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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  Lots of time & money for maintenance - 1998 Volvo S70
  By MoMoney - December 28 - 10:00 am

  The car has frequent problems with various lights(brake, interior, etc) as well as frequent trips to the dealer for mostly minor indicator light problems (ABS/Tracs off etc.) To change the light bulb on the gear shifter cost $70. We also had to get all 4 door panels replaced (no charge) because the leather was separating from the panel. Maintenance at the dealer is expensive & once you have to start replacing stuff (brakes/rear only $450) and shocks/struts in our case @65M for ~$1100. New computer $700. Would not buy another Volvo. Non- dealer cant service many things. Service mgr. said that we should have bought extended warranty!

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  excellent - 2004 Volvo V70
  By elita28 - December 28 - 10:00 am

  Excellent vehicle.Best car purchase ever.

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  1st 3 days with the V50...Enjoyable! - 2005 Volvo V50
  By CarJunky - December 28 - 10:00 am

  Now that our kids are 5 and 7 years old, it is FINALLY time to move out of the mini van and get my wife into something a little more enjoyable to drive. We looked at several SUVs and "sport wagons" but hadnt found much that met our requirements of being safe & sporty, and that could fit 2 kids and the family dog comfortably (and that was in our price range!). After doing lots of research, we stumbled upon the V50 in the wagon section of Edmunds.com and decided to head to the local Volvo dealer.

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  Excellent Volvo - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By volvoluver - December 28 - 10:00 am

  This car rides beautifully! We have the 3rd seat which is great when we have other kids in tow. The only thing I would like to see different is Volvo needs to build a similar model that is either a hybrid or gets better gas mileage. We do a majority of city driving and average 23 mpg. Also, noise level of ride is almost as comparable as an SUV, but we have the AWD.

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  Not worth the money - 2007 Volvo C70
  By FLRabbit - December 28 - 8:33 am

  This car has been a maintenance nightmare. Ive had to fix things on this car Ive never had to think about on any other car, and parts and labor are a fortune. Volvo closed the dealership where I bought it so now I have to drive an hour each way to get service. Not that they care, because you often have to keep going back before they admit to or find the problem. This car is fun to drive when its in shape, but unfortunately thats almost never. It goes through tires like a big dog goes through bones. You get weird little rattles and shimmies everywhere (that Volvo will blame on road conditions) and random things breaking that cost hundreds of dollars to fix. Not worth it at all.

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  A fun Volvo? - 2004 Volvo S60
  By aeroengrpv - December 25 - 10:40 am

  I sold my BMW 328ci looking for a European car that was faster than my Bimmer and found most to be too expensive. Then I found the R. It serves the purpose perfectly. The six-speed manual is a must have. 300 horses, a six-speed, and a suspension that you can dial in with legendary Volvo safety? What more could you ask.

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  Nothing but headaches - 2002 Volvo S40
  By o9utknrloi - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the 2002 Volvo S40 in April. 3,000 miles later the car was stuck in park twice - two defective parts needed to be replaced. At 10,000 miles the power seats broke. This car has been nothing but a headache and the disgusting customer service doesnt help either.

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  2.4L FWD auto - 2002 Volvo V70
  By wheelsstm - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive had mine for 3 months and have put 7K miles on it with no problems so far. It feels very tight and the comfy seats are greatly appreciated. The storage nooks and crannies are a bit odd to get used to, but the squared off cargo area holds a ton of stuff. I traded in my 89 240DL that, once I quit going to the dealer for service, held up really well for 13 years. This V70 is off to a much better start, so I hope it lasts me another 13 years as well!

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  Best Luxury SUV - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By Chnc - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I looked at all the competitors (mercedes, bmw, acura, lexus, jeep, toyota, etc.) and nothing compares at this price point. Best combination of value, safety, luxury and versatility. Volvo did a great job with this vehicle. Over 50% more space then the BMW on the inside while only being a few inches longer. Only a few thousand more then the Acura MDX but offers so much more in terms of safety and luxury features.

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  2002 Volvo S60 - 2003 Volvo S60
  By Rick3056 - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Having driven pickup trucks for the past 20 years this Volvo S60is quite a change. So far I have put 45,000 miles on the vehicle in 9 months. During cross country trips from Southern California to Northwest Wisconsin my gas mileage averages 34.2mpg! This car is fun to drive, handles well and has not had any defects.