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:

• 

  a long time waiting - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By chrisandpatty - August 30 - 10:00 am

  After waiting 6 months and paying MSRP we now have decided that it was worth the wait. There were times the MDX or the X5 almost won us over but we now have a car as luxurious and certainly for now not as common. The children love all the extra room.

• 

  2006 2.5T AWD XC90 - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By Andy - August 28 - 2:30 pm

  Great use of space. Either 7 people or lots of cargo space. I live in Colorado and the turbo provides excellent power for high altitude driving. Had some friends compare a Lexus rx with an xc90 on I-70 in the high winds (40-50 mph and gusty) that we sometimes have on the front range, and they said the xc90 was vastly superior. Dont know about the Lexus but my xc90 handles these winds like no other car Ive ever driven.

• 

  Volvo XC-90 - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Vickie Anger - August 28 - 2:03 pm

  Absolutely love the car.

• 

  R VOLVO - 2005 Volvo V50
  By jo & sue - August 25 - 12:23 am

  WE always wanted a Volvo and now we have the 2005 V50T5 sports wagon. We are enjoying the ride and comfort. We live in Germany and with the snow on the roads it is nice to have "W" for road conditions. The only thing we dont like is the front cup holders.

• 

  Solid and nice looking - 2005 Volvo S40
  By ken - August 22 - 5:40 pm

  After 4 months and 4000 miles the S40 T5(prem,clim,conv,audio,auto)is doing okay. Chose FWD to improve MPG and reliabilty. Only service is for fuel pump gasket that causes the check engine light and they always try to blame on improper gas cap application. Pending service for weak Homelink transmitter and broken lens on light below ext mirror. The computer for radio and all the program functions needs to be rebooted occasionally. The OS must be MS product! It is just the right size for my wife(short),very responsive, unique, easy to park. It is costly and MPG is disappointing.

• 

  Used Volvo - 2004 Volvo V70
  By cdona58838 - August 18 - 2:00 am

  We purchased a used 2001 volvo and it has been an excellent car so far. Not only has the car been a smart purchase, but the decision to buy from this dealership was a good one as well. We have had excellent correspondence with them. I would purchase another Volvo later in life. Maybe a sedan afer the children are in college? Great Cars! Cynthia

• 

  My favorite car - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Homes lover - August 17 - 12:21 pm

  Sitting in this car is fabulous I have for teenage boys and this was the best SUV legroom in the middle and the rear seat for the mid sized SUV class. Technology and display and rear view camera are awesome too. Love my xc 90

• 

  An all around excellent car! - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Jay Jackson - August 16 - 10:00 am

  Have had a 97 volvo wagon and put on 245,000kms in 4 years and the car never had a problem. Speaks for itself why i chose the a 1998 volvo XC cross country with only 50,00kms on it. I love it!

• 

  Volvo S40 - 2002 Volvo S40
  By Jester - August 16 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. It drives really nice, and I have had no problems at all. I was looking for a sporty sedan and the S40 was a perfect fit for my budget. It has gone above and beyond all of my expectations.

• 

  COMFORT - 2002 Volvo S80
  By PETER - August 16 - 10:00 am

  WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BASED ON LONG TERM DRIVING COMFORT. TRIED OTHERS IN SAME PRICE RANGE M-B,LEXUS, ACCURA ETC. BUT FOUND THIS VEHICLE FIT OUR NEEDS THE BEST.