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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  Fun to drive little Car - 2000 Volvo S40
  By bobj - November 24 - 11:40 pm

  I own an S70 and a S40. The S40 is much more fun to drive than the S70. The car is very responsive. It is a little smaller than I would like but is still comfortable. In the 26 months I owned it, I have not had a single problem with the car.

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  I would buy it again!!!!!!!!!! - 2002 Volvo V70
  By Lorenzo - November 22 - 5:56 am

  Great car, bought it for me but wife felt in love with it and stole it! Great stability, precise steering at any speed. Super comfortable front seats. Back seats to narrow and not enough leg room especially if the driver has long legs like mine (I am 62"). Great car stereo. Great horn. Great brake system, very safe car. The 2.5 is and adequate engine, altough I recommend T or superior engine if you like a better picup. Very elegant!!

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  Love Hate Relationship - 2001 Volvo S60
  By Dennis - November 20 - 8:03 am

  If only the car was out of the shop long enough to enjoy driving it. I have owned this car for 5 years. Very high maintenance costs and major repair bills. Volvo seems now just like daddy Ford - hide the design flaws and fix only when the lawsuits and/or government finally steps in and forces the issue. I would love this car were it not for problems with the very heart of its performance-the electronic throttle module. Almost guaranteed to break - so much so that they have now agreed to warrant the darn thing up to 200,000 miles - and theyll replace it only after making you spend thousands in diagnostics and pre-repairs. Then, they replace with the same defective designed part! Unbelievable

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  IKEA on wheels - 2009 Volvo S60
  By PeterJax - November 19 - 11:16 am

  My first Volvo. It looks nice in an IKEA sort of way...some like it, others dont. Seats are very comfortable. Silver metallic paint finish is amazing. Body feels sturdy. Interior controls at first seem strange but you later realize that they are well thought out. Good fuel economy for a car that weighs this much, yet the turbo gives it kick when you need it. Good overall drive, nice mix of sport and luxury.

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  First and Definitely Last Volvo - 2015 Volvo XC60
  By chas16066 - November 16 - 12:47 am

  Safety features are outstanding, but after driving car for 2 months, each day is as frustrating as the last in how poorly designed the interior is. Virtually no place to store things. In order to reach something easily (while driving), it has to be in one of the two cup holders. Bluetooth and iPod functionality is unintuitive. I have had to memorize exactly what will work when, which has relieved some of that frustration. Lots of reviewers praise the comfort; it has been more comfortable than Toyota Highlander, but not by much. Most frustrating : the poor service of ONLY Volvo dealer in my area. Not having a choice for service has been a major mistake.

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  V40 - the most safety family car - 2001 Volvo V40
  By mtkadlec - November 14 - 2:00 am

  2001 facelifting is good for driving performance and behavior on the road (only 2wheel drive!) with automatic gearbox - not lazy, but not speedy as well - the best wagon for family or seniors

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  BEST VALUE - 2003 Volvo S60
  By TV - November 14 - 2:00 am

  WHEN CONSIDERING OTHERS IN THE PRICE RANGE, THE VOLVO WAS THE WAY TO GO. EVERYTHING I NEEDED. FWD TRACTION CONTROL AND VOLVOS WINTER DRIVE MODE DOES INCREDIBLE IN THE SNOW. GOOD TORQUE AND PLENTY OF SPEED. WHO NEEDS A POWERHOUSE? SIMPLE PRATICAL, STOP BUYING THE STATUS SYMBOLS! THINK. VERY RELIABLE

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  Still Happy... but have had problems - 2000 Volvo S40
  By HoustonS40 - November 11 - 2:36 am

  I bought the car in April of 2002 with 24K and have kept a log and records back to when it rolled of the lot new: 13,001 Miles replaced center caps on wheels; brake warning light on; 14,859 Check Engine light on; Headlight burned out; 20,258 Check engine light on; engine sluggish; brake pads replaced; 24,833 Check engine light on; center caps missing; engine mounts replaced; 24,920 Check engine light on; 25,279 PNP switch replaced; 27,231 replaced vac pump relay; 35,140 left and right front strut bearings replaced; 36,390 Battery replaced; 38,052 New Brake Pads; 42,931 shock absorber/strut replaced; 44,534 vacuum pump; 48,825 coolant sensor & turbo oil return line leaking.

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  Highest Maintenance Car Ive Ever Had - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Carndog - November 9 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car 1 year ago with 47k miles on it. I have replaced 1 headlight, 4 tail lights, and 1 side turn light. The side light fell out of its socket, bizarre. I learned how to reset the service light because it comes on so often for no reason. Zero AM reception. Replaced a center speaker cover that fell apart. Jiffy lube refuses to change my oil so I have to go to the dealer. Last week a metal piece to my sunroof fell and hit my wife on the head. A plastic piece below the bumper fell off and Im afraid to ask how much. The glove compartment squeaks. Other than that it drives nice and feels luxurious.

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  Decent Car - 2001 Volvo V70
  By volvo customer - November 9 - 10:00 am

  Find the cost of service to be slightly on the high side. However, service dept is #1