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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  Comfort, Size and Performance - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By Lux - July 26 - 12:13 pm

  We love or XC-90 V8. We are in Germany and get to open her up on the Autobahns. Very comfortable quiet ride even at 100+ mph. Sounds system is very nice and Navigation system is a real plus for overseas and unknown area driving. Plus there is room for all our stuff and the dog. Finally, it is nice to know we are well protected while we cruise the autobahns with all the safety systems Volvos are know for; and now unlike in the past the vehicle is stylish and looks great.

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  Excellent car -- love it - 2011 Volvo C70
  By MST - July 26 - 10:56 am

  Just a joy to drive. Simple, zen like interior. Peppy fwd engine. Real head turner.

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  Great Car - 2005 Volvo S40
  By GJacobs - July 23 - 11:33 am

  Very solidly built car. Manual shift makes car fun to drive. Great pickup (5 cylinder) easy to drive/steer. Drastic change/improvement in car design over previous years. Very good value for the money and compared to its competitors.

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  2004 Volvo S60 - A Vehicle with Class - 2004 Volvo S60
  By CLASI LADY - July 23 - 10:00 am

  So far, this vehicle is not only comfortable, the ride is so smooth, you do not even feel the road. The sound system quality has greatly improved and the standard options add a great deal of value to not only the vehicle but to your insurance premium. The relocation of the mirror switches is a God send. The look and feel of the vehicle whether admiring it while parked or while driving in it, shows a great deal of class. This has been one of the best vehicle purchases I have made so far.

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  Great Family Car - 2003 Volvo V70
  By bkd1195 - July 23 - 10:00 am

  This car is better than any mini van. This car is much safer. We love the built in booster seats. They are the perfect height, the seat belts dont cut into the kids necks as they did in a store bought booster. The car drives and handles great. My wife has an S60 and I feel the ride is even smoother in the V70.

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  This Volvos the One! - 2005 Volvo S60
  By dm - July 18 - 12:40 pm

  This car hasnt provided me with as much excitement since I picked up my new 1978 Triumph Spitfire. Obvioulsy not even close to being the same kind of car, but...I said "excitement." Blending a sleek, well engineered, and sporty design, an incredible 300 hp, turbo-charged powerplant, and an incredibly well designed interior, this car surpasses my best expectations. When someone in their 50s can get into a vehicle like this, and look like hes not trying to relive his youth, and yet enjoy it as though he was - Volvos design team has reached its pinnacle. My kids dont laugh at me either - their jealous!

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  Better than you think - 2000 Volvo V40
  By Scott Mathews - July 18 - 12:33 pm

  This is possibly the best Volvo Ive ever owned. Quick, comfortable, and stylish and only minor problems. Many of the issues that others have reported suggest to me that they never opened the owners manual. Example: "headlights burn out annually". The cars come from the factory with Daytime Running Lights (DRL) activated. Naturally the headlights are going to burn out more often when theyre on day and night. Solution: read the owners manual and it tells you how to turn DRL off in 2 easy steps. Some other problems may have been caused by not following Volvos recommended service intervals. I would like to know more about the driving style of folks who wore out their brakes in 15,000 miles!

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  T6 S80, The Perfect Car - 2008 Volvo S80
  By Halmarc - July 17 - 7:40 am

  This Volvo T6 S80 has to be, the best car Ive ever owned. It is the perfect balance of performance, comfort, safety and handling, with decent fuel economy. I run it on regular unleaded gas and its very fast. In fact, I havent floored the gas pedal yet. Its good off the line and when passing. That was not true of the MB E350 that I test drove. When compared to the E350 and BMW 530, its as good a car for about $15000 less. Try one, youll buy it.

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  2010 XC60 - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By Deborah Gura - July 16 - 5:03 am

  The 2010 Volvo XC 60 is a fabulous SUV - I am very satisified with my purchase. It is fun to drive - the turbo engine accelerates nicely. It has a stylish exterior and interior. Very comfortable seats. I purchased with the BLIS - blind spot system - I dont know how I lived without this feature on previous cars. Extremely comfortable seats - plenty of leg room and the panoramic moon roof is tinted so it allows light without making the car too hot.

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  pretty close to perfect - 2012 Volvo S60
  By easternpadad - July 12 - 11:42 pm

  driving it for a couple of months, but no snow yet. Great feel - - a blast to drive. There is a learning curve on some of the tech features, but not too bad. We feel great about the car