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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  Never again - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By joggin jonny - October 30 - 5:30 pm

  This is my third and last Volvo. I said that after the second one but my wife talked me into it again. Tires and rims replaced due to front end shake. Cracked front suspension member, Loud noisey vibrating turbo. Transmission that downshifts like a manual. Drive train that clunks like a u-joint going out. All this for over $40k? Potential SUV buyers would do well to look elsewhere.

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  Some important issues to be aware of - 2005 Volvo S40
  By harry - October 10 - 2:11 am

  There is a known design defect where, if the sunroof drains that run down the doors of the car clog, water drains into the interior of the car from the lower part of the doors. Absolutely ridiculous. You need to regularly clear the drains with compressed air. My interior is ruined as a result of water damage. Also, 2005 models dont come with an auxiliary jack or bluetooth, and you cant put an aftermarket CD player in. Youre looking at around $1000 to replace the CD player at the dealership if something goes wrong. It also seems the only problems Ive had with the car required me to go to the dealership for repairs.

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  Thumper - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Nick - August 9 - 9:13 pm

  We have named this car "Thumper". It bumps, it grinds, and makes all kinds of noises in the front end. I have been to 3 different dealers who are unable to correct the noises, even with new brakes and shocks. While the dealers in Orange County and Covina are quite professional, the dealer in Carlsbad is useless. This car has a long way to go to call itself a premium product. There are inadequate service facilities, and I have absolutely no confidence that the vehicle will provide reliable service through the first 100,000 miles. As a suggestion, if anyone buys one, be sure to interview the local Volvo service department. Many are inadequate and they often do not have loaner cars as promised.

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  High Maintenance - 2001 Volvo S40
  By Disgruntled - August 5 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle will cost you oodles in maintenance costs. You will need rear brake pads every 12K-15K miles ($178), and front pads every 25K-30K miles. That means with every scheduled service you can add at least $180 extra for brake pads. Very disappointing! Also, headlamp burned out at 15K miles, and need to take the battery out to replace the bulb!

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  Not worth it!!!! - 2018 Volvo XC90
  By dblassc - July 26 - 8:26 pm

  I’m leasing this new car $620 a month 39 lease term, momentum plus package, 12k miles. To be honest after have other great brands, this is by far the worst SUV I ever had, all the technology involved (for which I purchased) is really hard to take advance of it, I mean the safety features might be great but inside the car the way they felt is another history. Control Panel: Zero intuitive, very difficult to use them. With 2nd largest display in the market (after Tesla) you really really expect to work just fine. I consider my self a tech person and I use all the features and they are definitely not friendly, you can only use one at the time, cant mix audio with air condition for example, because there is all integrated. Voice navigation: is by far the worst on the market, better not to have at all, 5 or 5 times is unresponsive and failed, after 2 system upgrades directly from Volvo is definitely something with the way it was designed, the only way I found to make it work is to send the address directly from the Volvo on-call app to the car directly, which never let you ask for an address directly. FYI (I updated maps from Florida in full). Seating: Front row seating are another failure by far the hard as a rock, and impossible to set up, basic lumbar features for a 55K SUV. Climate: Very poor in terms of vent power, and again difficult to get to the controls directly. (Included in screen panel only) Volvo on call: This system allowed you to start your car from the phone, service is included in the 39 lease term, but you can only use 2 times per day (???) Gas Consumption: In terms of engine seems to be powerful (mine a 2.0 turbo, 4 cylinders) but consumption is very high for a small engine like that , in my case city commuter , less than 18 per gallon. Service on Dealer: Service people very diligent and pro costumer service, I can not say the same from General Sales Manager, Carlos Sacasas (Volvo Carsf North Miami), that will treat you in the worst way, like you are not worth it as a client for them STAY AWAY!! I already have it for 200 miles enough to know that this car won’t last in my hands for the full lease term (already searching for options to change)

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  New C30 is having many issues - 2009 Volvo C30
  By davido - June 28 - 11:53 am

  Decided to trade my 2006 S40 for a new C30. Since Ive had the car, the passenger airbag light shows that the airbag is not on sometimes when passengers sit there. The first time I was told nothing was wrong with it, but it surfaced again. At the same time I noticed an oil leak in my garage. The car has 500 miles on it, and I wish I had the one with 85,000 that I traded in. This time, they told me that the airbag issue was a software upgrade problem (not sure why they didnt do this before delivering to me or last time it was in). Oil is from the oil cooler.

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  Worst Car Ever Owned - 2002 Volvo C70
  By Susan from NJ - May 8 - 10:00 am

  I never knew that a car could be in the shop more than you drive it - but I found one !! 21 times in the 1st 2 years - the sad part is that Volvo refused to take it back - it would have been in their best interest - they wouldnt be getting reviews like this one. If anything could go wrong - it did !! But we have low milage and the lease is almost over. They agreed that they were having a lot of electrical problems with that model - tops not working, lights not working, windows not working - thats why they have discontinued this model - so they say. Just bought a BMW - hopes it better !!

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  v70 - 1999 Volvo V70
  By pjr - April 29 - 4:33 pm

  The Volvo v70 was the most unreliable, and therefore most expensive car to maintain over the last 30 years of my car ownership. Repairs, (mainly major) were needed on an average of every 4-6 months of ownership. Average annual expenditures for repairs exceeds $4,000 per year. In addition to regular maintainence, these include replaced transmission, headlamps, ball joints, axel boots within a 12 month period, with less than 100k miles. This car was advertised as an auto that would easily perform well for over 300k miles. Volvo likes to charge extra for options that are now standard on others cars, ie: auto door opener, car racks, side rubber bumber mouldings. A big "No recommend" !

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  love volvo, not sure about this one... - 2007 Volvo XC70
  By lin - April 28 - 6:18 am

  i had a 1993 240 wagon - no issues other than maintenance. my 2007, however, has had several issues in the first year of ownership (2016-17). yes, its 9-10 years old but come on...rear back left light console socket burned out/melted in socket and had to replace entire console. suspension spring broke!! major issue - ripped up tire and could have been deadly if i were driving!! local volvo dealership didnt seem concerned at all even though it is dangerous. no recalls so its not covered! i am having all 4 springs replaced as others have said when one went, so did another at a later time on their car. very $$$! fuel gauge reads half full when i "fill" it at the gas station. dealership couldnt find problem. miss my 93 but its frame was rusted beyond repair.

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  99 Volvo S80 - 2000 Volvo S80
  By mac99 - March 23 - 2:00 am

  Cost $3000 @ 59,000 miles for a new transmission. Warning ligts on constantly, nusaince items breaking, and over all poor quality. I would recommend any other car but the S80