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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  Lemon - 2000 Volvo S40
  By unhappy mom - April 11 - 10:00 am

  I have had all the problems that have been listed in these reviews, some repeatedly. This is the worst car I have ever owned. Plus, the dealership has not been willing to work with us. The power assist brake system failed while driving, and luckily I was able to stop the vehicle. The airbag light was on at the time this occurred, and the dealership informed me that the airbags would not have deployed had there been an accident. The brakes continue to give us problems.

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  avoid the 2003 XC90 - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By steveswife1 - March 10 - 7:50 am

  Weve had tons of service problems. Volvo keeps telling us it is because the vehicle is the first year for the model. The vehicle absolutely cannot hold an alignment (we get it realigned every 3-6K miles) and burns thru tires rapidly (every 10-12K miles). Every time we have something fixed, a new problem emerges within 500 miles of driving. Lots of stuff (rear shocks, bearings, brake pads) have had to be replaced prematurely, and there have been many minor problems (stench from HVAC, radio malfunctions, etc.) on top of more serious concerns.

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  Volvo XC 90 T6 Sucks ! - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By Volvo XC 90 sucks - March 4 - 10:00 am

  XC 90 is the greatest disappointment in 35 years of buying and driving new cars. The engine lags at odd times, feeling like engine is stalling out on acceleration,cutting vehicle speed. Dealer checked OBD computer. No faults,therefore,no problem. Premium Dolby II Surround Sound system cuts out intermittantly in both radio and CD modes.Display disappears and sound stops. Dealer checked with Volvo. There may be "software" fixes for both problems, so I have to wait until May 2 for the Volvo Tech Rep to examine the car.After a week and a half of owning this vehicle, Im ready to sell it, or JUNK IT!

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  Backbreaker - 2004 Volvo V40
  By Trunciman - February 9 - 2:00 am

  I wished I had taken a longer test drive. The seats are a killer. After about 30 minutes in the front seats the back spasms start, and the back seats are almost useless, not big enough for children even. The front end suspension started falling apart months after purchase and had to be rebuilt. It is a nice looking vehicle but I will certainly be glad when the lease is up.

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  Buyer Beware! - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By LHawk - February 4 - 11:34 am

  I have had this car since April 2016. It is a beautiful car with a comfortable interior and nice ride. Thats where it ends. Since day 1, the voice navigation system has not worked. The back-up camera doesnt always come on when you put the car in reverse. The car stopped accelerating while I was driving and had to be towed to the dealership. The foot-activated tailgate sensor doesnt work. The climate control goes from barely there to hurricane force. The touch screen has gone blank on multiple occasions. The gas gauge doesnt provide an accurate reading of miles left in the tank. I actually ran out of gas - Ive been driving 30+ years and have never run out of gas - even as a poor teenager! On multiple occasions the accident avoidance feature engaged - when there wasnt a car around me. The a/c stopped working. It has been in and out of the dealership multiple times - each time with the hope that the latest software update would solve the problems. This last fix was supposed to solve the navigation issue. The technician sat in the car with me and we tried to use the navigation and it switched me to the Music. That was the last straw. I am pushing the dealership to get me out of my lease - I am not interested in another Volvo - I just want out of this unsafe, unreliable vehicle.

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  Only one engine option? - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By tayste8 - January 9 - 12:29 am

  I currently own a 2006 Volvo XC90 V8 and Im in the market for a new SUV. My Volvo dealer gave me a loaner 2016 XC90 Inscription to drive for the day. I was impressed with the comfortable seating, cabin layout and conservative exterior design. I WAS SOLD.....until I actually drove it. The 4 cyl engine is the only option and right away I noticed the lack of performance off the line, on hills and especially passing at low speeds. Mid range performance is decent and there were moments when I felt it all come together but I couldnt get past the under sized engine.