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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  V40 No more Volvos for me - 2000 Volvo V40
  By V40 Owner - September 23 - 7:00 am

  This vehicle has given me fits pretty soon after I bought it used. First malfunction was a front left coil spring broke and ruined a brand new snow tire. A year and a half later left rear coil spring broke. Just replaced my second ignition coil last week after engine ran very rough and check engine light came on. Also had to replace an acceleration sensor (cant remember the technical name for it) that was a $200.00 sensor. Pwr window buttons on the doors are all broken too. I expected better quality from a Volvo.

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  Safety/ Quality issues - 2009 Volvo C30
  By Humble77338 - September 14 - 12:36 am

  Ive had a Volvo for 5 yrs so I thought a C30 was the way to go when replacing my other car. Oh was I wrong. In the 1st 200 miles, my passenger air bag was not working (pregnant wife refuses to ride in my new car now). The service depat. told me that they couldnt fit it in on a Saturday...too many more important oil changes I suppose.The dealer kept it for 3 days, and now the problem seems to have resolved itself. This morning (mile 500) I have an oil leak under my car. Im seeing that quality and safety are no longer top priorities with Volvo. Time to take it back again...more time off from work. Wish they would give me back my working trade-in so I could go elsewhere.

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  VOLVO XC60 T6 DYNAMIC, 2017 - 2017 Volvo XC60
  By Al.Usr - September 10 - 10:55 am

  Good mid size SUV, but $$$! Pros: all-wheel-drive, four-cylinder engines is powerful, regular gas a big plus, good MPG for this size, cabin is comfortable. Good road handling and modest cargo space. Cons : Noisy drive, hard suspension, small display screen for navigation and system control, outdated knob operated, is not touch screen and isnt user friendly. feels less luxurious than the same $$$ rivals.

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  It could have been a contender - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Family of four - September 9 - 10:00 am

  If you prefer the safety and handling of a station wagon to an SUV or a van, the V70 seems to be the ideal choice.But... Our V70 has been in the shop eight times in two years. Five bulbs have burned out, and not because of daytime running lights either, as turn signal and brake lights also burned out. The service department just states that this happens. Unfortunately, the most crashworthy car is not very safe when you are driving around out of town at night with one headlight.The remaining choices for a family are a much more expensive but well-made foreign wagon (not a jerry-rigged Ford) or a safe, boring, soggy-driving Toyota or Honda van.

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  Volvo is a Chinese owned nightmare. - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By jsh - August 27 - 12:00 pm

  This car is a beautiful car,, with extremely poor reliability, dont buy this car it makes range rover look low maintenance. from day one its been in the shop, belts brakes. Chineses software is crap.

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  Tire issues are a problem - 2006 Volvo C70
  By Bay area gal - August 26 - 1:43 am

  Told first set of tires were just bad tires and replaced at 20 k miles due to excessive cupping. Within 10 k miles back tires cupping again dealer monitored and replaced back tires only after stating they fixed the issue. Volvo would not replace front tires. Told tires on front had at least 20k miles at least on them with plenty of wear left. 3 months after replacing the back, cupping noise back. Dealer stated they did in fact hear and see cupping starting again. Did alignment and asked me to bring back for check in 5k miles. Waited 3k miles 2 months and was just told back tires are fine, no cupping which is discrepancy from 3 months ago and told front tires need replaced. Incredible

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  Just shoot it - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Kjo - August 22 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car because of the impeccable safety record in August 2002 and have had nothing but PROBLEMS since it left the dealership: Door locks and tail lights @ 35K miles; A brand new transmission at 36K miles; An ABS Sensor at 45K miles; Power Steering Lines @ 47K miles; and front suspension replaced at less than 54K miles. Fortuneately all this was under the extended warranty. Learned recently that my 40k car is only worth about 11K. Im not waiting for the extended warranty to expire next May. I am getting rid of this car NOW.

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  Great SUV --- Road Noise killed it for us - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Jim - August 4 - 7:56 am

  I was very excited about the XC 90 and love the interior, sound system, interface, seats etc..Test drove it on the freeway, and it was so loud we could not stand it. We even like the car so much we tried to talk our selfs out of the sound being not and issue, but could not! Volvo has to improve the sound proofing of a vehicle of this caliber and cost. Hopefully next years model will be better!

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  Not for the long run - 2000 Volvo S80
  By ampxs - July 29 - 11:56 am

  I bought this car is 2010 with 160k miles on it. I bought it AS-IS and they gave me a new battery since the one it had was dead. I got a great deal on it considering the milage. I had no issues with it for about the first year, after that the ac went out I have replaced the radiator myself for $90. I have replaced 2 ignition coils which I did myself ($80 a piece). I found out from the volvo dealer I needed a new ETM which is 1200 installed. I run the car without it being replaced and it surges. I changed both the axels which was difficult. I do oil changes every 6k miles. It has 220k miles now and needs a timing belt but it is 800 to replace. Its a good car if you dont mind putting lots of $

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  Throttle lag - 2015 Volvo XC60
  By William Stellin - July 23 - 5:05 pm

  My car has an unsafe throttle lag when starting up from a rolling or very slow speed. Ive almost been hit several times trying to get into heavy traffic. Dealer has had the car for 15 days over 3 visits. Fault codes say nothing is wrong and car is performing as designed. They will do nothing more. The car is unsafe and I want it fixed but dealer and factory says its ok. I say it is broken. I love all other aspects of the car. Problem started when the car was driven out of the dealer lot brand new. Service manager recognizes something is wrong but without computer proof can do nothing.