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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  Good looking, comfortable cruiser - 2005 Volvo V70
  By direnius - July 14 - 2:42 pm

  Living in Istanbul with narrow street and lots of ups and downs I was a bit worried how this car would handle the city. But it did -even better than my previous V40. Its a joy to drive to work every day, but even more fun to drive around in the country side. Its audio (Dynaudio) is wonderfull, the power (2.0T) is more than enough to get the head start, needed once in a while and the comfort is unbeatable. What it lacks is a USB (or even AUX) connection. Thinking that one third of the price Renaults has both a MP3 playing CD player and a USB connection standart, this is something Volvo should be ashamed of. Still its a beauty and a more good looking station wagon is hard to come by.

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  Disappointed with 98 V70 Wagon - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Volvo Fan - July 13 - 1:16 pm

  I have owned both the 90 240 sedan and 85 240 wagon. I still have my 85 wagon and love it even with 200,000 plus... safe, sturdy and dependable, though quite noisy. After having kids it was a natural progression to go to the V70 but after the 100000 mark it has been a big disappointment. Computer problems with unclear diagnosis, interior cosmetic problems like leather pulling away from doors, visor flopping down, interior plastic pulling away from the tailgate, rubber edging falling off the door and more. We treat the car well and gently (never slamming the doors). I have spent $2000 to maintain the car in 2004 (thats without fixing the leather interior/tailgate).Not what Volvo used to be.

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  Nice car, with a few shortcomings - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By Carsten S - July 12 - 9:43 pm

  Overall, I am satisfied with the car. On many levels it compares well with other imported SUVs, and is more reasonably priced than many of them. The cargo room it provides is quite good. 2nd row seating is tight front and aft when the third row option is installed. Volvo has a very skimpy maintenance plan, comp. to others, just the first is free. Gas mileage: try as I might, never more than 17mpg. A BMW X3 is much quicker and with beter mileage. Reliability: the shift lever will not leave park on cold days for up to 1min. Even a "fix" didnt help. Traction: Problems with 4wd engagement led to recall, but mine still spins through in FWD on even just slightly wet surfaces. Very annoying

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  Awful in Snow - 2002 Volvo S60
  By BarbB - July 12 - 8:40 pm

  I like the look and the comfort of the Volvo - love the leather heated seats - but it handles terribly in snow. I am petrified to drive it in winter - have slid through intersections, need to crawl on the highway, etc. I bought the AWD thinking it would be good in poor road conditions but quite the opposite is true. I needed a car quickly to replace my beloved Nissan Sentra that was totaled in a hail storm. I jumped on the used Volvo based mostly on a friends recommendation. Now I cant wait to get rid of it. Also, the AM radio never worked properly. And repairs cost an arm and a leg. Never again, Volvo.

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  All Good Thus Far - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By NeoVolvoLoyalist - July 12 - 8:40 pm

  My wife and I have had this vehicle for about a month now, and we have been thoroughly satisfied. I have been a VW fanatic since birth, and this is my first car (I bought a Ford Truck about 4 years ago) purchase outside of VW in my life. I was immediately impressed with the handling of the car for such a large vehicle. Additionally, we have been impressed with the sheer volume of the vehicle as we moved up from a VW Jetta. I am also very impressed with the maintenance plan of 60000 miles. Overall this is perhaps one of the best purchases Ive ever made. I would highly recommend it, its at least worth a look.

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  Love my Volvo - 1996 Volvo 850
  By Paula - July 11 - 6:40 pm

  When I bought this car it needed a new timing belt, which also means a new water pump. Other than that it is so much fun to drive, lots of pep,easy to haul my 100 pound dog and cat in, and easy for them to get inand out. It gets better mileage than our 2003 Cadillac, and looks great doing it. The cup holders are the only problem, and theyre horrible.

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  Great car needs better tires - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By scatback - July 11 - 6:46 am

  20,000 trouble free miles in the V-8, average 19.7 mpg in mixed driving. Love the premium leather, the drive train, the ride and quality and the looks. But Volvo shouldnt build a all wheel drive car with the 19" Pirelli Scorpians. They are useless, not to say dangerous, in even light snow, got real noisy after 15,000 miles and were ready for scrap after 20k. Ive replaced the with Conti HDCs, which are stock on Mercedes. My only other complaint is the turning radius that resembles a super tanker (supposedly to accommodate the width of the V-8); we call ours the "Queen Mary".

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  Not a great car - 2001 Volvo S40
  By awree5 - July 10 - 6:55 pm

  I bought the vehicle last year with 62,000 miles on it. Being a Volvo, I thought it was reliable and a great buy. As soon as I pulled out of the lot check engine light went on and brought it back to get the spark plugs fixed. I recently just traded it in and I have had it less than a year! I had to replace brakes, check engine light would not turn off, blown turbo, two ball joints, shocks, and lastly to top it off there was a transmission problem after just four months of having it. Something broke every month and costs were just as much as I bought it for. Got rid of it with 78,000 miles god bless who ever gets one

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  Best damn car report - 2004 Volvo S40
  By Mitja - July 10 - 10:00 am

  Fast sleek and sexy. She handles and keeps up with the rest of them. An investment worth taking. Would never buy another car brand again.

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  V50 Problems - 2007 Volvo V50
  By jroberts - July 8 - 9:13 pm

  I have driven Volvo for twenty years. I traded my 1994 940 in 2007 for the V50, Big Mistake! Within the first 45 days problems began.I was told that the computer didnt find any problems. After monthly visits and 1.5 years the dealership took me seriously & VOLVO created a download to correct the car computer,things seemed better. Then 6 months later the horn began to honk for periods of 5 miles. Once again I was told that the computer didnt show a problem. Unable to deal with the monthly trips to the dealership I traded for a Mercedes. I feel like a traitor, but apparently there are problems that exist that the computer doesnt show.