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:

• 

  Tons of Fun - 2008 Volvo C30
  By BB - April 21 - 5:33 am

  Lots of zip! Handles great! Grabs the road! Comfortable! Good mileage! Gets lots of compliments! Great price! Overall - great buy!

• 

  Mixed Bag - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Captclam - April 21 - 2:00 am

  This car is an engineering marvel as far as the fit, finish and drive are concerned. Before buying ensure there are no oil leaks a the oil return line is often trouble. The part online is $90 ($120 at dealer), and an easy do it yourself. The traction control module is notorously flaky. Test by slamming on breaks and then gas on gravel or sand before buying. If the TRACS or ABS lights come on, run. Part alone is $800, though you can trade your old one in online and get a rebuilt one for about $150 (see www.swedespeed.com forum). Check out Internet Volvo forums before heading in for repair as many high $ repairs are actually a $40 sensor gone bad.

• 

  Rolling Produce - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By DeanDeanDean - April 21 - 2:00 am

  In shop over 37 days. Chronic brake & steering problems, still not resolved. Generally takes multiple visits to get anything fixed, and the fixes seem often to be band-aids rather than actual fixes. Zero confidence in the build quality of this vehicle. Its supposed to be a safe car, but you have to be able to drive it to benefit.

• 

  A great car - 2008 Volvo S80
  By HNH - April 20 - 5:16 pm

  Looked at the usual German, British & Japanese luxury brands, and just when I was about to buy a Lexus, decided to stop by a Volvo dealer. The S80 T6 seemed to have what I was looking for: understated luxury, solid build, strong engine, comfortable ride, nice stereo and a reasonable price. A great value.

• 

  My Volvo! - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Brian - April 20 - 2:30 pm

  I bought my Volvo used with 3k miles on it and have driven it all over Europe, I have yet to have any problems. The only thing I could possibly complain about is the lack of factory tint on my windows. Also if you have something heavy (15 lbs) or more sitting in the passenger seat it will sound a bell and there is a flashing seatbelt sign. If you can call that a bad thing. And the last one is the lack of after market sterios made to utilize the new dash/radio in the S40.

• 

  Never Again - 2002 Volvo C70
  By sldghmr - April 20 - 4:33 am

  Like everyone says, its fun to drive. Thats true. My wifes car and its been the biggest pain to own. We tell our friends that when you look at the car you do not see a single original part, its all been replaced under warranty. No kidding our stack of maintenance receipts looks like a magazine, a thick one. One day while driving I was passenger, the dash just snapped in half. Problem after problem. As I write, it is in the shop for a new fan and fan assembly which is on back order because they ran out. Symptom was smoke coming out of it, never a good symptom. Engine block is the only original under the hood. Its only safe because it rarely runs. But she loves it.

• 

  MIGHTY MITE V50 - 2007 Volvo V50
  By signal67 - April 19 - 1:53 pm

  Superbly designed vehicle that is an absolute blast to drive. Mine is the "Full Monty" T5 AWD with buttery-smooth 6 speed manual. Seems like every design and engineering detail was painstakingly tested and mulled over to best benefit the driver. Gives me 85% of the performance I expect from my 85 Porsche 911. I can haul my ever-growing toddler son in his Recaro sport seat and my two 90 lb. Weimaraners (very tall, large dogs). A great-looking vehicle as well that really grabs on-lookers attention. Most people think of AWD for icy, snowy environments, but here in L.A., I like it for added performance - goodbye torque steer, understeer, oversteer, etc. A total beast.

• 

  No resale value!! - 1998 Volvo S70
  By DaveM - April 19 - 2:00 am

  Besides the umpteen problems with the turn signals and burned out headlights (and door panels and serpentine belts and tires), weve loved this car. But the ABS sensor light is on ($1600), the A/C is out (AGAIN - $2100), and its time to return to a Toyota. Unfortunately, it is worth only $6000 trade in...absolutely ridiculous. Volvo, youre way overrated.

• 

  Never again - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Lisa Lewis - April 19 - 2:00 am

  Its a shame that a top notch mfrg. like Volvo would let the engine quality slip to non existent.Yes, its safe and comfortable, but high maintenance-- unbelieveable. In one year, I spent over $4k in tires (only 2 types fit the rims) and constant repairs i.e. every 10k youhave to clean the electronic throttle (I did twice in a yr) or it will surge. Never again!

• 

  A reliable, safe, & comforable ride - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Movie Star - April 19 - 2:00 am

  Experience has been excellent to superior with very few problems of any kind. The car has superior safety features, is a comfortable ride and extremely reliable over 30,000 miles to date. It averages 2o miles in the city and 27 on the highway. The sound systym is excellent and as are the handling characteristics. No realignment has been necessary, the tire wear factor has been excellent with an est. additinal 10k miles to go. Brake lining wear to match.