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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  Best SUV Ever - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By samanthalouise - March 29 - 9:06 pm

  Absolutely love this SUV. Best vehicle I have ever own, hands down. Safe. Reliable. Kid friendly. Just all sound great SUV.

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  Awesome 5 cylinders - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By P Pletcher - March 29 - 10:53 am

  This is the vehicle Porsche should have built. Its lighter in weight by 900 pounds than the Cayenne, and it has a great little 5-cylinder that delivers all the torque right there at 1500 rpm. Very thoughtful, great engineering, beautiful concept, I hated to see the V8 come along because the model was unique without it in the showrooms.

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  GREAT SUV VOLVO MADE - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By DODDY - March 28 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS THE SUV I EVERB DROVE IN MY LIFE

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  Volvo XC90` - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By j - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Excellent choice. Easier access to 3rd row than the MDX. Much more room than the BMW. Smoother ride than the ML320. Better drive than the RX300. Safer than the GX470

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  Volvo XC90` - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By J - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Excellent choice. Easier access to 3rd row than the MDX. Much more room than the BMW. Smoother ride than the ML320. Better drive than the RX300. Safer than the GX470

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  My first Volvo - 2001 Volvo S40
  By Kevin S40 - March 28 - 2:00 am

  This was my first Volvo, and likely wont be my last. From the minute I test drove it, I had a clear impression of just how solid and stable the car was. The S40 had substantially less turbo lag than my previous car- a 98 Audi A4. In general, the driving experience felt tight, as a European car should.

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  Cant beat Volvo longevity - 1996 Volvo 850
  By Multi Volvo Owner - March 21 - 4:03 am

  Ive had my 850 GLT for almost 9 years. Its been a solid performer. Just do the scheduled maintenance and enjoy driving it. Reliable, solid, and dependable.

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  More than happy - 2008 Volvo XC70
  By Paul U. - March 18 - 9:40 am

  Just upgraded my 08 XC70 with a new 08 XC70. Added more options, like Dyna audio, BLIS, Adaptive cruise and 17" wheels. Chose Black/Black instead of Oyster/Tan. It feels like I am in a completely different car. Where the other one was nice, this feels more like a luxury automobile. I am so much happier with this car. My first was an early production and this one seems to be tighter, put together better and has a much higher quality feeling to it. I put over 12K on my last one in over 4 months and never warmed up to it. I can see keeping this one for much longer

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  Great Car - 2004 Volvo V70
  By Darkclaw13 - March 17 - 10:00 am

  This just a great Car

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  Once youve gone Swedish... - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By J Sube - March 15 - 10:23 pm

  After driving Saabs (900SE Conv, 9-5SE Sedan) for nearly ten years, I wanted to move to an SUV and bought a Toyota. Although it was highly reliable, I was bored beyond belief with it. So, along came the Volvo XC90 T6 AWD in Graphite Gray -- great looking, so very comfortable, excellent driving experience, great gadgets, and hauls a lot of stuff easily (dog, people, and things on weekend trips to the beach house). My only complaint is that I didnt wait two more months to get the 8-cylinder engine. On long up hill segments of road (local streets, etc), it often whines when the turbo has to kick in to move up the hill. Other than that, I love the vehicle and recommend it to all.