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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  Drives like a sports car - 1999 Volvo V70
  By Julie - October 5 - 11:40 am

  Fantastic handling. Love how it hugs the road and turns on a dime. Can park it anywhere. Chassis sits 3 inches higher than most cars, and seats can be raised, so I almost have the height of an SUV, with none of their disadvantages.

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  Great Car !! - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Fekix - October 5 - 7:03 am

  The car is great. Where I live you dont see many Volvos so we get lots of heads turning. The car rides smooth as has plenty of power, the seats or the most comfortable I have sat in.

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  Sporty Car - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Hieu - October 3 - 12:20 am

  I bought this car because I wanted something different but sporty. Other cars I looked at was the Acura TSX and the Acura TL. In terms of power, this car seems to fit nicely between those two. It has a low pressure turbo at about 8.7 psi max. Power comes on quick when you need it. You dont not have to rev it to get usable power. Has potential for really good power with a ECU mod. I didnt notice this eariler but there are seals all round the doors, even in the area around where the hinge opens.

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  Solid like always - 2009 Volvo XC70
  By rovermark - October 2 - 12:30 pm

  Very nice car overall - the T6 is a wonderful engine. The car is very solidly built, very comfortable, quite, upscale in interior material. Also I really love the fact that Volvos are a class by themselves - not the common snob badge that is Mercedes and BMW that people buy to satisfy their egos and that every Tom, Dick and Harry has. Good car all around - and this is from someone who actually owes it.

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  Original Owner, 6 yrs later, still love - 2002 Volvo S60
  By KentaJeff - October 1 - 10:46 pm

  I have never kept a car this long, it is still as great as the day I bought it. The car is reliable, fast, and gets good gas mileage. The reliability, the big stuff is great, but I agree with others, my fuel door fell off, and I seem to replace a lot of brake lights. Other than that it has been very good. The engine uses no oil (I design engines for a living , I would know), it maintains very clean oil through the oil life, indications the rings and guides are in good shape still. The paint is amazing, I dont wax it because it seems to not need it, looks new still (not garaged for most of its life).

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  Volvo Fan - 2009 Volvo XC90
  By Once and again - September 30 - 1:20 pm

  This is my second Volvo XC90 (just traded in my 08 after driving it for two years). Im surprised that there are not more reviews on this car because we really love ours. Our 08 was t-boned by a driver who ran a red light. I had my two children (5 & 9) in the back seat & none of us suffered any injuries. The other driver totaled his car & suffered from whiplash & minor back injuries. This car is a tank! Thats why it does not get very good gas mileage, but I dont mind trading A+ safety for a few more dollars at the gas pump. The XC90 really is a great family car... lots of room, very comfortable, fun to drive, sporty & SAFE!

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  bought used 2007 w/17k miles... - 2007 Volvo V50
  By volvo v50 T5 FWD - September 30 - 1:56 am

  My wife has the 2.0 pasat turbo wagon. fantastic car with about 5-10% more room than the v50. I love my under stated top drawer small hatchback wagon. Back seats go flat. Sound system is excellent. sport package makes for a tight efficient ride. interior is simple elegance. 80mph on fwy the car glides. Bought a 2007 fwd turbo T5 with only 17,500 miles on it for 22k fully loaded all the extras. I feel lucky right place right time and I drove it and said yes, this is mine....I also have a big chevy truck when I need it. I get about 30+ on fwy maybe even 32 if I am not heavy on the pedal. Very good car...

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  Incredible car. - 2001 Volvo C70
  By SoCal - September 29 - 10:00 am

  I am not a big fan of front wheel drive cars, however the looks and quality of this car attracted me. I have fallen in love with this car! Show me a four passenger convertible that looks this good and built this nice for this price. If it was rear wheel drive it would be perfect.

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  Great - 2001 Volvo V70
  By markyv - September 29 - 10:00 am

  This car is awesome.

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  Dont you dare call it a station wagon! - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Jdubya - September 29 - 10:00 am

  Im a Gen-Xer and feel proud to drive what many may see as "your grandpas wagon". I am here to tell you it is not! This is simply the most comfortable and safe feeling car you can buy. It looks like a muscular black panther ready to strike. Although a bit sluggish off the line, it performs well past 1st gear. This is the first car I can see never getting tired of.