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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  Highway Star - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Keith - October 17 - 1:53 am

  I purchased the car from the original, private buyer at 70K; it now has 140K. It still burns no oil. Its been great. Replaced the silly rear hatch panel fastening system cheaply when it failed. (inexpensive kit.) One front wheel bearing whined until it was fixed for a couple of hundred bucks. Really, the perfect car if you like to haul stuff, and feel safe, comfortable and secure. Find a trusted mechanic to keep an eye on things (same for any car) and youll grow very attached. The engine is excellent and sturdy. Quality, comfort and fun and you can fit your stuff in it.

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  Best Car Ever - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Gabriela - October 14 - 1:43 pm

  Great pick up when you need it. Stops on a dime. Very ergonomic,everything is within easy reach on the dash. Safe, and a beautiful design.

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  Great Vehicle - 2007 Volvo XC70
  By Yuri - October 13 - 8:10 pm

  I owned this wagon for about 9 months and made about 16,000 miles. Had a few long trips (2,000-4,000 miles). I love this vehicle! It’s very reliable, especially in complicated driving conditions. Well, Volvo is known about this, but this car is exceptional. I love to it on sharp bends, especially on wet road. So far I could make anybody in this conditions feel absolutely safe. It took my wife quite a time to trust this car for she used to drive a family sedan. She simply could not believe that the car can do such things. I’ve tried to convince her to use it for me to be nor worried about her. The seats are excellent. I’ve some problems with low back but I can easily drive it.

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  Volvo S80 - 2007 Volvo S80
  By JP - October 12 - 6:46 pm

  I have been extremely pleased with this car. I had never owned a Volvo before but the experience has been great. It drives very well, its comfortable and has been extremely reliable. I get 25-28 MPG driving mostly highways. I would recommend this car.

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  Nice Ride - 2008 Volvo S80
  By TommyB - October 12 - 3:40 pm

  Excellent vehicle for the price. With the rebates they are offering you just cant compare to the German and Japanese alternatives. With all the safety features, very safe ride. All controls are very intuitive.

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  The perfect cure for turning 30. - 2008 Volvo S40
  By Cdydatzigs - October 11 - 4:03 pm

  Growing up in the 1980s, Volvos were known as the boxy yuppy-mobiles that your hip friends parents drove. Nowadays, the cars are still hip but they are far from boxy. The S40 is the perfect entry-level sports sedan for the post-college crowd. The car is very attractive but you can still tell the car is a vault under its skin. Huge door pillars and the comforting thud when the doors close tell you this is still one of the safest cars on the road. Materials inside are durable and attractive, and the controls are very easy to read. There is some turbo-lag off the line, but when yer cruising at 25 mph on the freeway on ramp and need to get to 75mph in a hurry? This car flies at mid-range.

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  Definitely a Volvo - Worth the $ - 2006 Volvo XC70
  By Northeast - October 9 - 1:16 am

  We changed our Passat wagon for a Volvo XC70 and will definitely keep it at the end of the lease. We have never owned such a sturdy and comfortable car. This car rocks! For a second car, we are considering another Volvo. You definitely get your moneys worth.

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  Swedish Dragon Wagon - 2005 Volvo V70
  By R2D2 - October 8 - 2:50 pm

  This much fun ought to be illegal. The V70R is the perfect stealth wagon. Who would expect 0-60 in the mid-5s from a station wagon? With the available aftermarket items (exhaust, sway bars, and engine computer kits), getting 350+ HP is very do-able from only 2.5 liters. The 6-speed manual and brembo brakes make this a pleasure to drive. With 04 and 05 models coming within pricing reach, now is the time to think swede.

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  Excellent reliability. - 1996 Volvo 850
  By Melarti - October 5 - 10:00 am

  Having owned many, many used cars over the past decades, I have a good baseline from which to evaluate long term reliability. I attribute excellent build quality to the phenomenal reliability that we have experienced with this car. After over 45000 miles, the only problem experienced was with a squeaky ventilation fan.

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  My Little Pocket Rocket - 2007 Volvo V50
  By Allen - October 2 - 1:03 pm

  I get raves from a lot of other drivers and what a blast to drive this V50 is. Fort Knox on wheels too as Volvo is famous for safety. The Japanese made tranny matched to the 218 ponies makes it a dream to drive. Easy to be at 80+ mph and feels like 40. Quick on acceleration, shoots from the gate and leaves a lot of other cars in the dust! I say Volvo finally got it right in styling, interior, safety, guts, all there! I upgraded wheels to 17", tinted all windows and this baby stands out on the road.