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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  Perfect! - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By LuxurySuv Guy - April 14 - 10:00 am

  This Vehicle is Amazing!!

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  2004 XC 90 by Svenska - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Svenska - April 8 - 10:00 am

  I was really looking forward to own the XC 90, I ordered it in Dec,2002 and took delivery in May, 2003. I got one of the first 2004 models. My whole family loves this car. I understand that Volvo had some problems with some of the earier 2003 models, so I was very exited when I found out ours was a 2004.

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  Almost Perfect - 2010 Volvo S80
  By Enrique - April 7 - 5:30 pm

  Comparing my new 2010 S80, 3.2 to what I have driven before: Audi A6, 2.7T, Volvo XC90 3.2 and Volvo S60 T5. Lets just say when it comes to speed, it leaves much to desire. I miss that PUNCH when I floor it. The dealer warned me it wasnt as fast as what I was used to driving, but got a great deal. Dealer said car had 235 hp which is okay with me i guess. The car is elegant on the outside as it is inside. The design is signature Volvo with a slight modern flair that makes people look twice. the enlarged name and logo really make a statement too. handles well, but not impressed. comfort is unrivaled! quiet engine.

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  Love the car, hate the navigation system - 2012 Volvo S60
  By beignetva - April 3 - 3:13 am

  I have had this car for over a year. I love the way it handles, its well built, it drives like a charm. Unfortunately, the navigation system is useless. More often than not, it gets me lost and wants me to get off the highway then get back on for no reason. Ive started using my Iphone GPS as a backup as I cant trust this. Also, the way the update to the navigation system is done is antiquated. After asking for over 6 months, I finally received the CD update that took over 6 hours to load while the car was running. This is 2014. There has to be a better way. Unfortunately, as long as Volvo does not improve their navigation system like Audi has, I will not buy another Volvo.

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  First Luxury Car Purchase - 2004 Volvo S60
  By mjsa196 - April 2 - 4:30 pm

  The Volvo S60 2.5T is a joy to drive. The smooth transmission and comfortable seats make city and cross crountry driving a pleasure. There is enough pep when you need to get around someone or something with the handling to supplement it. Great car.

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  My "Sheep in Wolfs Clothing" - 2004 Volvo S60
  By CHT - April 2 - 2:00 am

  To date, no issues with the vehicle. Build quality is excellent, as well as performance. 4C is great. Sport and Advanced have very different qualities. Comfort vs. Sport is not as great a change. The car tracks as if on rails in high speed turns. The car is just pure fun to drive. Best part is I can take it out for some spirited driving, then haul the kids to soccer. Its stealth, but (in my opinion) looks much better than an S60AWD. For the money, you will have to spend $10-15K more to get something comparable from Audi, BMW or Benz.

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  XC 60: My favorite Volvo yet! - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By L Devoe - March 30 - 2:00 am

  Between my wife and myself we have owned 10 Volvos and consider ourselves Volvo for Life customers. Besides the obvious reputation for safety, Volvos have continued to improve their reliability, looks, and amenities over the years. The XC60 is the first Volvo SUV that I have purchased for myself. It is also the most comfortable Volvo that I have ever driven. I was impressed with the build quality, its pep on the road, and the new features such as blind spot alerts (BLIS) and rear view camera for backing up. The mileage is better than I expected with the 3.2L engine and the interior is dead quiet on the highway.

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  There is no other SUV in this league - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By Sam Samaha - March 27 - 7:40 pm

  Combine build quality, safety, design, and safety into the ultimate SUV and you get the XC90 T6, Contrary to the medias view, I drove both the 5 and 6 and found the 5 to be very buzzy and underpowered, especially at passing speeds. The ride of this vehicle is better than many cars. I own a 2004 Passat GLX (top of the line) and I find the handling of the Volvo SUV better. We also looked at the BMW X5 3.0, MB ML320, and Acura MDX.. butI I highly recommend this vehicle.

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  15+ miles, no gas - 2017 Volvo XC90
  By Reginald Souleyrette - March 26 - 5:06 pm

  The pure electric is great if you live 7 miles from work like I do. I can charge it in 2.5 hours with a 240v outlet I ran myself for $100 in parts and the charge lasts both directions. Wish it was more but works for me.

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  Redefines "Sleeper" - 2006 Volvo S60
  By M Syd - March 26 - 10:36 am

  99.9% of the planet thinks Volvo is about safe, family style vehicles. But speed trumps safety if you slap an R badge on the boot! This car is the ultimate in sexy edge exterior design and endless creature comforts. Not seats, thrones! I’ve had the car for a little over two years now and everyday I can’t wait to get inside! Especially now with a custom 3” turbo-back exhaust (solves your turbo lag problem BTW). ZERO maintenance issues save for the 2006 software gremlin that magically turns your R into a 240 DL. Great Fuel economy! Performance upgrades are spendy, but TRANSFORM the car into a track warrior (can you spell IPD.com?) I LOVE THIS CAR!