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:

• 

  S60 is the car to have - 2005 Volvo S60
  By Rick - October 27 - 10:43 pm

  WOW! This is the best purchase that I have done. I feel extremly safe and if I had the money I would buy another volvo for my wife. One of the reasons that I bought this car is for its safety feaures.

• 

  Freds Volvo V50 - 2006 Volvo V50
  By Fred Torres - October 27 - 8:43 pm

  I bought this car from Power Volvo Irvine. Picked up the car in Gothenborg, Sweden. Drove it for 4,800 miles in Northern Europe (Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, France) for five weeks. Its Autobahn certified. Lots of fun. This car is as good as claimed. Lots of get-up-and-go, extremely brisk. The car is now garaged here at our home in California and it has become a precious and memorable souvenir.

• 

  Reliable Fun - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Jay - October 27 - 8:36 pm

  I started out loving the car. Right after it went out of warranty I had a number of small issues. My dealer recommended that I contact the regional manager and I complained to him that all my miles were expressway and I was unhappy that these problems occurred. He authorized the dealership to take care of these and I was not charged. Thanks Volvo customer service! I have had very few problems since then and currently have 238,500 miles on the car. I have driven and would buy a new 2007 Volvo S80, but I do not like the new center console and the way my knee hits up against it is uncomfortable. As much time as I spend in the car comfort is important so I am now looking at a competitors car.

• 

  Best Car Nobody Ever Heard of - 2008 Volvo C30
  By Jack Rabbit - October 26 - 3:06 am

  Ive had mine for 9 months now and I have seen no more than a half a dozen on the road in all that time. I have to ask, why? Is the car-buying public as averse to doing some research as the voting public is? This car replaced my Audi TT ruined in a crash (excuse me while I shed a tear) and it is hard to tell the difference. The turbo and handling are TT class and I know enough now to want all the airbags and doors so solid it takes help to open them. So why arent they selling? Too much for the money. Economy conscious people seem not to want this much car. Personally, Im the nut who says, "if it runs on regular it must be crap." This car is fun, fast, and yet practical.

• 

  Completely Satisfied! - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Steve_Fisher_TBS - October 25 - 2:00 am

  I know the saying, usually the ones to speak up are the ones with complaints. I have no complaints at all! I bought this car used with about 20,000 miles. The car now has about 70,000 and has been like gold to me. I love getting in my car and driving every chance I get! Very comfortable and very reliable. Did I say fast? With its twin turbos, the T6 is incredible! Maintenance has been low and priced right. This car has exceeded my expectations and I am 100% satisfied with this model!

• 

  SKIP - 1999 Volvo S70
  By bradley smith - October 24 - 10:00 am

  EASY TO DRIVE WELL BUILT SEATS COMFORTABLE GOOD GAS MILAGE INTERIOR CLEANED EVERY TWO WEEKS ALWAYS GARAGED SERVICED EVERY 2500 MILES NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT

• 

  V50 2.4i 4dr Wagon (2.4L 5 cyl 5A) - 2007 Volvo V50
  By david - October 24 - 8:40 am

  Just bought our V50 yesterday and had an above average experience at the local dealer. Not pushy at all. Gave us a fair value on our trade in (93 Mazda 626). Car cost $30,000 + tax/tags. We also got 2.9% financing for 4 years. Car was loaded with following packages; Black Paint, Black Leather, Climate, Select, Trim Package, Body Styling package, Sirius Sat Radio. Very good looking wagon. I believe this was a fair price considering the added packages it came with and financing package (in lieu of incentives). Still need to drive it more for a review on handling but for a small family it appears to be a great alternative to a gas guzzling SUV.

• 

  excellent suv - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By karen - October 24 - 6:03 am

  this car is probably the best vehicle I have owned. I feel it beats the x5, fx35 and is the safest suv on the road

• 

  Love my Volvo - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Cape Cod - October 21 - 10:36 am

  From the first day I bought the car it has been great. I have to take it on long trips and Ive always felt safe even in some bad storms. I have a very steep driveway and in the winter the car handles it fine. It has great gas mileage for the size and comfort of the car. It still looks like new in and out. Im looking to buy another one.

• 

  A great drive - 2005 Volvo S60
  By Volvoägare - October 21 - 5:23 am

  This car is about the best car I have ever driven. It handles like a sports car, in particular when setting the chassis to "advanced". The quality of workmanship is high and both the interior and exterior design leaves nothing more to wish for.