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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  Dont get a Volvo! - 2001 Volvo S60
  By alex - April 18 - 3:26 am

  Owning this car made me realize what kind of company Volvo is. First of all all Volvo dealers are franchased independant shops, that means Volvo has NO control over them. I had bad experience with Bay Ridge Volvo - American Inc located in Brooklyn NY. My s60 was fine until 110k miles. I started having engine idling problems. This BayRidgeVolvo dealer told me, first we will change all 6 injectors $1600 then maybe catalytic $1000+ but didnt promise that this problem will go away. I went to another shop who changed PCV valve for $150. Before they tried to shut off the check engine light 4 times, charging me each time for something new. I had to fight to get my $ back, but did not get all of it.

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  AC fails after a week - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Randal Doerner - February 25 - 2:12 pm

  What can I say.... In one week, the AC has stopped cooling. ONE WEEK!

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  Extended Warrenty saves the day - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Lemon - February 23 - 5:50 pm

  This car is in the shop about once a month. Luckily we bought the extended service warranty as the build quality is on par with some of the first generation Korean models. Some the failures are real safety concerns. I guess the positive if the parts do fail and result in accident you know you will be safe.

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  sorry i bought it - 2002 Volvo C70
  By kpb - February 7 - 11:16 pm

  I was swayed by the looks when I bought this car. It has been in the show more than a dozen times in one year. The windows rattle, the top flaps in the wind, the turning radius is almost unsafe, and twice my brakes have malfunctioned and needed major repair - with only 25K mileage. Good looking is the only good thing I can say about his car.

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  Disappointed with quality & reliability - 1998 Volvo S70
  By Bst - February 5 - 10:36 pm

  I can only echo the experience "Too many problems" described. The car served us well for the first 50k miles or so before serious reliability and fit/finish problems arose. The cars ride is solid but choppy over rough pavement. The placement of the center console makes the driving position cramped and uncomfortable for taller drivers. I appreciate the fact that it is a safe car but these days there are a multitude of cars on the market that are just as safe, yet less expensive and more reliable and comfortable. Hello Honda, goodbye Volvo.

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  Will never buy another Volvo! - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Volvo Victim - February 4 - 8:40 pm

  Out of the 4 cars I have owned I have had the most trouble with my S40 Volvo. In a 4 yr. period I have paid $8,000 in repair (that includes 1 scheduled maintenance at 80,000 miles but does not include regular oil changes). A few problematic things to mention are shifter broke, radiator hoses, motor mounts catalytic converter, attena stopped working, window stopped working, O2 sensors...the list goes on. I will never buy another Volvo!

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  dont waste your money $$$ on it! - 2002 Volvo S60
  By xsnirvana - February 2 - 10:00 am

  even for an entry level luxury sedan, one has high hopes. this car fell short even with the $$$. there are fit and trim problems. a re-ocurring issue with the front suspension, poor service from Volvo dealers who basically treat you no better than going to a Ford outfit! perhaps Ford made too many changes when they bought them???

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  Volvo wears out - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Jim - December 19 - 2:23 pm

  I bought mine used at 28,000 and have put only 14,000 on each of the last two years. At 56,000 miles the transmission went and the quote from Volvo was $3,500 to fix. since it was just past the 50,000 mile warranty Volvo offered no assistance and they lowballed the value of the trade-in, even though I was offering to buy a 2006 S80. Based on the unreliability of the car and the atitude of Volvo this was the first and only Volvo my family will be owning.

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  Find a good mechanic - 2002 Volvo S60
  By Mike - November 20 - 3:53 pm

  A fun car to drive, but with 85,000 miles Ive had my list of problems. With extreme heat (like in Las Vegas) expect the "wood" interior paneling to peel off. Fuel cap door, like many other posts have said, will break. Dont bother fixing it....it will break again. Headlights, buy them in bulk because you will replace them every couple months. Dropped a pretty penny on struts, tires and brakes, but that is my fault for buying a used car without getting it checked out by a mechanic first. New battery, fuel pump, and fuel filter, and it still wont start until you try it a couple times. 20 mpg isnt quite what I had expected from a sedan.

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  Last Volvo Ever - 2007 Volvo S60
  By Dennis - November 6 - 3:33 pm

  The gas filler cap leaked on the car since the first full tank of gas.Service simply stated that they could not duplicate the problem so that is where we stand. Seat belt locks, so it is sometimes impossible to lean forward to see oncoming traffic. The overall quality and value leave a lot to be desired. I wish I would have kept my Infiniti, it would have been seven years old now but it was a much better car.