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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  first ride - 2000 Volvo S40
  By ewalker1 - March 10 - 6:06 pm

  This was my first car-- so excited to have a safe and reliable car. Little did I know it would cost me THOUSANDS in credit card debt to maintain it. My headlights burn out in a couple of months, the CEL NEVER shuts off, the windshield wipers need to be replaced frequently (courtesy of New England weather). I spend all of my money on Volvo Techs diagnosing my problems, fixing them, and then finding a new one the next day. Its really been a nightmare- if anyone has any advice, I would love to hear it.

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  subtle, sophisticated, and fun - 2008 Volvo V70
  By judith - March 9 - 8:16 pm

  Swapped for an E320 -- 1" shorter and cavernous in the back, which I dont notice while I am having so much fun in these wonderful front seats, wheeling a surprisingly sporty but beautiful driver cabin. Drives like a high-end sport sedan.

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  XC90 FIRST EDITION, GREAT STEP FORWARD FOR VOLVO - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Michael Horton - March 8 - 5:08 pm

  As for all the hype and awards for this vehicle, all I can say is if you want a 7 passenger SUV go drive an Inscription trim with the air suspension (this is an important option). To make it comparable to a BMW, Audi, or Mercedes, you need to step up to the Inscription trim and I would highly recommend it with the optional air suspension. Without the air suspension the ride quality is average; with it, the ride is outstanding. I had no intention of buying a Volvo, but was very surprised. I drove all the competition extensively and bought an XC90 First Edition so it has every feature available. The interior is amazing, the safety tech is unparalleled, and infotainment is great. As for criticisms, the navigation system is not the best on the market, the car only has one USB port, and local mpg have been poorer than advertised. However, on a recent trip from Phoenix to LA, we averaged almost 28 mpg. I quickly got used to the touch tablet style interface and enjoy the ease of use. I personally love the seats (heated/ventilated), Apple Car Play, heads up display, and the Bowers and Wilkens stereo will blow you away. Again, safety features are amazing. As for the competition, the X5 from the driver’s seat is a great vehicle, but it is smaller inside and the Volvo kills it in 2nd and 3rd row functionality and utility, which is what we needed. The Lexus GX (keep in mind I really like Lexus and owned an RX for over a decade) feels heavy and sluggish compared to the Volvo. The new Audi Q7 was not available when I bought and the older version was surprisingly tight inside. The Merc GL is a bigger vehicle but when I optioned it out to match my Volvo First Edition from a feature standpoint it was over $90k. The Volvo truly feels like a smaller vehicle than it is while driving and eats up highway miles. My wife and I fight over who takes it each day. I hope the long term reliability is above average. This new XC90 is a giant step forward for Volvo!

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  An absolute steal! - 2003 Volvo V40
  By JTK - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Just picked up a new, fully loaded 2003 V40 a few days ago after doing extensive online research of smaller, upscale wagons. Feature wise (on paper), the V40 is by far the best value going vs. other upscale smaller wagons, such as the BMW 3-series and Audi A4A Avant. After our first hundred miles or so driving the car, its clear this car doesnt miss a step vs. the competition. Especially with the current incentives. Its almost too good to be true.

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  Unbelievably Priced for what you get. - 2003 Volvo S60
  By Harry Hausen - March 8 - 2:00 am

  First let me say that if you buy an S60 definatly get the T5. The 17" Tethys wheels add so much to the cars styling. The T5s performance is also remarkable. The bottom line is that this car looks, feels, and performs like a car that should cost considerably more. I think this is one of the best values out there.

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  Top-notch vehicle - 2004 Volvo V70
  By rbrozka - March 6 - 7:13 pm

  Understated sophistication, solid performance, good value. Well-engineered, many thoughtful amenities, excellent fit and finish. Ive put 6,000 miles on it so far with no problems. A pleasure to own and drive. Not quite the space of my former minivan, but far superior in every other respect.

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  Best car yet - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Todd - March 6 - 6:16 pm

  Excellent service at the dealor. Car is the best car Ive owned so far! Fun driving, reliable, safe and sharp looking.

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  My Volvo - 2004 Volvo S60
  By drlcrane - March 2 - 10:00 am

  Coming from a Nissan Maxima(2000) I was used to good accerleration and handling. I found that my S602.5T was all that and more. An extremely solid feeling car which still had good handling and more than adequate power. The seats are excellent and I look foward to having the car for many years.

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  BEATS THE X5 - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By ericave - March 2 - 10:00 am

  If you want a car the thinks its an SUV, then the XC90 is for you. Theres no other explanation for it, its the first SUV thats more car than most cars. About 99.9% of SUV owners are never going to take their SUVs off- road, so why pay for all those extras you dont need. For the urban jungle the XC90 is perfect, with the X5 coming in at second, look at all the reviews.

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  Awesome car!!! - 1998 Volvo S70
  By Dan - February 28 - 1:56 pm

  I bought this Volvo for $6500 with 131,000 miles. Im a college student and needed a vehicle that will get from point A to point B. This car is amazing! Nobody believes it has as many miles as it does. The acceleration is unreal as is the fuel economy. ON the highway I can get 31mpg! Reliablity, well Ive only put 1000 miles on it and it runs like a rock. Very comfortable and overall great vehicle.