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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  Volvos rock - 2002 Volvo S80
  By volvo babe - July 1 - 10:00 am

  Overall I love this car, and I am very happy that they came out with the matching trim.

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  Very Comfortable - 2008 Volvo S80
  By Matt Bernsen - June 28 - 10:46 am

  I am very impressed with this car. Its the most comfortable car Ive ever driven (most recent cars were Passat & Murano). Very elegant, simplistic interior, eye-catching exterior and solid construction. My only complaint so far is the fuel consumption (20 mpg avg - high for a V6)

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  S60R...awesome and subtle - 2005 Volvo S60
  By Marty - June 26 - 3:06 pm

  I have driven an A4 Quattro and find the S60R hard to beat. After driving it the first 2000 miles in mixed driving, the unique power is really exhilarating yet efficient. The looks are unique with the 18" wheels without the added spoilers and such. Detail in the interior is very good and the upgraded sound system is awesome. I bought the Sirius and Ipod options and all kinds of entertainment is at my finger tips. I LOVE IT!!

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  Nice car - 2006 Volvo XC70
  By Rick - June 26 - 3:26 am

  This is a very comfortable car . the gas mileage is ok for this size engine and all wheel drive.

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  Great Car For this Segment... - 2007 Volvo S40
  By zumajay - June 25 - 7:13 am

  Ive owned a mid 90s Maxima SE, Miata M, and WRX... and to most dealers dismay, Im an avid test driver of new cars just for fun. The Volvo is really impressive: great exterior lines, beautiful clean and contemporary interior, and just awesome for its price. The initial build quality is nice and the materials used are great. Engine is by no means a monster but very well refined and gives a nice balance between performance, economy, and strong MPG.

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  I like my S80 - 2003 Volvo S80
  By S80Jim - June 24 - 2:00 am

  After 7 months, I have been impressed by this car. Very comfortable to drive. The exterior looks set this car apart since it is not another "me-too" look. Interior is well laid out and seats are very comfortable - even on long drives.

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  Safe, Fun, Performance - Wifes car :( - 2005 Volvo S40
  By SaturnManMike - June 22 - 9:50 am

  Picked up a loaded T5... Was going to order a 2.4i but opted to drive the turbo... Worlds apart in acceleration. The car just wants to fly coming out of second gear. Sixth gear is great travling down the interstate. Handling is good on back roads. Little rough on the interstate, but that is to be expected. All the controls are laid out nicely - Center stack is really neat, did not even notice the storage behind it. Options on car - Premium, Sport, Audio, Climate, Convenience, DSTC, and BI- Xeon...

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  Who needs options - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Dale - June 16 - 10:32 pm

  The base Momentum is a steal compared to the competition. The only option I ordered was a trailer hitch. The ride is smooth and quiet. The sound system is great. The seats are the most comfortable I have every experienced. So many optional items on other vehicles are standard such as heated, leather, power seats, huge moonroof, navigation and lots of safety features. We are getting 27 to 28 MPG on the highway at 70 to 75 miles per hour in calm winds. I am not a fan of the auto start/stop function and I prefer the Dynamic driving mode which is very peppy in city driving and disables the start/stop function. I wish the car remembered the previous driving mode setting so you dont have to select it each time you start the car. I also would like to see a Home Link option for opening the garage door.

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  great car - 2006 Volvo S60
  By ingrid - June 14 - 12:43 am

  The leather and sport package make this car as much fun to drive as my husbands BMW 530i. Plus, I didnt have to drive around with the owners manual the first week like he did.

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  Very nice Car - 2008 Volvo S80
  By First Time Volvo Dri - June 13 - 8:16 pm

  I never thought I would be the owner of a Volvo, but fell in love with the safety features, and torquey engines. Although critized I find the ride quite smooth and as pleasant as my wifes Mercedes. The car feels like it floats, and such is not as engaging as BMW, infiniti or alike. The car rides like a cruiser. The car has great passing power, but feels a little slow off the line. The interior is all soft to touch and feels like reserved luxury. You can tell all controls were put in place with safety in mind. The Navi is placed on top of the dash and is operated via steering wheel controls to minimize driver distraction. All audio/car settings can only be adjusted when the car is stopped.