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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  Best SUV, most awarded large SUV for a reason - 2018 Volvo XC90
  By Andy - April 4 - 12:58 am

  On top of reviewing the car itself, I will also provide quick a review on the brands Oversea Delivery program (OSD). First, about the vehicle itself, one of the best 7-seater SUVs on the market. In its class, the only competitor is Audi Q7. And to configure the Audi Q7 with similar equipment including full digital dashboard, semi-autonomous pilot assist feature, upgraded interior and sound systems, heads up display and others, the Q7 will run at least $5-8K more. So in terms of value alone, XC90 is a more sensible selection. I realize that even with the XC90 and in the R-Design trim that I have, it costs more than $71K out-the-door, so to some shoppers the value isnt the most important aspect of the decision making process. Then lets take a look at the various tangible advantages that XC90 offers aside from pricing. First and foremost, the interior of the XC90 is in a class of its own. The upgraded contour seats are just amazing. It truly provides the best comfort in any car money can buy. Next, the center console design is fantastic with the large touchscreen interface. The only thing that can compare to it is the even larger and better panel in the Tesla Model X. Some reviewers on youtube still prefer the button and joystick controls in the Q7 or X5, but I think it is just the matter of accepting a change. After using the XC90 touchscreen interface for about a week, I found it very intuitive and it responds very quickly. I dont understand some of the comments which claim that using touchscreen during driving is more distracting. The fact is, no matter which systems you use, the driver still has to scroll through numerous menus either with a mouse pad (ie: Lexus) or a i-drive type joystick (ie: Audi/BMW), and they are all distracting. I found that the touchscreen on the XC90 at least offers huge icon for most features and all you need to do is to swipe left and right between two large menus. To me, it really cannot get any simpler after one week of getting familiarizing of the system. By contrast, I found the concept of a retractable infotainment screen in the Q7 is very out of date. A retractable screen like that has been a thing in the past since the late-2000 Cadillac CTS. The final point about XC90 interior is the fit and finish. Every single piece of the interior materials is top notch and the simplistic Scandinavian design is great. However, the cabin is not the most quiet for a car in this price range. It is definitely not as tranquil as the cabin of a Mercedes. Now, the second part of the review is about the OSD program. I did it when I placed the order with Volvo. With the OSD, there is no negotiation on prices, everything is ordered per the price list. The listed prices for the car and options are only slightly, if any, lower than MSRP. The kicker is that OSD waives the destination charge, which saves $995 automatically. In addition to that, Volvo provides 2 round trip tickets from any where in the USA to Gothenborg, Sweden and a night of hotel for you to travel to the factory and pick up your own car. You may drive your own car through Europe up to 6 months and Volvo even covers the cost of your insurance up for 15 days. And when youre done with the self-driving tour, you return the car to one of the designated locations and they will ship the car to your local dealership in the USA with no additional shipping charge. So buying a car and getting a free trip to Sweden, why not? I particular like this shopping experience because there is no haggling. I know what I am going to order and how much Im going to pay exactly. I get to tour the Volvo factory and drive my own car to see a part of Europe where I dont visit very often. Such a great way to buy a car.

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  A lot of car - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By crabby hayes - April 2 - 7:38 pm

  For as big as this car is, it handles surprisingly well. That said, I had planned on getting something smaller, but the ride comfort and technology (especially the great center display and fewer buttons) won me over. It is bigger than the Highlander it replaced, so my wife and I are still parking in the back corner of the mall parking lot - afraid to get too close to anything that might scratch our new car. It is great onthe open road, but a bit too much around town, My wife and I are still learning the new technology, which is a bit intimidating to a non-technophile. My wife couldnt figure out how to turn off the radio the other day, and needed to recruit a youngster to help (you just turn the volume down until you see the "x" - oh well.

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  Gr8 S-80 - 2009 Volvo S80
  By frls1 - April 2 - 6:39 am

  My 3rd Volvo S-60x2 now S-80. I love volvos always have and will. I bought this one used from City Auto in Memphis. No complaints what so ever. Sturdy Dependable, sleek, comfortable.....Good gas mileage, Reasonable maintenance. If you need a good Volvo mechanic in Memphis TN call Swedish Solutions, he specializes in only Volvo.....Love the car wouldnt trade it for anything except another Volvo.

