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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  Reliable, Safe, Fast, great MPG - 2003 Volvo S60
  By Lois - May 27 - 2:56 pm

  Best vehicle I have ever owned. Ultra-reliable! Have 100K miles and have put nothing but brakes, tires, filters, bulbs and one O2 sensor in the car. Find me a toyota or honda that is that reliable, I dare you! Still as fast as the day I bought it. Gets 33 MPG on the highway at 75 mph. Still looks like new, leather looks perfect, everything works. Why they do not hold their value, no idea. Easily will get 250K miles and still be beautiful doing it. Highly recommend as a used gem of a car. Why buy a used camry or accord for more money, when you can get a loaded Volvo that gets better mpgs!

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  Reviewing Minnesota Lemon Laws - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Roger - May 26 - 4:30 am

  DO NOT BUY!!! Battery drains constantly and they cant fix it. Software is way too buggy. These cars dont need mechanics, but rather computer programmers. Also getting strange motor/pump sound coming from back of car when car engine is turned off. I was warned not to buy a Volvo because theyre constantly in the shop. I didnt listen. Im an idiot. Update: 6 days until 2018 and same problem still exists. The dealership replaced the battery and then told me told me the only way to fix the battery problem is to keep the car locked at all times, even in my heated garage. Problem not solved, I still get a low battery warning. Cant wait to get out of this car!

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  Poor interior quality - 2012 Volvo S60
  By emlodzienski - May 24 - 12:05 pm

  I bought this car new in 2012 and really like the car overall. I got leather seats but the seat part has a semi-circle vinyl patch and vinyl on the side bolsters. After about 2 1/2 years the front seats are showing signs of waer and the front passenger seat with the vinyl section developed a tear. I brought the car back and they fixed it for $75. It looked good until someone sat in the seat and now it started to crack in other spots. The car has 16,000 mile on it. Now the dealer wants to replace the cracked vinyl for $850 but will take off the $75 initialled paid. It looks terrible. I have no choice but to fix it.

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  Traded Up - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By john schipp - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Traded up from a turck-based SUV to a XC90 and a Honda Pilot -- both are extraordinary vehicles. I expect to own them for a long, long time, so reliability is a major issue.

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  Hals Volvo Cross Country - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By Hal Yates - May 22 - 2:00 am

  It was love at first drive when I picked up my XC at the factory in Gothenburg, Sweden.. We drove throughout Europe for 6 weeks and found it to be very responsive on narrow mountain roads as well as on the Autobahn. We just finished a cross USA trip from Washington to Virginia and back..in all types of road and weather conditions. Again it performed beautifully. Gas mileage was an average of 24.8. Overall, I give this vehicle a solit

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  Wife had to have it! - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Bob Shepherd - May 22 - 2:00 am

  My wife at, 5 foot 2 inches, has a hard time getting into and out of most SUVs. And since the XC-90 was going to be hers. We visited the Houston auto show last winter. She got into and out of every SUV there. The Toyoto was too tall. The Nissan was too far. And she couldnt even get over the edge of the BMWs seat. The XC-90 was just right! She had to have it!

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  Oh my god what a POS - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Jim - May 21 - 6:25 pm

  Consumer reports and Edmunds have this SUV totally wrong. In 9 months its been in the shop 5 times, and has had 4 recalls and almost got me killed twice from safety installed technology features. The software crashes more that a PC in the 90s. Glitches in the software caused the entire dashboard and ipad system to go down when I was on the highway doing 70, then it locks up and wont go more than 30 miles and hour about getting me killed, has to towed in, takes 3 three days to get back and there only answer is we fixed it by updating the software?? Next the active collision system keep going of when car that are in the lane beside me slow down forcing my XC90 to abruptly break getting me almost rammed from behind 4 times. The brakes have been recalled and the transmission started locking up. entertainment system goes down and want respond almost every day and there is a delay in the car staring. After 18000 miles the belts had to be replaced from fraying... This is a piece of software digital crap read reviews of this car from people who own. The technicians have no idea and it takes weeks to get parts. Im begging you if you have children dont by this car,,, its dangerous..Volvo is owned by company out of China and has all the quality of a product you would expect out of that country. They may not MFG it there but its got that money first quality maybe mentality

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  Swedish Delight - 1997 Volvo 960
  By FnotY - May 21 - 10:00 am

  I think that the 700/900 series Volvos were by far the best. The rear wheel drive design (which is well balanced front to rear) gives the best of both worlds regarding ride & traction. With the styling update that occured in 1995, the 960 became, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful cars on the road.

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  serious transmission and electrical prob - 2001 Volvo S80
  By ron - May 20 - 4:46 pm

  I would love this car if not for the steady stream of problems and very expensive repairs. I have bought 2 transmissions and had it in the shop for numerous electrical problems that they just cant fix. My dealer says they will no longer resell the s80 because they lose money on the warranty. I have owned volvos for almost 34 years and will never own one again. Volvo should do the right thing and warranty the transmission for 200,000 miles or more. Longevity, that was the volvo way. I expect to have to put a new transmission in it every year. Do yourself a favor. Dont take this vehicle, even if it is free. Much too unreliable. Two others I know that own one agree. A worthless dog of a car.

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  Luxury at a bargain price - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Robert - May 20 - 3:26 pm

  I fell in love with the styling of this car the first year it was introduced--not the brick that Volvo enthusiasts admire. This is the most exciting automoabile I ever owned. But its not just the looks that make it so great. It is a teriffic touring car, with a combination of smooth acceleration with power to get you into or out of the flow of traffic at will, and the comfort to drive for hours without fatigue. Navigation system is first rate. Backup radar has paid for itself several times, preventing rear end damage backing up in tight quarters. Its been a very reliable car, the only issues being cooling fan and battery replaced under warranty. Despite the power, highway mpg is 27.