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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  Disappointing - 2002 Volvo V40
  By arcin69 - June 17 - 10:00 am

  Car has been mechanically reliable but disapointing otherwise. Seatings and cabin are uncomfortable. Controls not ergonomically designed. Power seat controls replaced at 15,000 miles. Windshield cracked with the slightest touch of a speck. Found out later , Volvo has a reputation for windshields easily cracked but expensive to replace. Leather on seats permanently deformed from leaving a book on the seat. Wont but it after lease turn in.

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  At least its safe - 1996 Volvo 850
  By Not pleased - June 8 - 12:33 pm

  I just bought this car three months ago. In that time frame, the gas tank was replaced, the ABS failed, check engine light has been on twice, brake master cylinder has failed, FM radio died, and the catalytic converter failed. I love the interior, but the plastic on the doors seems to be falling apart. The car is slow and safe, but what would you expect from a Volvo? Needless to say, I wont buy another.

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  Lethargic - 2013 Volvo S60
  By thrustreverser - June 6 - 3:28 pm

  Found myself shifting the trans to "Sport" mode because in drive mode it shifts like a granny and is unresponsive; it short shifts into 2nd gear when under moderate to heavy throttle. In regular mode off the line, this car feels like a prius. It is slow to accelerate and short-shifts every gear. When trying to pass, the transmission takes too long to respond. I would not buy this car.

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  Misterious Coldstart reaction - 2003 Volvo S60
  By elvira - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I now own a 2003 S60 T5. My first try was a new 2002 S60T5 which was returned to Volvo because when cold starting the vehicle and placing it in gear the car would "choke" and jump. Now our 2003, brand new volvo S60 T5 is doing the same thing and the dealership cannot find what the problem is. This is very frustrating since im paying a fortune for the car, and my confidence in the reliability of the vehicle has been blemished. Im truly dissapointed in the ability of checking the vehicles system for faults, since Volvo appears unable to detect the fault.

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  Love affair is fading - 1996 Volvo 850
  By Jim Pribbeno - May 14 - 10:00 am

  96 850 turbo is fun to drive with it’s sporty suspension, 16” low profile tires, & 222 HP performance. Unfortunately it’s also the most expensive Volvo we’ve owned (4 others) in terms of upkeep. Compared to our other Volvo, a 92 960 wagon, the 850 is a cash cow!!! I’ve put on new tires every 23k miles. I’ve replaced the transmission (dealer only repair, $2400) at 90k miles, why? A new air mass sensor unit ($250). I’ve refilled a/c several times because the evaporator leaks & costs over $1000 to replace. The TRAC & ABS lights are always on & the braking system occasionally freaks out requiring a new computer module costing over $300. Why?

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  Glad it wasnt my first Volvo!!!!!!!!! - 2003 Volvo S80
  By Jim Morton - May 9 - 10:00 am

  In the first year with under 10,000 miles the steering has locked once, the transmission has been replaced, bulbs have blOWN out and the vehicle is EXTREMELY noisey

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  Never buy Volvo again - 2004 Volvo V70
  By Horrible - May 5 - 10:06 pm

  This car has had twice as many problems in three years than all of the other cars I have owned combined. Sticky valve,tires rubbing (which Volvo says is normal),squels in rain,brakes squel,transmission hesitation, numerous software fixes..... Volvo service is horrible. You have to prove over and over to them that there is a problem but they just dont want to do warranty work. The turning radius is just slightly better than an air craft carrier. The horsepower numbers for the automatic are not even close to advertised. I regret ever taking a chance on this vehicle and I will never buy Volvo again.

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  Mechanical nightmare - 1999 Volvo S70
  By aekrmk - May 5 - 10:00 am

  Do not buy a Volvo! It is a racket on getting repair if warranty is up. No places do repair b/c of the cost for them to get software, therefore usually there is only 1 dealer in town that can do repairs and the take advantage of that. My S70 has so many electrical problems it is a joke and what is worse is the cost to fix. Really do your homework before you buy a volvo. I have owned many cars and it is by far the most unrealiable car I have ever had. good luck

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  The Volvo That Caught Fire - 2003 Volvo S80
  By Michelle V - April 30 - 1:02 am

  Fell in love with this car, spent about 3,000$ on repairs and rode like new. Beautiful car and fun ride. After owning used car for ~2 months, it caught on fire while i was driving and melted the hood shut and totaled the entire front compartment, and the car. Fire rescue couldnt determine cause. Be careful in this car.

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  computer problems AGAIN - 2006 Volvo XC70
  By mabess - April 24 - 6:20 pm

  youd think the engineers at Volvo would get the electrical right. my 06 is the 2nd XC70 where the computer failed and the car stopped- this time in rural Vermont. call 800# and you get 25 miles towing and NOTHING else. this is my last Volvo- NOT DEPENDABLE!