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  Youll love it..... - 1999 Volvo S80
  By MirrorShine - April 1 - 10:00 am

  Ive now had my 1999 S80 T6 for about three years. I bought it used with about 18,000 miles on it. I now have a little over 65,000 miles on it. All I can say is I love it. I bought it for myself (wife has a Mercedes CLK) bbut shes always fighting for the T6. She complains primarily about the seats in the Mercedes and also its too tight inside. The seats in our T6 are absolutely the finest. Its also very spacious, great looking, very dependable, and sooooo FAST! Only repair Ive had was a clip that was loose for a light (under warranty). Other than that, completely trouble free. A superb car for the price!

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  2001 s40 - 2001 Volvo S40
  By sallie - April 1 - 10:00 am

  i test drove the bmw 3 series, the acura cl, and the audi a4. i chose the volvo because of the way it handled. i also felt as though the vehicle was more substantial--less glass and more metal.

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  The R-evolution! - 2005 Volvo S60
  By Brian L - March 30 - 9:06 am

  After looking at the Audi A4, Bmw 3 series and Saab 9-5 I decided to go with the Volvo S60R and man was I right! This car handles like a dream, has great power off the line and the seats are unbelievable. My relatives all own Audis & BMWs and were extremely impressed when I let them test drive my "R". I had the car ordered from Sweden and it only took 4 weeks to be delivered. I recommend purchasing the "sport body kit" as it lowers the ground clearence for less wind resistance and also for a real sporty look. Ive only owned the car 1 month and had 10 people comment on the style. Whats best is many other European cars will not know what this car can do so let them try, then gas it!

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  My First Volvo - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By barbra - March 26 - 2:00 am

  I came out of a 3 year lease with Mercedes Suv, and could not believe the difference in my Volvo. Comfort to myself all front and rear passengers. Rides like a passenger car. The safety features are endless. By this time the first year with the Mercedes it was in the shop at least 4 times. The reliability and all around advantages made me a VOLVO FOR LIFE customer.

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  Best Car Ive driven - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By Herbal90 - March 23 - 8:43 pm

  Bought the car in Germany after direct comparisons to Mercedes and Audi wagons. Best car Ive ever driven and also best value for the features. Military pricing and home shipment was great! Smooth autobahn car, solid as a rock and quiet through 120 mph. Starts to float above 125 mph, but holds a straight line without drift. Very comfortable seats, huge interior space, great controls. Love the rain sensor, heated mirrors (needed both in Germany). My first Volvo and Im very pleased. My next car (10+ years from now) will also be a Volvo. Since the kids will be bigger, Ill be eyeing the S60R.

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  The best choice of my life - 2000 Volvo S70
  By Reuven Alayev - March 23 - 9:30 am

  i bought the Volvo S70 about back in 2002. The Volvo had a great cherry red exterior and a light tan colored interior. I was amazed that the car looked like new after driving 154,000 miles in six years. That made me worried, but I asked many mechanics and they all told me that Volvos dont give any problems, just refill the gas, change the oil every 2000 miles, and refill the water, and the car will be loyal to you. They were so right! My Volvo S70 now has over 174,000 miles and still drives and looks brand new, and it has not given me any mechanical problems ever since I bought it almost 2 years ago. This is a great car that keeps its value over time.

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  Volvo S40 - Highly recommended !!! - 2008 Volvo S40
  By Dan - March 23 - 8:56 am

  I purchased a left over 2008 S40 about a month ago, mainly for my wifes use. What a car! We absolutely love it. Weve both always owned domestic vehicles, but this one beats all of them in just about every way I can think of. It has an overall great design, both inside and out. The comfort, feeling and handling of the car is superior than everything I have driven in the S40 price range. Also impressed with crash test ratings. Now that we have experienced the quality of Volvo, I think it will be awhile until we go back to domestic. My vehicle is a Navigator, seriously thinking about trading it for a Volvo. Didnt think I would ever have considered that a few months ago!!