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:

• 

  Best Car Ive Ever Owned - 1998 Volvo S70
  By MadeInJapan - July 12 - 7:40 pm

  I bought this car after selling a 94 850 turbo wagon that I had a love/hate relationship with. I got rid of it due to expense of taking it to the dealer, but I missed the power, comfort and the "fun factor." So, after owning a small Japanese car until it was paid off I began looking for a Volvo Sedan. I must say that I did a lot of research before purchasing this car. This car, when you do your own repairs is not a drain at all. I had the ECU upgraded and also beefed up the suspension with IPD swaybars. Its amazing!

• 

  Best car I have ever owned! - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By shiner42 - July 12 - 1:05 am

  I have always loved the way the XC70 has looked. Even now that I have owned it for about 10 years it still looks new. Yes I have taken care of the paint and plastic on the exterior. Yes I have tried to take care of the inside to. Yet I lived for three years where it got to 40 degrees below zero. The paint... Looks like new. Other than a few dings and scratches it looks great. The interior looks great except for the driver seat. I tried to take care of it with regular cleaning and conditioning but the leather cracked and now has holes in it. But other than that it survived the brutile winters. The all wheel drive is second to none. Made it to placeses even jeeps could not go. Great vehicle.

• 

  My Little Volvo - 2004 Volvo C70
  By truderyme - July 11 - 2:00 am

  I need a car to get me from school back home which is a far drive. This car can handle great in the snow and has yet to disapoint me.

• 

  R-Fegnugen (if only that were Swedish) - 2007 Volvo S60
  By Converted - July 10 - 12:30 pm

  Exceptional. Fun car but not an ostentatious sports car. Compared to Infiniti G35, Audi S4, and BMW 330. Surprising power. Tight handling with the advantage of variable All-Wheel Drive. No problems with the R in mountain snow. Get this w/ a manual transmission for maximum fun. Great finishing touches on interior, gauges and electronics. Hwy fuel economy better than 30 MPG. Overall, good value for performance.

• 

  My little stylish Swedish utility tank! - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By Justin - July 10 - 9:13 am

  What an amazing wagon!!! Bought new straight out of Jim fisher Volvo back in 2002 and have absoulutly loved it ever since!!! I bought it for the reason that we wanted an overall safe wagon for the kids, that was awd and still ready for adventure. This thing is an absoulutly tank in the snow!!! Even on some of the steepest and iciest conditions this beast has never let me down getting up and down the mountain constantly going around struggling SUVs and is even better with studs! For being an 03, it is ahead of its time with all the features throughout it. I mean it has rear facing seats in the back!!! I would highly consider picking one of these guys up and you will never turn back!

• 

  Good, Safe SUV - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Gary - July 10 - 8:50 am

  I have driven this car every day for the last 4.5 years and through 80k miles it has been a reliable and decent car. I cant say I love it, but I dont dislike it either. Compared to our BMW X5, it is capable and OK to drive, but not a performance vehicle by any measure. It is very comfortable for long road trips for a family of 4. It tows our 3000 lb boat with ease. V8 seems to go when you stomp on it. Cruises nicely at highway speeds 70-80 mph. We have not had any reliability issues other than normal maintenance - tires at 45k, brakes at 60k. All and all, it has been a pretty good car.

• 

  2000 Volvo S40 - 2002 Volvo S40
  By koj - July 9 - 10:00 am

  I have been very happy with my 2000 S40 overall. I bought it brand new in December, 1999. It rides very well, although I think it could use a little more leg room. Ive had to have the radio/CD player replaced. Also, the windshield wiper dispenser on the hood leaks, which cause some discoloring on the paint. I bought the very first model her in the US, so Ive had several little thinngs occur which have all been under warranty. Lesson learned, I will not buy another Volvo model its first year in release, or any other car for that matter.

• 

  Flagship of Excellence - 2002 Volvo S80
  By Robinm - July 9 - 10:00 am

  Breathtaking and breathless; for only the auto conneuisseurs who enjoy refined styling and luxury at its finest.

• 

  Volvo s60 more bang for the bucks than B - 2002 Volvo S60
  By jrw646 - July 9 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I tested a long list of cars before we came to the Volvo s60 2.4t. I wish we had gone to Volvo first. The ride is fantastic and the fit, finish and features are head and shoulders above the compitetion. We drove the BMW 325i, Acua TL, Mercedes C240, and Infinity I35. The BMW and Mercedes have 168hp the Tl 225 and the I35 255. Not one of these cars has the excelleration of the 197hp s60 turbo I5 motor. Both of the Japanese cars drive like american cars, soft ride, weak handling. The Volvo hangs in with both the mercedes and the BMW in terms of confidence and response.

• 

  keep a waranty - 2001 Volvo S80
  By van w. - July 5 - 9:53 am

  extended warranty is a must. Volvos 50k + mile warranty is all you need. Covered: replace both front wheel hubs- roaring noise $640 @77,339 miles; cooling fan bad @ 65,330; cooling fan replaced @ 73,118 miles-again. Got free loaner car-dealer is excellent. Love the car-best car ever owned in 40 years. Drives like a dream.