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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  What a Nightmare - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Jus me - March 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vehicle used because of the high cost only to find that this car had been badly abused and neglected. Unfortunately the only love and care that would help was $$$. Not only that, but the vehicle likes the abuse - it gets the worst dents from the smallest nudge. Its an aweful investment if you dont have a lot of money or time for the dealer (and only the dealer) to repair or if you work/live in a densely populated area. Had it less than 2 years & getting rid of it 2 years too late. And what is it worth now??? If you like it, rent it; its not worth buying.

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  Do not buy this car - 2000 Volvo S80
  By bruce - March 10 - 2:23 am

  Bought this car new. What a piece of junk. Interior fell apart had to be reupholstered. At 50000 miles the head gasket blew $3,000 fix.Other problems to numerous to list est. repair costs at 60000 miles - $10,000.Just trying to save someone else the same mistake.

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  A truly awful car - 2002 Volvo S40
  By whiffer - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I am in the second year of a four-year lease and am getting out of it as soon as I can. Ive owned a lot of cars in my time; the S40 is the most uncomfortable, least driver-friendly car Ive ever had. The interior is cramped, the drive is noisy and flat, and the fittings are cheap. If you have long legs (like I do), dont even think about the S40 -- youll spend half of your drive getting up and stretching. The rear seats have practically no legroom at all. Ive also had a lot of problems with reliability, specifically with the electrical system, and at times the CHECK ENGINE light comes on for no reason at all. My advice: look somewhere else if you want a sedan.

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  BEWARE, repairs are terrible at Volvo - 1999 Volvo S70
  By pletsch@bastrop.com - January 21 - 11:03 pm

  1999 Volvo, bought for a daughter for college. Safe...well, when it actually runs..which is not often. Breakdown with Volvo having NO answers: yyou leave your 19 year old daughter stranded 5 times with no way to run the car. Its not a car at that point, its a piece of junk and your kid is in a very vulnerable place! Will discuss with ANYONE: This is not a safe car!!!!!! And forward looking cars (newer than this one)appear to be no better: their IT problem solvers really are dismal...

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  V8 Engine Is Prone to Catastrophic Failure - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By jdcarcollector - December 29 - 9:53 am

  Last week, our 2005 Volvo XC90 V8 died in an intersection. The dealer explained the engine had a catastrophic failure and was "dead". I was told the battery was dead and there is no compression -- air blew through the engine. I asked how this could possibly have happened to a car that has undergone every Volvo dealer service, including one just 45 days ago. The dealer was courteous but explained the car required a new engine which costs $15,000. Google "Volvo Yamaha V8 Failure" and youll come across numerous people discussing catastrophic failures thanks to the timing chain breaking. Volvo has not undertaken a recall.

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  Overpriced, overvalued, and just not worth it. - 2002 Volvo S80
  By ihatemyvolvo - December 29 - 8:35 am

  From when I first bought the car it had problems. Normally these things happen, such as fixing the brakes. However because it is a Volvo, the parts are almost always double the cost of any other vehicle part! Unless you have the money to sometimes be dropping $1000 to fix the car, youll find yourself regretting the purchase whenever a problem does arise.

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  Not the Volvo of old - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By ghoward - December 27 - 8:23 pm

  After owning Volvos for years, I tried other brands over the last 5 years, Infinity and Lexus. This year I decided it was time to return to Volvos and purchased a 2006-XC90. It is not the Volvo I drove and loved for years! I still like the safety aspects of the vehicle, but the dependability and feel are gone for me. The cabin is loud and the ride is rough. I had to have it towed to back to the dealer two weeks after I bought it when it would not start. I will not be a Volvo customer in the future. The other premium brands have left them in the dust.

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  Ford in Disguise - 2005 Volvo S40
  By kennstarre - December 27 - 9:21 am

  This car is built on a ford focus platform. Driving wise its fine other than some under-steer at high speeds. The thing consistently breaks every two months, ford quality but with foreign car repair prices. The interior literally falls apart. foam in the seats and door panels melts and disintegrates in the Texas heat. Further more the all wheel drive is pretty much worthless. its so front wheel drive bias that it basically is front wheel drive.

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  worst vehicle ever - 2000 Volvo S80
  By ex volvo owner - December 19 - 2:03 pm

  Got to be the worst car ever made take heed of all these poor reviews theyre not making this stuff up, Suspension, electrical, AC the list goes on. Seat leather worn through, constant software problems or so the dealer says. The user who said 187/mo maintenance isnt exaggerating. Weve got extended warranty and still shell out a thousand a year. One positive note, Ive decided to buy a jaguar knowing it couldnt be any worse and I wont mind putting money into a car that has a bit of class. If you need a reliable car get a Camry.

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  12 months with 8 visits to the repair shop - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Kelly Northington - November 16 - 6:35 am

  We had issue after issue with this vehicle. Main issues were the faulty control panel and the brakes. The vehicle would auto brake in the middle of the freeway for no reason almost causing multiple accidents. Also we had the break pads changed 5 different times for constant squeaking. Eventually Volvo Corporate bought the vehicle back as we filed a lemon law complaint.