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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  Not the best, not the worst - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Hit-s60r - July 4 - 12:13 pm

  I was sitting at a red light – behind 2 cars when a 27 year old woman (on the cell phone, looking over her shoulder) slammed into the back of me going 45, again I was at a dead stop. The impact sent me into the car ahead and broke my seat (Volvo safety design, break-away front seats). The Honda Insight which hit me square on the back bumper was totaled, and unless you looked at the rear deck of the Honda, you wouldn’t know what it was that hit me. The Volvo trunk, bumper was smashed back to the rear wheels and some damage was found in the bracing, not the frame. The car wasn’t totaled since the damage was about 24K and the value was north of 32K. The main thing was I walked away!

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  Alls good! - 2002 Volvo S60
  By kzoomn - July 1 - 11:06 pm

  Having previously owned a V6 Camry, this Volvo seems slightly under powered. But one gets use to the power curve very quickly. The Volvo seems to corner very well and I think the seats have something to do with the cornering feel. Gas mileage stays aroung 22mpg city and 28+ highway. There are many small features that once you become familiar with, help to make this model a pleasure to own & drive.......

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  Good Car - Thought Not for the New Price - 2009 Volvo S40
  By EL - July 1 - 10:33 am

  My main beefs with the car is that the base engine is fairly weak for how heavy the car is. Throw that thing in a Honda Civic & it performs quite well. But you buy a Volvo for the solid build & safety ratings & it could afford a slightly more powerful base engine [~ 190hp?]... it shouldnt affect the fuel efficiency that much. The T5 isnt that much worse on the MPGs. Otherwise, I agree with most of the reviews & the main reason I bought this car is because I bought a loaner vehicle from a dealership for a third off the MSRP. And thats a 2009 with 10k miles. Volvos depreciate so much & that makes it worth it. That pretty much sold me. And my wife wanted it. Maybe that was the reason.

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  Dont let this happen to you - 1999 Volvo S80
  By LarryA - June 28 - 10:00 am

  A perfectly lovely car to drive when working, coupled with dismal reliability. Every major system has been replaced on this car, some repeatedly, (4 transmissions to date). Repair costs out of warranty exceeded the book value of the car (19K) causing the extended service contract company to deny claims. Ive owned it from new and its been a non-stop nightmare. Many reviews here from folks who bought the car used and drove it 3,000 miles. Just wait!

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  Good but not great - 1998 Volvo S70
  By ORBoys - June 28 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a 2000 Legacy GT Limited for the 98 GLT. Much prefer this car (seats awesome, stereo great and wonderful engine)but there is room for improvement. Windshield wipers to slow, brake dust, along with other minor mechanical things (Oxy sensor). No real problems and plan to but new model when piggy-bank is full.

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  S60 2.4T I love it!! - 2001 Volvo S60
  By Scott A - June 28 - 10:00 am

  I bought the car 2 months ago with 27K miles....absolutely love it...most comfortable seats of any car Ive driven. My only complaints are with some of the plastic dash material, radio control functions, and at times rough suspension over city streets. Still, I absolutely enjoy driving the car which is a huge step up from my 15 yr history of driving Hondas. Finally, the 2.4T provides plenty of power with minimal turbo lag....glad I didnt spend xtra for the T5.

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  Best used car I ever owned - 2000 Volvo S70
  By Irontim - June 25 - 7:10 am

  This is my 3rd Volvo and there is a reason that I keep buying them, and that reason is reliability. This S70 T5 is great. Its good on gas, comfortable and fun to drive, and its fast. I love to hear the turbo kick in. If I buy another car guess what... Volvo.

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  S70 Volvo - 1999 Volvo S70
  By Dave Doe - June 22 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vehical in 2000 with 18,000 miles on it. For all intents and purposes it was pre-certified and in great shape. I have maintained the vehical through Volvo and a more local lube, oil, filter shop. Currently has 85,000 miles on it. Very disappointed in that I have had to buy two sets of new rotars, a power steering pump, a new air conditioning compressor, and a new radiator. The driver side door hinge is also flawed. These items were also replaced on a 1996 850 Volvo Wagon that I owned. Not impressive.

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  Run away - 1999 Volvo S70
  By ftldguy78 - June 22 - 10:00 am

  This car is not reliable. do not go near this car without a long warranty. i just had 2500 worth of repairs in the last five month and they were not wear and tear items. they should not break at 55months/40K miles. thank god they were covered from a warranty i bought over the net. I call it "hunk of junk" or "Piece" as a nick name. I think my next car will be the Mazda6 I dont have time to keep taking it to the mechanic even if it is under warranty. other than that I love it.

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  XC 90 review - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By arun07 - June 22 - 10:00 am

  Overall a comfortable and well engineered vehicle. Feels safe and sturdy.