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:

• 

  Love my Volvo Wagon - 2000 Volvo V40
  By Leah M - August 5 - 8:43 am

  I love this wagon and sadly now looking at having to replace it soon. I drive a lot, have over 208,000 miles, and have had three to four minor crashes in this car. However, I have never been injured and walked away fine. Three times I have been rear ended and the next day, no neck pain or injury, I felt nothing. The first time I found out the frame was bent from the impact! This has been a great car for driving and on gas mileage, with a few issues, but overall I love it and it has served me well.

• 

  Wow Fast Euro on the Cheap. - 2006 Volvo S60
  By TTRx - July 26 - 3:50 am

  300 HP with a very stealth look. Makes the Nissan 265 HP Commercial look slow. I have had the car for a few weeks and can not overstate how great the fit and finish is. The first choice was safety (has too many airbags to list) and getting great performance what a bonus! I might look at the xc90 to replace my BMW X5!

• 

  Nice, dependable car - 1998 Volvo S70
  By barbara - July 24 - 5:53 pm

  Love the car however time is not good to the interior. Leather seats in excellent shape, however the door panels have mis-shapen making it not conform to the doors. The buttons on the doors are sticky, gooey. Also I have replaced all the sensors. One being the ABS which didnt work when I got it(hadnt worked for years). Would not have replaced it if it hadnt been that the speedometer and odometer quit working as well. The check engine light comes on about every other week. Then mysteriously goes off for the remainder of the time. I will not take it to the dealer, too expensive. My husband is knowledgeable and does all my routine maintenance. He rewelded the driver door,it almost fell off.

• 

  Volvo XC90 T6 - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By BOBw - July 17 - 10:00 am

  The car is outstanding on long trips except that it seems to need refills more than I would like. Would like a bigger tank. Also the mid range power from 20-45mph is a little too torquey and you need to baby the gas pedal. Otherwise the car is super quiet and easy to drive. Especially like the seats and my upgraded wooden steering wheel. Drove the toureg first and got a backache. Feels like quality all over. The extra row of seats has been handy and folds down when not needed. Solid car and when I want to take it on curvy roads, it can feel like a sports car. Have not tested off road or in snow yet.

• 

  volvo - 1999 Volvo S70
  By dj12445 - July 14 - 2:00 am

  my experiance with the volcvo has been some what dismal , it is not a very exiting or invigorating, Not to metion that it is not the most reliable ,we have had a few problems for example occasionaly we can not remove the keys from the ignition or the door may not shut properly . However over all the experiance was "ok" but not ovincing enough for us to get another.

• 

  Great Wagon but no room for carseats - 2002 Volvo V70
  By smujmu - July 12 - 10:00 am

  Purchased this wagon with 3rd row seat. A dream to drive on a 2500 cross country trip - no driver fatigue as seats are very comfy. No repair issues to date. My one complaint as a mother of young children is the difficulty in installing a third carseat or booster. GET THE integrated booster seats. Back seat has little leg room - no a biggie for hauling kids, but seating and seatbelt spacing in middle position is narrow making it just about impossible to fit a 3rd carseat in back seat. You cannot use child restraint in 3rd seat. We did not opt for the integrated booster seats - and found they area VERY expensive to add in later.

• 

  dissatisfied - 2002 Volvo S80
  By Jeff Bomke - July 9 - 2:00 am

  Loved the car until major safety problem started to occur (left front spindle backing bolt backed out and jammed into drive shaft three seperate times) Volvo refused to fix the third time. Traded for a BMW 530i two weeks later.

• 

  Great vehicle; Unacceptable depreciation - 2000 Volvo S80
  By FA - July 9 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle looks great and is fun to drive , with ample power. No major mechanical problems have been encountered except for numerous bulbs burning out. The steering column and dash controls are poorly placed and difficult to decipher. My biggest complaint with the vehicle is the far to rapid depreciation experienced. The used price of these vechicles falls like a rock. Dealers do not support the market and openly admit that there is limited demand for used units. I was offered less than 50% of the original MSRP by the selling dealer after only two years and about 20000 miles.

• 

  My 2nd Volvo - 2004 Volvo S80
  By Francis - July 9 - 1:30 am

  The S80 was my second Volvo.What influenced my purchase was the Edmunds information which said the 2004 had 700 enhancements, most of which you could not see. This was the first model year that Volvo replaced the 2.9 6cyl with their famed 2.5T/ 5cyl engine. The recommended fuel is premium but the cars computer consistently shows 25-26 mpg combined city/hwy driving. Almost no perceptible Turbo lag when you press on the gas.This is great considering the car weighs 3,600 lbs.

• 

  8th volvo and last volvo, sadly. - 2001 Volvo V70
  By gav - July 6 - 7:33 am

  The cup holders are handy whilst waiting for the tow truck! Gearbox has new surprises every time you drive it. ETM is an affront to our collective dignity, electrics are poor, fuel system must have been designed at Lada by the accounts lady after a bit night on the Stolle! Maintenance costs are quite severe and plentiful. After 7 previous volvos all with outstanding reliability, function and longevity it saddens me that a company could transmogrify into producing such a failure of a vehicle. When not being repaired or diagnosed, its fast and safe with ample room and functionality, but it now drains my wallet, energy and faith in what i considered to be the best manufactured vehicles ever.