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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  Throttle lag - 2015 Volvo XC60
  By William Stellin - July 23 - 5:05 pm

  My car has an unsafe throttle lag when starting up from a rolling or very slow speed. Ive almost been hit several times trying to get into heavy traffic. Dealer has had the car for 15 days over 3 visits. Fault codes say nothing is wrong and car is performing as designed. They will do nothing more. The car is unsafe and I want it fixed but dealer and factory says its ok. I say it is broken. I love all other aspects of the car. Problem started when the car was driven out of the dealer lot brand new. Service manager recognizes something is wrong but without computer proof can do nothing.

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  Great Car - 2005 Volvo S40
  By GJacobs - July 23 - 11:33 am

  Very solidly built car. Manual shift makes car fun to drive. Great pickup (5 cylinder) easy to drive/steer. Drastic change/improvement in car design over previous years. Very good value for the money and compared to its competitors.

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  2004 Volvo S60 - A Vehicle with Class - 2004 Volvo S60
  By CLASI LADY - July 23 - 10:00 am

  So far, this vehicle is not only comfortable, the ride is so smooth, you do not even feel the road. The sound system quality has greatly improved and the standard options add a great deal of value to not only the vehicle but to your insurance premium. The relocation of the mirror switches is a God send. The look and feel of the vehicle whether admiring it while parked or while driving in it, shows a great deal of class. This has been one of the best vehicle purchases I have made so far.

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  Great Family Car - 2003 Volvo V70
  By bkd1195 - July 23 - 10:00 am

  This car is better than any mini van. This car is much safer. We love the built in booster seats. They are the perfect height, the seat belts dont cut into the kids necks as they did in a store bought booster. The car drives and handles great. My wife has an S60 and I feel the ride is even smoother in the V70.

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  VolvoS80 - 1999 Volvo S80
  By M. Maddock - July 23 - 10:00 am

  This car looks great, but it is the worst car for reliability that I have ever owned. I have been driving for 25 years. It is constantly in the shop for something. I know the local dealership service center employees by name! I am in the process of fixing an electronic problem and then am going to trade it in quickly before something else goes wrong next month. I will never buy a Volvo again.

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  Avoid S-40 - 2001 Volvo S40
  By rilster - July 21 - 2:08 am

  Purchased 2009, second owner, it had 135,000 miles now has 175,000. Carfax showed always serviced at Volvo dealer. Problems started within weeks of purchase and in three and a half years; Sunroof shade out of track, bad plugs, engine mounts replaced, both engine coils replaced, cv joint replaced, blown head gasket, new radiator, o2 sensors, catalytic converter, Cvvt valve leaking oil, cvvt valve sensor clogged, climate control problems, radio problems, window regulator, over $4000.00 in repairs in the past year. Transmission went out yesterday, done! I am aircraft mechanic and do much work myself. Oil changed regularly and I take care of vehicles I own...Never purchase a Volvo again.

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  Is it worth the money? - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By Cindy - July 19 - 8:06 pm

  I also own this vehicle because of its safety reputation. And of course my childrens safety is priceless. However, Ive also driven the Honda Pilot and with its amenities, reliability, and 3rd row airbags, can the volvo really be worth over $10K more? If I could do it over I would have bought a Honda Pilot.

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  This Volvos the One! - 2005 Volvo S60
  By dm - July 18 - 12:40 pm

  This car hasnt provided me with as much excitement since I picked up my new 1978 Triumph Spitfire. Obvioulsy not even close to being the same kind of car, but...I said "excitement." Blending a sleek, well engineered, and sporty design, an incredible 300 hp, turbo-charged powerplant, and an incredibly well designed interior, this car surpasses my best expectations. When someone in their 50s can get into a vehicle like this, and look like hes not trying to relive his youth, and yet enjoy it as though he was - Volvos design team has reached its pinnacle. My kids dont laugh at me either - their jealous!

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  Better than you think - 2000 Volvo V40
  By Scott Mathews - July 18 - 12:33 pm

  This is possibly the best Volvo Ive ever owned. Quick, comfortable, and stylish and only minor problems. Many of the issues that others have reported suggest to me that they never opened the owners manual. Example: "headlights burn out annually". The cars come from the factory with Daytime Running Lights (DRL) activated. Naturally the headlights are going to burn out more often when theyre on day and night. Solution: read the owners manual and it tells you how to turn DRL off in 2 easy steps. Some other problems may have been caused by not following Volvos recommended service intervals. I would like to know more about the driving style of folks who wore out their brakes in 15,000 miles!

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  Continually Frustrated with XC90 - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Mike_AnnArbor - July 18 - 8:43 am

  For a $40K+ Auto, Im extremely disappointed with the number of times Ive had to take it in for repairs. The engine & body have been reliable - only 2 or 3 service calls in those areas. The problems with electronics have been numerous. Examples: - New software to close windows properly - Ship CD player back to Sweden to retrieve stuck CDs (10 weeks) - Car doors mysteriously lock themselves - Seats loose their memory every month - Disable intermittent wipers - they go crazy on sunny days Every time we take it to Sesi Volvo, they insist there is nothing wrong. We need to insist they look for service note and they usually find th