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:

• 

  Stylish Annoyance - 2001 Volvo C70
  By sixtto - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive when the top is down. Otherwise back seat is useless and annoying to put anything in due to annoyingly slow motorized seats. Visibility out rear view mirror with top up is annoyingly non-existent. Mechanical problems have been annoying but fixed at no charge --recurring front end turning issue that goes away briefly only to annoyingly return. OPening window or door in rain gets car wet.

• 

  Bad Headlights - 2000 Volvo S40
  By bad headlights - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Doesnt set my hair on fire. Headlights burn out at least once per year. If the Turbo isnt spooled up, the car is VERY sluggish.

• 

  15K miles and lovin it! - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Mike McNutt - February 18 - 2:00 am

  We have put 15K miles and like the quietness of interior, comfort, good acceleration for passing, great sound. My wife wanted navigation system, I didnt, but now I love it. Had a problem with brakes, not a safety problem, light said "needs service", it took four trips to get it solved.

• 

  Why get anything else? - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By fslee - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Never wanted to get into SUVs becauase of fuel efficiency. BUt saw 18/24 and jumped! Must get 5-cyl trim for all the reasons listed by others. Better room than BMW, much better styling than Benz, best fuel efficiency overall. Shockingly good sound system.

• 

  No more Volvos for me - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Lucas Tam - February 17 - 6:50 pm

  This is my first and last Volvo ever. Since I bought the car in 2005, its been in the shop over 16 times for a variety of reasons: air bag malfunction, climate control issues, circuit boards frying, battery failures, remote not working, steering failure, etc. In fact, the car has been towed to the dealership 2 times since 2005! (And this was a brand new car). Never again am I going to buy an S40... and never again a Volvo!

• 

  Big Disapointment - 2008 Volvo XC70
  By DaveJ - February 17 - 1:16 am

  Acquired on 2 yr 12K Volvo lease with promise that I could extend for 6 months. Now that I am at lease end Volvo and the dealer will not honor the original promise. I was offered a $29K buyout do not overpay. I am through with Volvo. I had a 2000 V70XC-SE. After 90K miles major systems failed and cost to keep it on the road were VERY high. Same experience with a prior 240 DL. You cannot afford to keep them going once they need major service. The 2008 has disappointing performance and mileage. It is underpowered. The BLIS sensors and ultrasonic sensors dont work in the rain or snow. Any load in the rear causes the springs to bottom out. Check Xenon headlight replacement cost.

• 

  S40 Review - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Simon Brown - February 15 - 4:13 am

  The new S40 is in a class all on its own. Take my advice and definitely go for the T5 AWD, as the 2.4i is very unpowered, (a problem the T5 will never have). The AWD option on a car of this type is outstanding, and is extremely useful. The new S40 is tons of fun to drive, especially if you like a firm and sporty type of suspension.

• 

  The more I drive it, the more I love it! - 2011 Volvo XC60
  By Kevin - February 15 - 2:00 am

  First crossover. Needed more space. Went to this from a 3-series BMW sedan. Test drove all competitors. Handling is terrific. Acceleration is outstanding, with best low end torque of anything Ive previously owned. Turbo is very smooth. Interior is comfortable and well organized. Great soundsystem. Bluetooth works great. Love the BLIS. Luckily havent had to test the city safety yet. Love the exterior. Its a looker. Better gas mileage than others have experienced but not a sipper. Regular unleaded use, a plus.

• 

  Bring back the S70 body style!!! - 2000 Volvo S70
  By Turbomolar - February 14 - 5:43 am

  Most people dont realize how easy it is to customize their Volvos. With a simple ECU change, intake and exhaust upgrade, your S70 GLT SE can easily add another 40hp and 70torque. And upgrading to a lighter 17" aftermarket rims(I recommend the 17.5 lb. SSR-GT1 wheel.) with wider tires transforms this boxy grandpa car into a sexy, agressive, turbobrick! ;) I love my S70. Too bad Volvo stopped making this body style. Guess Ill have to get a XC70 next. Anyways...no real problems have arisen in the past 5 years(except for the turn signal recall that was easily fixed). Lets all email Volvo and tell them to bring the S70 body style back!

• 

  Affordable Luxury Sedan - 2000 Volvo S80
  By sedan man - February 12 - 1:43 pm

  This is solid, well built safe sedan. The acceleration is strong and a great ride on the highway if youre going north and south. The handling is okay. Semi-frustrating trunk lock/unlock feature. The interior features are great, comfortable seats, lots of leg room for taller people. Havent had any problems with the car after 12K miles. Aside from the lock/unlock features all in all, for the money, a very good buy.