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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  Not your Uncle Olafs Volvo 240D - 2012 Volvo S60
  By silverfox13 - June 8 - 5:12 am

  I am truly blown away by this car. I owned a 1980 Volvo 240GT years ago and loved it. I sold Volvos and BMWs in Canada for 4 years and loved both brands. I have had my T6 R-Design for only 5 months and was a little concerned I might miss my Infiniti G37 Sport with manual transmission. The S60 is so much fun to drive, I havent thought much about the G37. I liked what I saw and read when the S60 was redesigned and got seriously interested in the new R-Design. One test drive and I was sold. Only mistake I made was letting my wife use it for a short road trip. A week later we had traded in her Ford Edge on a stunning white/taupe interior Volvo C70 convertible.

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  They got me "For Life" - 2005 Volvo XC70
  By priusdriver101 - June 8 - 12:34 am

  I got an excellent deal on this XC70. The ride, seat comfort, power, and space make it the perfect vehicle. I only owned it for 1500 miles (It was an investment), but I am now sold on Volvo. I did have some issues: The siren stopped working (sunroof stopped working too because of this (weird, I know), and the timing belt needed to be replaced. Many people would say that wagons are lame, but this car has POWER. Fuel economy is just like any other Crossover SUV. The style is awesome. I wish mine had the Third row jump seat. And the nav. Great car. I have fallen for them, and now they have me "For Life"!

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  Great luxury car - 2009 Volvo S80
  By kamenal - June 7 - 9:40 am

  I have considered a 5 series BMW or a Mercedes E class, however when Volvo came up with $6,125 rebate last June, I could not ignore it. A Volvo S80 is a fast, supremely comfortable and well designed car. Perfect highway cruiser. Not as much of a drivers car as a BMW, but then again, you can relax and enjoy a smooth ride and responsive engine.

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  Great Driving Experience - 2011 Volvo C30
  By califas - June 6 - 7:42 am

  In evaluating a car, first you define the mission. No car can be all things. If you want a Corvette, you understand that it cant have the gas mileage of a Prius. This is the T5 C30 with 17 in wheels: A small, nimble car with an appealing and distinctive aesthetic that coddles the driver with excellent ride dynamics and great interior design. It is not trying to be a track car. It is 2+2 GT road car. It gets you through your driving day with a minimum of fatigue and a maximum of bliss. It has the quickness and agility to squeeze through traffic, yet still has a cabin that is quiet and comfortable. Plus, it feels like quality, it is nice to look at, and it is just fun to drive.

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  New S40 2.4i - 2005 Volvo S40
  By richard - June 3 - 7:26 am

  The vehicle handles at top speed and curves. However, the initial pick-up is a bit slow. The interiors are gorgeous, as well as the exterior. Good workmanship, both in and out.

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  Luv My Car - 2005 Volvo V50
  By LvnMycar - June 2 - 4:20 am

  I am enjoying my car. My last car was a new convertable (too small) then before it a SUV. This car gives me lots of room and sporty so it does not feel like a "Mom wagon." I have the upgrade sound system which I love and the sports package! It has a smooth drive and comfortable on long trips.

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  last rwd Great volvo - 1997 Volvo 960
  By fjr - June 1 - 2:00 am

  Ive been driving volvos for 17 yrs & would not trade this world class luxury sports sedan for all the tea in china. I just surpassed 150,000 trouble free miles. By far the best value in the rwd euro segment compared to the mb E320, bmw528, lexusGS300. Too bad volvo dropped the ball & quit building rwd cars... they lost a large segment of their customers because of it.

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  Excellent Performance and Build Quality - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Leo - Rochester, MI - June 1 - 2:00 am

  Ive gotten the car for about a month and only can say Im very happy with the performance and brinsky acceleration of the car. The engine is very strong and feels much bigger due to the high low end torque. No turbo lag experienced even when loaded in stop and go city driving. The powerful response at higher speeds is simply unmatched for sedans of its class. No torque steering and perfect handling at all conditions. Fuel mileage can hurt when driven at high performance mode. Marvelous brakes and tight feeling manual transmission.

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  Such a great car! - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By lapidusa - May 31 - 5:26 pm

  I was hesitant to get what I thought was a pretty fancy car, but it was such a good purchase. The car really is many things all at once. It drives like a sports car even with a 5 cylinder engine. It packs gear like a big car yet is not a tremendous SUV. It handles sketchy terrain well yet hums down the highway very politely. The interior is thoughtful and well crafted. And on top of that, it really seems to make some conscious effort to be a thoughtful car (ultra low emmision engine, safety features for both occupants and pedestrians). Luxurious without being offensive. Not a single problem mechanically.

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  Great Car - 2005 Volvo S80
  By Richard L. Turner - May 29 - 6:23 pm

  My Volvo S80 is a very comfortable car to drive. The neck and back support are the best I have ever had in a car. I can fold the back seats down for transporting goods and groceries. The car has a great pickup at about 270 horsepower. I own three volvos and will stick with volvo as I feel they are one of the safest cars on the road as well as being powerful and comfortable. The outside style has dramatically improved since the old box shaped volvos. I cant ask for a better car. The service dept. at West County Volvo has always been friendly and efficient. Proud to say I dont have to take my volvo in very often.