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:

• 

  trip comfort - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By r.ketzel - December 25 - 10:00 am

  I have made two recent road trips in the past 2 months,2ooo mile round trip (20hrs each way, 2days ew.) and 1000 mile round trip (7hrs each way,1 day ew.) and had extreem weather conditions. My xc90 was a pleasure to drive and preformed exceptionaly well. My mpg was probably around 18.5.The drive was very comfortable.

• 

  Great for an outdoorsy on-the-go family! - 2006 Volvo XC70
  By oregonmom - December 25 - 12:00 am

  Weve owned our XC70 for four years and hope to keep it forever. We take many road trips - mountains, coasts, 1000+ mile trips, and its been wonderful. We havent had any problems at all. We do our regular oil changes and maintenance and it just goes anywhere we wish to take it! Today - at around 41K miles - we are shopping around for our first new set of tires. The Pirellis that came with the car were OK, but were going to put some Michelins on to see how we like those better. The kids get carsick in other vehicles, but have never had a problem in the XC70. We also camp quite a bit and are able to fit everything for a family of four into the back. Were very happy with our Volvo!

• 

  An Outstanding Experience - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Chicklett - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I am driving a premium pkg. option dark blue, black leather interior. It is a fabulous ride, my first volvo and I am hooked ! The car is extremely fun to drive with a lot of zip. The turbo engine option was a good choice for me. This is Not a family car unless you have babies. The back seat is very cramped especiaklly if there are two regular sized adults sitting in the front. The wagon would be a better option. The sound system is superb and I am very impressed with the resale values.

• 

  2004 XC90 - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By firtft - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Very few miles yet, but very happy so far!

• 

  Rocky Mountain Sleek - 2008 Volvo S40
  By Colorado Ms - December 18 - 10:33 pm

  Love it, Love it, Love it. Living at 9200 feet in the Rocky Mountains, I was concerned how it would fare. But it handles snow and ice better than my SUV did. Great handling and hugs the road- the car almost drives you. Interior is sophisticated and very comfortable. Congrats to Volvo for the sleek and modern body design. This car feels solid unlike most small sedans out today. For the quality, safety, and options found on this car you would have to pay thousands more if you bought another make.

• 

  It is an expensive car. - 2016 Volvo XC60
  By nigran - December 18 - 4:48 pm

  I thought I had preparation to make a deal based on edmunds.com recommendations. I only realize that edmunds.com did not help the clients to make an intelligent guess. The value stated on the edmunds.com is much higher than Kelly Blue Book. So I am not sure if edmunds.com intends to help car seekers or help the car agents. When I got to the car dealer, they made a different gimmick and I end up paying a high price, even beyond what I intended to. There are too many packages and it was not clear what the difference is between Drive-E versus platinum.

• 

  They just keep improving - 2006 Volvo V70
  By Ken J - December 18 - 5:33 am

  I have been driving Volvos since 1969. I think my loyalty is unsurpassed! I started with a 122S and have owned P1800s, 200 series, 7 series and 94, 97, 00, 03 and 06 wagons. My wife is currently driving a kool 05 V50 that we both enjoy driving. My current 06 is a T5 model with high pressure turbo. I ordered pretty much anything I could on this one and it is as close to perfect as any car I have driven. People are always on deck to pick up my 3 yr. old model at replacement time. My 06 has been blessed with 2 1/2 lowering springs and 19" wheels. The glass is deeply shaded and when I park it anywhere or drive through town it turns heads. The last 4 wagons have seldom required ANY warranty work.

• 

  Best Near-Luxury Sedan - 2006 Volvo S40
  By Emily - December 14 - 6:46 pm

  Just leased this vehicle a few days ago. It is fun to drive, looks great and has every feature I need for under $35K. It handles very well, the ride is smooth and Ive enjoyed every minute of driving it! The navigation system is superior to other systems Ive utilized in the past too.

• 

  Love it! - 2005 Volvo S40
  By najowa - December 14 - 2:03 pm

  Ive had my S40 since June of this year, and am so happy with it. I love the way it looks, it has a great ride, and great performance. I cant wait to see how it does in the New England snow this winter, as I mainly wanted this car because of its AWD. I went with the Select Package, which includes the sunroof, larger wheels, and upgraded stereo. The sound is awesome; everyone comments on how nice the stereo is. Cant wait until the C70 convertible, based on the S40 platform, comes out next year.

• 

  Great alternative! - 2005 Volvo S60
  By Jean - December 13 - 12:36 pm

  The Volvo S-60R is a great alternative to Audi S4/BMW M3; fully loaded it will run at least $10K less. While a tad slower in the straight away, the difference is not something even the above average driver would notice. On the highway, just a nudge of the gas pedal will take you right into jail time! The braking system is superb and the interior design is excellent (blue dials look great). Brand recognition in the US is still lagging, but you will surprise plenty of drivers that think its just a "safe car"! Gas mileage is good for 300 hp because Volvo engineers got it out of only 5 cylinders. Open the hood and take a look - the engine screams performance. All that and safety too.