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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  excellent - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By lilhotshot06 - June 15 - 10:00 am

  excellent vehicle. Probably one of the best sports utility vehicles you can buy at this time.

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  Great All-Arounder - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Dan - June 14 - 11:56 pm

  I live in Germany and wanted something appropriate for the Autobahn and weather. My requirements were AWD and at least 300 hp, and safety was also a concern. I looked at and drove Audi, BMW and Mercedes. For the price range, there was nothing that compared to the Volvo S60R. An absolute blast to drive and comfortable. Crusing at 130 mph is effortless and very stable. With snow tires, it will drive through anything. Only gripe I have with it is the HORRIBLE turning radius....a real pain while in Europe.

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  I want to love you - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Vol fan - June 14 - 9:20 am

  I really want to love my 2016 XC90 momentum. A great looking car. I have 25,000 miles on the vehicle in less than 1 year of ownership. We have been in the shop for a total of 2 weeks to fix Sensus which boots and reboots. Navigation that stops. Loud clicking noises every time you turn, stop and go. Fealership replaced wheel bearings but still have the clicking issue and now the ride is horrible even after new tires etc.. as the vehicle shakes, rattles and rolls. I just took a very painful 8 hour family trip to Disney and now I am looking for my next vehicle. Pros. Good gas mileage, great interior layout with useable 3rd row seat. Love Sensus when it works. If the clicking could stop and the vehicle rode smooth like it did when first purchased then I would love it.

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  mostly positive - 2000 Volvo S40
  By prlady1 - June 14 - 12:43 am

  I really like the car; its relatively fun to drive, cute and comfortable. However, two things really bug me: 1. The light bulbs are always burning out. 2. The openings of the trunk and the rear doors are too small to fit large items inside, even though the storage capacity is adequate.

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  Catch the Sun - 2011 Volvo C70
  By B - June 13 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car! It rides like a coupe but has the fun of a convertible. From the aggressive nose to the LED taillights it is a nice looking and well engineered ride. The celestial blue gives it an air of dignity but the 18 inch rims give it that sport look. The gas mileage is so-so 19 in the city but you dont buy it for that...it has all the Volvo safety features and the 5 year (covers everything) warranty is "just in case." Had to wait for this special order...2 months...but the spring timing was perfect. The dealership, Fairfax Volvo, made certain that the car was perfect. Very pleased...enjoying the sun!!!

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  Buy It! - 2011 Volvo XC60
  By brew_daddy_27 - June 13 - 3:09 am

  I test drove and compared with the BMW X5, Audi Q5 and the Infiniti. Infiniti was tossed when I saw the size in person. Size matters! The only plus to the BMW was that I could add a third row of seating. The bad about both the BMW and the Audi was the price tag and what you get for that tag. The Volvo destroyed both in the safety department. I went with the T6 for the extra handling and body design. The curbside appeal of the T6 easily competes with the Audi (in my opinion wins). The end result is this, I have friend that purchased a loaded Q5 and another that purchased half loaded X5. Both are jealous of my loaded XC60. Not just the looks but the price tag was made them both weep.

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  Pretty good, but not great. - 2005 Volvo V50
  By misliss - June 13 - 12:16 am

  I am on my second V50. The first I had for a month, and it was in the shop 3 weeks of that month. After much complaining, I got Volvo to give me a new one, with more features. I have leased my car for 3 years and am about to buy it. It works pretty well for my life as a busy mom of one. But, the sunroof leaks, the interior lights sometimes work, and I have gone through more tires than I would like to admit. The car gets great gas mileage, drives nicely, has enough zip to keep me going, and is great on turns.

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  my 05 xc 90 V8 - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By cdoc - June 12 - 8:36 am

  I love the thing, but in the hills where I live, I am getting 13.5mpg. Too much gas in these days of high price and world concerns. Sounds hokey, but we gotta live in this world a long time and 13.5 is just unacceptable...

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  Mix Bag of Unknowns - 2008 Volvo XC70
  By Kevin - June 11 - 2:10 am

  We bought this in April and I am very sensitive to transmission quirks . It hunts incessantly from gear to gear indecisively making me a bit uncomfortable. I never felt confident and the mpg is not near the perf we should get. . I kept getting the runaround from the dealer saying its an "adaptive" trans. and would smooth out after break in , but I know cars and was upset 4 months later- gas mileage under 20 I finally snapped sold it on craigslist saying we were moving . Yeah moving from one car to another . The Volvo was true to its FORD bones-poor-power to weight. We got an Audi A4 - Like night and day- some sap got the VOLVO- Volvos now I know what all the hupla is about- nothing!

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  Volvo is synonymous with quality - 2002 Volvo S80
  By giocondo - June 10 - 10:27 pm

  I have my car for over 4 years currently has 104,000 miles and am very happy and satisfied with my s-80-t-6. 2002 driving my car every day and have never had problems of any kind. I give her maintenance when touched, very fast, good sound, stylish. is a car made ​​with quality. not by much.