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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  Great! - 2002 Volvo S80
  By Jim Howards - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I first checked out other cars such as Cadillac, Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes Benz. I didnt think Volvo could compare with such companies, but it did. I feel safe when driving and like a nascar driver because this car has lots of power! It is great in highway driving. No trouble getting up to speed and passing is a breaze too. City driving with this car is fun. My golf buddies have plenty of room in the back. Trunk space is plentyful when I am hauling 4 golf bags and boxes of golfshoes in there.

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  Dont buy this car! - 2001 Volvo S40
  By Dave T - May 13 - 10:00 am

  *The brakes and rear rotors wore through after only 20,000 miles. The factory admitted a bad brake pad compound. My cost $500! *The electonic gas gague would read empty when it had over a third of a tank of gas left in it. The dealership sent me away once and said that that was "normal". * The radio didnt recieve AM stations. I had to replace the radio *The cup holder spring broke two days after I bought the car. * At 23,000 I started hearing a loud knock from the under carriage when I braked at slow speeds. *The noise inside the cockpit started increasing significantly after only 24,000 miles

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  Still going strong - 2000 Volvo V70
  By matkat - May 13 - 4:26 am

  Bought used at 123k miles and now with 139k, this has been a great car. It is very solid, drives great, and for me has been very reliable. Ive spent a total of $155 over the past 15 months on repairs. I would not hesitate to drive this 9 year old car cross country today. We had a snowstorm this year and the car was incredible. High praise from someone whos lived on Rabbit Ears Pass, CO. It was not pampered by the previous owner but the interior still looks almost new. So the complaints about cheap interiors just dont ring true. Its exterior design has held up well and unless you know Volvos it does not look nine. There is no rust, period.

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  Have Enjoyed this Car - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Anonymous - May 12 - 2:00 am

  I recently purchased my 2000 Volvo S80 less than two years ago with 97500 miles on it. I have been taking care of it, and it has been taking car of me. Disregarding preventative maintenance, the only parts I have had to change were the oxygen sensors (which were supposed to be changed at 100000 miles) and the battery. Many people complain that the repairs are expensive, which may be true for someone who for someone who feels bound to the dealer for all repairs. However if you are willing shop around for labor and parts, you can make the repair and maintenance experience comparable to other cars.

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  A beautiful wagon - 2011 Volvo XC70
  By jjf5 - May 10 - 10:50 pm

  We had wanted to buy one of these for over a year, and I had done extensive research. I initially wanted a V70, but wife wanted the AWD. I thought the base XC70 3.2 was too slow and inefficient, and wanted to see what happened after Ford sold Volvo to the Chinese. Im glad I waited. Not only were prices slashed, but quality and features improved. I picked up an XC70 T6 cheaper than last years base model. Volvo hired a good CEO, and the workers in Gothenburg are happier than they were under Ford. This combined with it being the 3rd production year should mean improved reliability, but well see. Ill post a long term update after 10000 miles.

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  Stay away - 2000 Volvo S80
  By No More Volvos - May 10 - 4:36 am

  This car is terrible and I had chronic problems (sway bars, electrical system, power steering, ABS, electrical, etc. I have had practically all the same problems that everyone else who has rated this car has had. Repairs and routine maintenance are extremely expensive yet with this caliber of car you wouldnt mind paying once in a while if the reliability was better. I bought the car in 2000 with 5,000 miles on it and traded it this year with 47,000 miles. I traded on my first car other than a Volvo in 20 years.

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  XC90 10,000 MILE REVIEW - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By lamluver - May 9 - 2:00 am

  OVERALL, I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED. FUEL ECONOMY CAN CERTAINLY BE IMRPOVED UPON. I AVERAGE 14 IN CITY DRIVING AND AROUND 18 HIGHWAY. WONDERING IF I HAD NOT CHOSEN THE TURBO 6 I COULD HAVE GOTTEN BETTER MILEAGE. FEW MINOR COMPLAINTS BUT OVERALL A SOLID VEHICLE.

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  love it - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By copterdoctor - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Dont really need the T6 model as the power is fine in the 2.5 is fine. Great family vehicle but still lets dad be sporty

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  Volvo XC90 - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By Roy - May 7 - 3:10 pm

  I recently bought an 2007 Volvo XC90 with the 3.2 6 cylinder motor. I do not like the sluggishness of taking off from a stop sign, light, etc. It seems also to handle like a bus, and not a sport utility vehicle.

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  S 90 is a Hot Rod in a Tuxedo - 2018 Volvo S90
  By Bryan Houchen - May 7 - 12:24 pm

  We are very happy with the new 2018 Volvo S90. Been warned, the 2017 is 5" shorter, and its all in the back seat. We needed a bigger car to carry our infant (car seats etc.) and our S 60 was just too cramped. The S90 is wonderful! The thing rockets around corners when you ask it to, but its gentle as a bunny when you dont. Our other car is a Dodge Challenger with a 6-speed manual transmission...except for the growl of the American brute, the Swede is as much fun to drive and way better at staying stuck to the road in hard corners thanks to the AWD. This is a good looking car as well. Big and strong.