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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  2005 Volvo XC90 T6 - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By d bruns - June 7 - 11:33 am

  I bought the first XC90 in Wisconsin in July of 2003...after several problems, Volvo proposed a trade out and I bought a new 2004 XC90...The difference is remarkable! The Volvo XC90 I have now is tremendous. Volvo identified there reliablity/quality issues with the early models and did the right things for me...I am very satified!!

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  Fun To Drive If Not In Shop - 2000 Volvo S40
  By tak - June 7 - 10:00 am

  The car is definitely fun to drive but the minor problems that require it to be in the shop so often is a real nuisance. Examples are fading volume in radio (replaced once but problem is still there), faulty brake and check engine lights, AC makes funny noise, rattling of sideview mirrors at 65mph, replaced all four brakes @20,000 miles, replaced headlights @15,000 miles, etc. This car has only 32K miles and has been in the shop more often than my Geo Prism, which has 160K miles.

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  Disappointed - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Disappointed in MI - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Purchased car because of Volvos reputation and great price for the options. I had to change brakes after 1st year, and Im looking at another replacement on this second year. Dealer confessed that Volvo had a poor braking design warranteed the first set of brakes. Cup hold is in the way of the radio.

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  s60 3rd volvo - 2001 Volvo S60
  By lisaX3 - June 7 - 10:00 am

  S60 my third Volvo. Had 240, then 940. S60 has driving fun, but interior is small compared to previous Volvo. Doors dent at the slightest pressure. Previous Volvos exterior body structure was sturdier. Rear view visibility obscured by rear headrest. Have the auto drop for rear headrest, but that looks funny. Fearful that Ford has diluted Volvos character& reliability.

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  Serves many different needs comfortably - 2005 Volvo V70
  By Vince - June 4 - 6:36 am

  This is our second Volvo and weve been pleased with both. More nimble handling than expected with the 17" wheels, lots of cargo space, comfortable to sit in and drive. Im 64" and dont feel cramped. Great car for the children with integrated booster seats and third seat. Good fuel mileage -- average 27.5 combining highway, city, over hill and dale. Mechanically very sound. When started, engine revs to about 1500 rpm for about 10 seconds before decreasing to normal idle of about 700 rpm -- told this was to warm engine faster to improve emissions.

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  Fun and Relatively Economical Sleeper - 2005 Volvo S60
  By DNeuwir - June 2 - 2:56 am

  Owned for about 3 months now. With 5000 miles on the odometer, I can say this is definitely one of the "funnest" cars Ive owned. With 300hp, its exhilarating driving up freeway onramps. Though a little sluggish off the line (0-10mph, mostly due to being a low- displacement 5-cyl) once above 2500RPM the sky is the limit. The full-time AWD keeps all rubber on the road, even on wet pavement, though the P-Zero tires are NOT suited for icy or snow driving. Fuel efficiency is better than expected: 25mpg average combined (window sticker claimed 24 highway--I regularly see 30-32mpg on long straight stretches at 55-65mph). Build quality is not flawless, but is very good given the $40K price.

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  Lovin my volvo - 2004 Volvo S60
  By QTKT - June 2 - 2:00 am

  This is an excellent, fun, and safe car.

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  a/c noise - 2004 Volvo S60
  By lynvale - June 2 - 2:00 am

  car seems to put a strain on the a/c.when ideling a/c tends to be very loud and seems to hesitate.

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  Its worth it. - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By Shoe - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Solid, powerful car. Took it on kayaking trip, with all the gear and four passengers thru lite off-road conditions, and it handled flawlessly. Incredibly comfortable. Std stereo/CD/tape system adequate. A/C whines, cargo cover chirps. Handling superb, particularly in non-ideal conditions. Rear seating easily converts to ample cargo room. Rear hatch is awkward to lift with an armload. Love this car and recommend it.

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  Great Car - 2004 Volvo V70
  By domino2004 - June 2 - 2:00 am

  What a great car ! We had a 2002 Passat Wagon GLX 4 Motion and I was looking for more performance. We found the Volvo V70R, which meets every expectation for high performance vehicle in a wagon at good price. Buy it