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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  AMAZING CAR - 2005 Volvo S80
  By A. Miller - November 9 - 9:03 am

  I just got this car a couple of days ago, and it is great! The power of the car is incredible and there is so much room inside and it has many, many, very luxurious features.

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  I wouldnt trade it for anything. - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Jen - November 8 - 2:33 pm

  The braking, control and stability of my Volvo have helped me avoid accidents that I believe would have been unavoidable in my previous cars. I wouldnt trade it for any other car on the market.

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  Got it over the Audi A4 - 2012 Volvo S60
  By mklay - November 8 - 5:58 am

  Over the past 15 years, Ive owned Audis. Yea, I know, the BMW 3 series is best, but for me I liked Audi. Prior to getting my "wonderful" 2013 S60 T5, Audi gave me a new 2013 A4 2.0 T (w) premium package to use for three days, while my A3 was being fixed. Needing a new car & my recent experience with the A4, it gave me a good reference point/comparison to the S60. Anyway, for "me/myself & I", the Volvo S60 T5 was "much better" than the A4 for city and highway driving. Also, it handled very good (not as good as the Germans, but good enough) and provided better steering feel, a more solid feel/smoother ride, quieter cabin, better seats, and "just enough" power to have some fun.

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  Its an awesome car, hands down!! - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By mykalm99 - November 4 - 10:00 am

  Its the best thing on the road. Nothing else comes close!

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  Love this vehicle! - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By mikeyd - November 4 - 2:00 am

  We decided our Tahoe was just too large for everyday driving. The XC90 wasnt out when we bought the Tahoe. We looked for a month and decided the XC90 was a perfect candidate...large, but not huge, safe for our kids with great styling and utility. Drove a demo and fell in love. Then the hunt was on. Took us a couple of weeks to get the word out to all dealers in the state. Finally got lucky when an XC90 that was sold fell through. We drove up the next morning (200 miles) and picked it up. My wife calls me during the day just to tell me she loves it!

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  want people to know good quality - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By jjnewvolvofan - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I am a quality person, who appreciates things built well.

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  Great car - 2003 Volvo S60
  By JBW - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Great car- extremely comfortable to drive, especially on road trips.

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  Great little car - 2007 Volvo S40
  By Mike - November 3 - 7:10 am

  Wife had a 2001 S80 and really loved it. When time came to get a new one she wanted an SUV but with the gas prices, talked her out of it. She saw this white Volvo S40 and fell in love with it. Turns out it was a turbo with AWD. Car hugs the road like a tiger. Great pick up, lots of power. The new S40s are like the old S80s.

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  LOVE IT - 2001 Volvo S40
  By g75401 - October 30 - 10:00 am

  I bought my S40 to be a work car. I drive 90 miles round trip, mostly highway, and wanted a car with better fuel economy than my Expedition. So far, the Volvo fits the bill. Its very fun to drive and gets great gas mileage. I compare it to a Scirroco VW I had in the early 80s...very peppy without the requirement of needing to sleep in the back seat overnight on the side of the road due to breakdowns!!! Plus, my stepson has already informed me he likes it more than his dads S60!!

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  Suprise S40 - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Bob H - October 30 - 9:50 am

  I am very pleased with the price - value ratio of the Volvo S40. The performance of the T5 is nothing short of incredible. The mileage is also a pleasant surprise. I am averaging 27.5 combined city/highway mileage on mid- level gas. This is particularily nice since I last owned a Expedition. The new style with a set of crome wheels really sets off the fire-engine red body. I would highly recommend this vehicle.