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 V50 T5 AWD - 2005 Volvo V50
  By KD - February 13 - 2:30 am

  I test drove several small wagons, small SUVs and this car was head & shoulders above the rest. Love the heated seats. Easily load skis! Now Ive had the car for just over 6 months and I STILL LOVE IT! Now have about 8000 miles on it. Would buy this car again.

• 

  Love that Volvo - 2005 Volvo S80
  By Black Beauty - February 12 - 4:03 am

  This is the second Volvo we have owned, nothings better. We bought ours in Germany and had it shipped to the US. Its the best car, it rides great and handles well. Very roomie the children love it.

• 

  Wow, definitely worh every penny! - 2008 Volvo C30
  By efrazier - February 11 - 3:00 pm

  I purchased this car after looking at a SRT4 Caliber and a Mazda Speed 3. I was just about set on the Mazda when I found this car by accident, as soon as I saw it and started researching it was a done deal without the test drive. Then I drove it...wow! This car is probably one of the most well balanced cars I have ever owned..even better than a BMW! I have no faults with this car whatsoever from an engineering perspective. The power, handling, comfort and design of the car are all superb! Once I drove it I was done..no need to drive anything else because nothing else compares. I actually cant wait to take it on a long trip.

• 

  Good value - 2004 Volvo V70
  By Ed - February 8 - 8:50 pm

  First the negatives: wide turning radius and poorly designed interface of the "premium" sound system. Otherwise this attractive, well built wagon has served our family well. Its 300hp still obtains 22mpg in city driving and 28mpg in 70mph freeway driving.

• 

  Safety First - 2008 Volvo V70
  By Lori - February 8 - 5:46 pm

  Ive only had the car for a month, so its difficult to rate reliability. I purchased the vehicle primarily based on safety and I did a lot of research on safety in determining what to buy. When it comes to safety, the V70 is a vehicle in which I feel comfortable transporting my golden retriever and passengers, particularly back seat passengers. The vehicle feels as solid as an SUV without the gas mileage and top heaviness. Its a car I hope to have for years to come.

• 

  Well Built For Life - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Mitch - February 8 - 9:56 am

  I purchased this vehicle for my wife and have been very happy with it. The vehicle has great fit and finish and, other than the tailgate update, we have had no problems. As my wife is not familiar driving vehicles with a high CG, safety was a primary concern.

• 

  I am in love with my car - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By tsumami - February 5 - 6:35 pm

  I recently was lucky enough to find a 2004 Volvo XC70 2.5T AWD with only 71K miles , fully loaded and in near mint condition. I have driven Volvos in the past and have wanted another one for years, the XC70 has been on my wish list since that model became available. I was truly amazed by the fact that it handles like a sports car but has the practicality of a station wagon. It handles like a dream on bad roads and gets amazing fuel mileage for this type of vehicle. I recently took it on a road trip and got 31 mpg with the a/c on and driving 75 mph. It is obvious that the former owner took very good care of the vehicle so I was very lucky to find it.

• 

  volvo experience - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By GailXmas - February 4 - 5:53 pm

  Love It! Quiet, smooth, comfortable, safe and just plain fun to drive. The only thing that does not have as standard equipment is a compass!.

• 

  I love my XC90 - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Deborah Wolfe - February 3 - 9:43 am

  I wouldnt drive an SUV other than a Volvo. It is so safe and comfortable. I get about 17.5 miles per gallon of gas on average.

• 

  Great Value for the Price - 2008 Volvo S80
  By max Perkins - February 3 - 7:03 am

  This is a great car! We looked at BMWs/Mercedes and decided on this Volvo as we felt you pay a lot for a BMW/Mercedes name. This car drives like a dream and is SO comfortable to ride in. Have take it across country and had no back/muscle fatigue. It is very responsive, has great power and gets much better gas mileage then we expected. The T-6 is the features we were looking for in a "sports" car. The body design is very nice and we see people looking at it all the time. 4WDs are hard to find but we wanted that for the extra security when driving (lots of rain where we live). We hope to get at least 200,000 miles out of this car. Would highly recommend.