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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  Content Owner - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Sarah - October 13 - 11:53 pm

  I bought mine as a certified car in 2002 with only 18,000 miles on it for $14,000. Id always wanted a Volvo, and for being a junior in college, I was lucky to purchase one at a young age. It now has 60,000 miles. The cup holder above the cd player was an annoyance. I had to remove my drink to put in a cd and couldnt really see any buttons when the cup was there. But now I dont have to worry about it because I pushed in in one time and its completely stuck. Completely stuck as in, Im not paying $80 for them to unstick it. You all know of the headlight situation. Luckily if the dealership replaces the bulb, there is a one year warranty on it. Makes the $15 labor charge worth it apparently

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  Great Car - Until 170,000 miles - 1999 Volvo S70
  By Bill - October 13 - 11:20 pm

  I purchased this car used in 2000 with about 11,000 miles. It was absolutely perfect until about 170,000 when the Electronic Throttle Module failed. Before buying any used Volvo from this time period I would thoroughly research the ETM and the problems its caused. Its a very expensive part, and the replacement is just as likely to fail as the original. And since replacing mine, Ive had several other problems with it and related parts. Ive completely lost confidence in the car. Having said that, it was a great car for 10 years.

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  Amazing step up for Volvo - 2012 Volvo S60
  By volodoscope - October 12 - 2:46 pm

  I just love the direction Volvo is taking. For years the cars were little bit more expensive than competition and the designs were not general enough. The S60 design turns heads. I can always spot it on the highway. Volvo has really stepped out their comfort zone with s60. I love how fresh and futuristic S60 looks but it still feels safe, comfortable and durable. The most amazing thing is how smooth the ride is. I can barely hear the engine. Every little interior details makes sense, there are no random buttons that complicate the interaction. It was always my dream to have a Volvo and I am so happy its S60. And Im 26. Good job Volvo!

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  V50 Review - 2005 Volvo V50
  By pd23 - October 11 - 2:16 pm

  Bought the 2005 Volvo V50 T5 for its modern, sleek center panel, awesome upgraded stereo, and excellent low-end torque (i.e. great peppiness when driving). The AWD, Volvo safety, and beautiful outward appearance of the car are great. I chose this car over the the 2005 Subaru Outback (suboptimal stereo), Mazda 6 (only FWD), and Nissan Murano.

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  Great SUV (When It WORKS) - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Dave H - October 10 - 8:49 pm

  When my wife and I leased this SUV, we fell in LOVE with it. The screen, controls, the safety features and even the gas mileage was great. We had it for 5 months and then the entire computer system went NUTS. Left me stranded in a parking lot without being able to start the car because the computer applied the parking brake and would not let go. Then the car only started the first try 70% of the time. It took some button pushing and resetting with the door locks the other 30% (NO IDEA WHY) Then the noises started. The dealer ended up replacing the entire front end and still noises persisted. It ended up being faulty transmission and engine mounts. To reiterate what another reviewer said, the dealer had to learn from Volvo Cars of America technicians how to work on the car. Our XC90 was in the shop for more than 2 months that we had it. We are now giving the car back to Volvo but if we were to keep it, it needs a software upgrade and the windows screech all the way down and up. I love the styling and honestly love the SUV, but it seems they need to work through many items to make this Car of the Year worthy.

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  Mechanical Problems - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Steve - October 9 - 3:50 am

  I purchased the Volvo for its safety and value. During the 27 months I have owned it, there have been at least 10 recalls, the brake pads had to be replaced at 20,000 miles (and I had to pay for them even though I leased it with all maintenance included) AND the transmission was replaced at 37,000 miles. I cant wait until my lease is up!

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  Damn Fine Automobile - 2002 Volvo S80
  By Road Warrior - October 7 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car! Its fast enough, limo quiet, safe and handles beautifully.

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  Volvo is Value! - 2007 Volvo S80
  By Best Car For Money! - October 6 - 4:00 am

  Wow, is all I keep telling myself. I picked up a loaded S80 3.2L on a 24 month lease and LOVE IT! I had a 1999 S80, and after many issues with that car, I looked to Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes. After test driving the 2007 S80 and comparing it to the competition, the S80 was the best car for the money. It drives like a dream and the amenities are endless. It is simple, elegant, easy to use, and sooo sexy! Only wish she was a bit faster - but dealership says there will be a software upgrade for the lag. Simply the best! Already have 3,000 miles - no problems!

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  Volvo S40 - 2003 model - 2003 Volvo S40
  By Cindy - October 6 - 12:03 am

  Have owned this car for 2 years. Excellent road car, great around town. A/C is exceptional, esp. for Texas heat. Turning radius is typical Volvo - turns on a dime. Love the car!

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  XC 60 is a First Class Vehicle - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By Ed Knodle - October 5 - 12:46 pm

  Our purchase of the xc60 was after 6 months of research and evaluation on practically every SUV from all manufacturers. This is our fourth Volvo in the past 20 years and we can say that the thought and attention to detail that goes into a Volvo is top notch. We traded in our ten year old S80 T6 for this car and the XC60 outshines the S80 in every respect, comfort, fit and finish, performance, and yes the mpg is comparable. MPG is a weakness but not disqualifying when compared to similar engine and drivetrain configurations. The 3.2 version improves the mpg but at the expense of power. In summary Volvo has come up with a winner.