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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  New to Me - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Annapolis John - May 16 - 2:00 am

  I did a lot of searching before buying this car. Ive owned a BMW 5-Series and a MB E500. The S60 competes very well, without the snob factor and high price. I bought a Certified Pre-Owned and it looks brand new! Cant beat the price and the warranty. The dealership is great, so far. Ill add another post after Ive had more experience with the car and dealer.

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  Extremely pleased owner - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Super v70GLT - May 15 - 12:30 am

  Great car inside and out. Very reilable vehicle with only standard maintenance items(e.g. brakes, tires). Excellent power plant and fun to drive - my wife loves it; she takes it on weekends and I get the minivan! Comfort, fuel economy, reliability, classic styling make this my favorite car so far . . . . though I still miss my 1986 760 Turbo wagon. One great car after another, and the walnut trim inside against the tan leather completes the look, comfort and feel of this great wagon. If I had to do it again, Id have bought this one sooner.

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  volvo ownership - 2004 Volvo S80
  By La Vonne Stewart - May 14 - 10:40 pm

  Sitting in this vehicle is comfortable but Ido not like the center console. It is not convenient to have a cup of coffee while driving. And that mickey mouse pop-up console drives me baty as it doesnt hold anything properly. i also dislike the control for the side view mirrors. Your 1986 model was much more efficient. I hate having to hit the right or left first then adjust. Ive had better steering wheel adjustments. Take the 1983 Tyota for instance. I dont really feel I have complete control of this vehicle. It in a way controls me. And I would prefer push button passing gear..like the 91 240for instance. Also theres not enough room for C.D storage nor does it fit properly.

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  Just a great car - 1996 Volvo 850
  By pmulry - May 14 - 10:00 am

  We bought our 850 used a little over a year ago and its been a gem. From these reviews, it looks like you either get a dog or a jewel, so we were lucky. We bought it with just over 100k on the odometer and have put about 15k on it in a year. From the way that it drives, you would never suspect that it has that many miles on it, it drives just like a new car. In our year of ownership, weve averaged just over 20mpg and the only cost weve had (other than oil changes) was for an A/C repair early last summer for about $300. I highly recommend this car.

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  I Love It!! - 2000 Volvo S70
  By desi - May 14 - 10:00 am

  This is my 2nd Volvo. Before, I had a 1986 Volvo 740 GLE. I got 208,925 miles on that baby. And I would still have it if my son didnt total it in a car accident. The S70 is not as sturdy as the 740 was. There are too many electrical components to the S70 and I believe that is the problem. The mechanics are not fully trained on these new computer circuits and chips. Overall, I love the power of my S70. And, yes, you do tend to hear more highway noise then my previous Volvo 740 GLE. And, I agree the cup holders are a joke for such classy car.

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  Good Deal for the Money - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By RD - May 14 - 4:13 am

  We came out of a BMW X5 4.4 and couldnt be happier. Performance is the same, ride is sporty but not as stiff; we pretty much got this thing loaded and got a free Garmin Nav unit as well. Ended up with the V8 because we didnt feel the 6 cyl could do the job. Fuel economy in 600 miles of in- town driving around 16.5 mpg; pretty good for a heavy car. The biggest thing for us was keeping the same size SUV and getting more interior room and with the 3rd seat down, there is plenty for her and the babys stuff. We got ours at the end of the month and after negotiating, they practically gave this thing away. Get the Executive pack with different leather and the blindspot info deal; worth it.

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  Overengineered, Overpriced, Unreliable - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Karen - May 14 - 3:40 am

  After 2 years of owning an XC90, we decided to sell it -- while we still could. On average, our car was in the shop for service every 3 months. Small, annoying things were always going wrong and they were generally related to the electrical system/computer malfunctioning. Additionally, in two years, the car had over 16 recall items -- many safety related. Also, for a mid-size SUV, the gas mileage was terrible. Anyone for whom reliability is a priority should steer clear and drive directly to the nearest Acura dealership.

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  Fun Car, Safe Car - 2003 Volvo V40
  By Jeremias Gentry - May 14 - 2:00 am

  We were looking for a good combination of a vehicle that was fun to drive, safe in the event of an accident, and provided utility for a small family. We found it in the V40. I was suprised by the smooth acceleration and responsiveness, definitely enough to work through the perilous Atlanta traffic with ease. We test drove all the wagons and felt this was our best option.

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  V70 - VERY VERSATILE - 2002 Volvo V70
  By mansel - May 14 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned this car for 13 months and had put 15500 miles on it thus far. It is by far the most comfortable car Ive owned. Ive driven it on several 11 hour trips without incurring my usual backache. (which is what I would of had with all the other cars Ive owned.) overall I love this car but it hasnt been without its problems. nothing serious mind you but Ive been to the dealer for repairs 3 times in 12 months.

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  Good buy! - 2000 Volvo S80
  By nlhopki1 - May 14 - 2:00 am

  We have really been thrilled with our S80. It is fun drive, looks sharp, is incredibly safe, and has been very reliable.