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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  Very happy with XC60 T5 after 6 months..... - 2015 Volvo XC60
  By cmvolz - October 3 - 12:01 pm

  We downsized from our XC90 to the XC60 T5. I was apprehensive going from an AWD platform to the FWD. But thus far the XC60 T5 has been just terrific to drive, extremely responsive, fuel economy as advertised and the turbo makes it quite the pocket rocket. Lots of compliments too. Dealer has been great. This is our seventh (7th) Volvo over the years and the XC90 is the most fun Volvo yet.

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  Excellent Value - 2006 Volvo S40
  By snead_c - October 1 - 10:30 am

  I replaced a Subie STi with my Volvo.A definite step down in performance but necessary at this time. Im very pleased with my overall experience with the car. It gives over 30 MPG on the highway and is very comfortable to drive.

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  Great Purchase - 2005 Volvo S60
  By Erica - September 27 - 4:30 am

  I just got this car a few days ago and absolutely love it. Its a lot of fun to drive and feels much heavier than my 01 Honda Civic (which I also liked as well) on the road. Great transmission and excellent power. Jurys still out on gas mileage , but for the smooth ride, its worth it! Also very pleased with all of the safety features. Hope to have the car for a long time to come!

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  Set yourself apart from the crown - 2015 Volvo V60
  By Matt - September 25 - 1:04 pm

  Americans need to wake up and end the crossover craze. And the Volvo V60 is a fantastic option. Not only does it offer exceptional design style, but it handles like a sports car - something a SUV cant offer. In addition I still can have optional awd and it can tow my speed boat on a trailer. The engine has incredible pick up, and the ride is just fun. This may be my best car purchase ever!

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  lolos volvo - 1996 Volvo 850
  By lolo - September 24 - 10:00 am

  great solid car, even the trunk lid is heavy so you know the passenger cage will be protected in case of serious accident. fast car,as soon as u pass the initial turbo lag, for its size and weight. above average maintenance/ repair fees but not unusual or even less than other european cars. Master cylinder replaced at around 80000 miles, otherwise no other major repairs done.

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  Quite the cruiser.. - 2003 Volvo S60
  By Bap106 - September 24 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I enjoy road travel, and this car has shown us that it is capable of cruising for hours without breaking a sweat. You quickly realize the car just seems to eat up the pavement. We especially enjoy the comfort in knowing the safety features are there...just in case you may need them.

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  Best in class - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By bballnut - September 24 - 10:00 am

  Exceeded my expectations. Fun to drive and performs well in bad weather. Pulls the PWCs out of water without slipping on the ramp. Center section of rear seat folds to keep two kids separated and provides a place to set the Playstation 2 for playing games and watching DVDs. Also a great place to put the water skis. Fold flat 3rd row seats provide ample storage space for dog cage and luggage.

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  Great sporty exterior styling--w/noises - 2006 Volvo S40
  By shannoningr - September 21 - 11:33 pm

  Overall, I loved this vehicle. It was a bit of an adjustment going from a van to this small sedan. My chief complaints were all the noises, especially during warmer months. The clutch creeked so loud it sounded like a barn door (even after the dealer fixed it multiple times). Then the air compressor was noisy (almost "breathing") even when it was not in use and then the windows didnt seal up quite right resulting in air gaps and noises. Occassionally, my CDs would get stuck for a few days. I would still recommend this vehicle despite its little quirks.

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  A True Luxury SUV with Outstanding Technology - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Adrian Eckenrod - September 20 - 9:05 pm

  While we have only had our 2016 XC90 for a week, we truly love this SUV. The vehicle is primarily driven by the wife and on family trips. We were not even looking for a Volvo at first. Previously we had a 2004 XC90 and while an OK vehicle we never loved it, size was good, handling and MPG were not. We downsized from that to a new 2012 XC60 which was also nice (much better handling and MPG). Although nowhere near the same luxury as our prior Mercedes. With two kids it quickly became too small. Was looking to upsize and considered the following 2015/16 vehicles: Acura MDX, Range Rover, Porsche Cayenne (too small), Audi Q7 and Mercedes GL. We have always been partial to Mercedes and loved all our prior MBs so it was looking like that would be our next choice. Took the XC60 to the Volvo dealer for an offer and thats when we saw the new XC90. This vehicle is nothing like the prior XC90, it is easy to see what Volvo has been doing with the $11 billon from Geely. I am not concerned with a Chinese company being the parent owner of Volvo, as the Swedes still design and build the car. Look around these days and you will find many of the high-end items in the world owned by someone else. The luxury from the new XC90 is completely on par with the Germans. The Europeans have mastered the art of that for years but always seem to lag in the technology arena. Even when they do offer technology it is not on level with what high-end Japanese autos offered; not to mention you will easily add $10k to the European vehicles with options and still envy what the Japanese models have. The XC90 is a vehicle exceeding at both. Ours is a fully loaded model (specd same as a First Edition) and in no category does it lack. The luxury from the 18-way adjustable (Inscription model) front seats to the perfect balance of Nappa leather, birch wood and metal accents leave no doubt every detail has been thought of. Should you even find a glove box that can also cool down to 40 degrees in a European car, rest assured it will be another pricey option. The place I could see an improvement would be additional USB ports, but plug in one of the adapters that gives you two USB ports per outlet and problem solved. Reading other reviews prior to our purchase that was also one of the few things people could seem to gripe about. If lack of multiple USB ports are the biggest complaints with the XC90, then I think Volvo has succeeded in their goal of making a new iconic flagship for their brand. The all glass instrument cluster and center stack is as functional as it is aesthetically pleasing. The tablet like interface is extremely easy to use and does respond instantly (was a big concern of mine). Want to test the responsiveness, adjust the temperature slide up and down, it responds as fast as you can move your finger! Looking forward to the upcoming update to include Apple Carplay and Android Auto integration. The heads up display is another feature worth getting, very nice never having to take your eyes of the road. The enormous panorama sunroof is something the backseat and even third row passengers will enjoy. Shutting the doors is a solid thud I havent heard since our last Mercedes. Again every aspect of this vehicle we just love. The drive is outstanding for this capable 7 passenger SUV, especially for a 2 liter 4 cylinder engine. It has better handling and performance than our prior XC60 with an engine twice the size. While it cant tow as much as the Q7 (the XC90 is rated to tow 5000 lbs) and is not as sporty as the Porsche or BMW, it is certainly a well balanced mix of comfort, performance and capability. The cargo space is seemingly endless (especially when compared to more sporty brands). It does offer four different driving modes which further enhances your driving experience. You certainly feel like you’re driving a luxury sedan, not a heavy truck or large SUV feeling about the drive. My primary car is a Porsche, and this is our first SUV I dont mind driving. Safety is my paramount concern when purchasing a vehicle for the family. That is one reason I was originally looking hard at the Mercedes, but Volvo certainly knows how to build an extremely safe car as well. They further drove that point home with all the advanced safety features this vehicle packs. There is no need for me to go over all of them, you can read all about them for the next hour in other reviews. I will say they are impressive and non-intrusive. I absolutely love the lane keeping aid. A gentle steering nudge reminds you when you are veering out of your lane. I believe that is actually making us safer drivers all around because it brings to point when and how often you were drifting. Having that truly lets you know how attentive you are to the road and your primary task while behind the wheel. If you are in the market for a luxury SUV, you would be remiss if you dont check out the new XC90. This one is nothing like any Volvo of years past for all the right reasons.

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  VOLVOLUTION!!! - 2004 Volvo S40
  By lele - September 19 - 10:00 am

  Excellent design and performance