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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  Excellent car - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Veronika - September 3 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car a year ago and I love it! I always get compliments, even when I am at traffic lights. It rides smooth and is very sturdy. The only thing that bothers me is the cupholder blocking the stereo. I still cant understand why someone designed it to be in the place that it is.

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  Great Commuter - 2007 Volvo S40
  By DJF - September 2 - 2:10 pm

  I have over 100,000 miles on this car in about 3 years. Fun to drive, comfortable and I feel safe in it. No real problems with the car, even ran it down 3 1/2 quarts low on oil with no developing problems. Switched to synthetic oil about 50,000 miles

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  love the car, not the dealer - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Amber Lawson - September 2 - 8:26 am

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  Eats Beamers & Benzes For Lunch! - 2005 Volvo S60
  By Will - September 2 - 6:33 am

  After test driving the Mercedes Benz C230 Kompressor and the BMW 325i I was reluctant to test drive the Volvo S60. The exterior styling is on the conservative side but is very attractive to the eye with better fit and finish than its German Counterparts. With the premium package the interior definitely impresses though it does lack the small details of the Mercedes. That being said the safety features make you forget about the gizmos of the German cars. During the test drive I was impressed with the 2.5 L Turbo and the vehicles handling. So much that my wife said I was grinning ear-to-ear the whole time. I dont know what the Editors are talking about but this car is a blast to drive!

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  Pulled into vovlo dealer on the way to buy an acura ona whim and was sold! - 2011 Volvo S60
  By zugisland - August 31 - 9:48 am

  Just bought my S60 after looking and driving many other vehicles.!st the others. Lexus ct200 hybrid interior cabin too small at 6ft my head was hitting cieling also there is much concern about this cars performance in the winter . Audi A5 , this would have been the primary competetion to the S60 purchase and although the A5 might be a tad handsomer and its feature set is also maybe a bit more sophistivcated I guarantee if you drive both the Volvo blows it away as far as driving dynamics. A5 211 hp 4 banger cannot come clsoe to the power and smoothness of the s60 Also the steering on the A5 was very loose compared to the volvo not to say I got my 2011 with a hefty 3grand rebate free maintence and 1.9% all vs full msrp 3.9% and no main on the audi and it was a no brainer. oh yes also drive the Bmw 328i aawd but had to spend a fortune to get the paackage with HID zenon lights . Was shocked at the numbner of cars BMW sells with 20 yr old halogens ...come on people why would anyone spend 40 plus grand on a car with those candles for lights.. I will not buy a car without this important safety feature and the S60 with its adaptive headlights are a winner. Wow almost forgot i did twest the new Saab 95 with a 10 grand rebate for obviouso reason and alhough i liked the sabb the best of all I was concerned aobut saabs viablitiy as a company and the potential hit to resell i may have taken and thus ended up in a S60...the only negative is i would have liked to see a better tpm which shows the inflated value of each tire rather then one which just lights when any tire gets low but you dont know which one...and there is no holder for a cell phone anywhere...missed that on the test drive..love the cool auto headrest down function for the rear to give me better visability when no one is in the bac

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  Love the XC90 - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By PJ - August 31 - 5:00 am

  This car is really cool to look at, but more importantly so safe! It drives so well and is so sturdy on the highway. Even in windy conditions or passing a truck, it hugs the road and never blows around. It has lots of interior room and is very comfortable.

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  First one Ive seen in person is ours... - 2018 Volvo V90
  By MKMc - August 30 - 8:08 pm

  Ordered through Volvo Concierge Service in February. Arrived last week. Maple Brown with Blonde Leather, Convenience pkg, heated strg wheel/windshield, 20 inch alloys, air ride susp, 115V power outlet rear, integrated split end pipes and load liner. Driven about 300 miles and this wagon is very impressive. Tight, drives smaller than it is, fit and finish perfect, systems fairly intuitive, fantastic acceleration, wi fi hotspot works great, tons of room in backseat. I really wanted the B & W sound system, but at $3200, it was a no go. Volvo has a home run here.

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  Drove many, chose one. - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By colosnow - August 30 - 2:00 am

  The XC90 T6 drives close to my Audi A4 Avant without the cornering ability. The acceleration at higher speeds is insane, a big deal for those who spend a bit of time on the highway. I disagree with Edmunds on the third row seat criticism; the second row slides forward and back to create better space configs, and I tested both rows myself - I am 6 feet tall, over 200 lbs. A road trip may be out of the question, but still... Biggest con is mileage, but Volvo makes up for it with ULEV and PremAir (if your considerations are environmental).

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  Not your fathers Volvo - 2002 Volvo S80
  By landlocked - August 28 - 10:00 am

  Dad loved his Volvo, and I am my fathers son, but the Volvo I have fallen in love with is ten times the car that dad owned when I was growing up. That said, theres still a lot under the skin that remains. The safety is still there, the comfort and solid feel is still there, but it now has a skin that turns heads wherever I go. Ive had the car a little over a year now, and I expect to get many more out of the car. More than a few people tell me that everyone in the office envies my car. It looks and feels good inside and out.

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  Great Car! - 2008 Volvo V50
  By jimmysworking - August 28 - 3:50 am

  Love the car. I have had it for a little over a week and enjoy it each time I slide into the drivers seat. The seat is one of the most comfortable I have ever been in. The fit and finish is excellent. Even though it is a smaller car, I feel safer in this than many larger cars I have been in. I like the feeling of having all of that Volvo Safety engineering around me and my family. All of this and it still feels very sporty.