all the maintenance records, which showed a trip to the dealership every 5,000 miles. The interior and exterior looked brand new--the back seat looked like it had never been ridden in. Obviously garaged and pampered by the prior owner. I had to fix a broken motor mount, and the rear hatch struts were weak, which I replaced. About $450 for both. It now has a 121,000 miles on it and has been trouble-free. My independent Volvo mechanic is jealous. He says the 1998 and earlier volvos are tougher than the current ones. Finding a good independent volvo mechanic will save you lots of money.

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  Thank goodness for my S60 - 2004 Volvo S60
  By luvmys60 - September 8 - 10:00 am

  I recently bought a brand-new 2004 Saab 9-3 Arc and it was a very nice car, the only problem was that it had too many problems. No, this wasnt a display model. Under the lemon law, Saab bought my car back and I switched to a brand-new 2004 Volvo S60 2.5T and I am proud to say that I am very well pleased. The seats are slightly more comfortable than the 9-3 and the interior feels richer. The speaker system is (out of a possible 10) 0.1 points away from beating the 9-3s speaker system. Well, Im must happier that I switched to a Volvo!

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  Love this car! - 2011 Volvo C70
  By Doug - September 8 - 9:30 am

  I love this car. It is a head turner for sure. The ride and feel are great. Very solid mechanically. Complaints, well I frequently flip the wipers on when I turn the ignition on, but maybe thats just big hands. I seem to fill up often, but thats a function of small tank and not poor mileage. Any negatives you find about this car a far offset by all the positives. The fold down hardtop is unbelievable. Ive had passengers in who didnt realize it was a convertible. Buy this car, you will love it as much as I do.

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  Fun to drive; lacks pep though. - 2006 Volvo S40
  By thechief - September 5 - 4:06 pm

  I was surprised when I first drove it. The handling feels great although it just needs a bit more power. After the first year, the car wont start after I filled up with gas so I had to call 24-hour roadside support (which I like).

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  damn nice car - 2005 Volvo S60
  By wes - September 5 - 6:53 am

  never owned a volvo..image thing, til i drove a friends..wow. this 2.5t really scoots and my wife loves the nav system. if there was one complaint, and its mild, it;s the turning circle. I had a back operation almost 2 yrs ago, these seats allow me to drive for hours! never thought i could do that again. love the performance and brakes