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 Purchase Ever! - 2004 Volvo S40
  By Debbie N. - February 12 - 2:00 am

  What a great little car! Having already purchased a used Volvo wagon, we knew we wanted our next car to be a Volvo, but affordability was an issue. I moved from a Saturn into the Volvo S40, and was surprised at how inexpensive the car was, and how much bang we got for our buck.

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  No Problems - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Mr. B - February 10 - 11:56 pm

  I Have owned this vehicle for about 6 years and have had few problems that I have not seen in my other vehicles. Firstly, I bought it with 18k so I had time to put some mileage on it. I currently have over 200k and have done 5 brake Jobs so the brakes have been fine for me. My headlights burnt out frequently until I fixed the ground. I have replaced my struts with konis and would highly recommend them. I have replaced my motor mounts, cv axle, and turbo seals once. So I dont know why everyone is complaining about these cars, if you maintain them they last awhile. Oil change at 3k not 7500.

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  V70R A Joy! - 2004 Volvo V70
  By RHS - February 10 - 3:13 pm

  Totally enjoyable "compromise" between a functional car and a sports car. Passengers are universally compelled to comment that this is not what they expect from Volvo. They are very impressed. It looks great in a quiet way. Lots of fun.

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  Poor Reliabilit - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Joannea - February 10 - 10:00 am

  This Volvo is very poor in reliability.I cant begin to tell whats gone wrong with it. It just a piece of junk. One time, it was in the shop for six weeks,however, they did give me a loaner. I missed the California lemon law because I kept thinking this was the last problem Id have with it. I wrote Volvo and I got a reply stating what a wonderful car they built. My advice, do a lot of checking amd research before spending money on a Volvo; there are too many fine, reliable vehicles out there. My Volvo dealer has been outstanding and bent over backwards to help me and tocorrect the cars problems.

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  Falls Apart - 2000 Volvo C70
  By Burned by Volvo - February 10 - 7:40 am

  Like others here, my door panels fall off ($1000 each) switches fail, sunroof constantly comes loose from the frame, the leather seats have peeled and the cqar is a basic nightmare. The throttle body has also failed, steering arm...the list goes on and on despite taking great care of this lemon. Volvo has been no help what so ever despite agreeing that ALL of these are known problems with this disaster.

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  2004 V70R - 2004 Volvo V70
  By John Landis - February 8 - 8:10 pm

  Car has been great except for the Pirelli P6"s. They wore out in about 15000 miles and were terrible in the snow even when they were new. They were replaced with Micheln Pilot Sport A/Ss. They lasted 30,000 miles and were decent in the snow. Except for a bad reverse light switch I have had no problems with the car.

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  (Very) Swift AND Stylish - 2004 Volvo V70
  By karen b - February 8 - 10:00 am

  The LAST thing I thought Id get was another Volvo--but after testing the Lexus RX 330 and the VW Touraeg and beind dissatisfied with both, my husband talked me into visiting the Volvo folks before I turned the XC in. Id heard about the V 70 R, asked to see one. They had one on the lot ("hard to come by")--I drove it and took it home. Daily driving has become a pleasure--I love it so much I often wash it myself. And its stealth-fast: Im still treasuring the shock on a Carerra 4S owners face when I blazed past him on my way to work (same hp)...Nobody knows what this car can do unless theyve been in one or have driven one. Finally--a hot Mommy car!

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  Great Workout! - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By rg - February 8 - 10:00 am

  The steering is too tight in this SUV. My arms ache everytime I drive this car. My dad drove my XC90 one day, he asked if it had power steering!!! Hard to park this car, makes a very big turn - hard to make a tight swing.

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  Great car, lousy tire options and MPG - 2005 Volvo XC70
  By gbs - February 7 - 2:30 am

  I bought my XC70 as a certified used car. I had previously owned an Audi A6 wagon, which was a tank. The Audi drove better at highway speeds, had a vastly superior stereo. But I have to say, I love the Volvos style, excellent front seats, storage capability. What I dont like: Perelli tires which need to be replaced every 30K miles or so. havent found a suitable replacement that tire cos will actually put on the car due to safety ratings and sizing issues. And since I do mostly city driving, the mpg is lousy. Overall, glad it was pre- certified. Have saved much $$$ having the dealer take car of stuff. Id recommend the XC70.

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  Awesome Car - 1998 Volvo V70
  By bobsfrankenbeans - February 6 - 7:53 pm

  Coming from a 96 Saturn sw2, this volvo was a huuuuuge upgrade. Its air tight (so much so that your ears pop when opening/closing the sunroof), runs like a charm, and is so stable that I often forget Im driving in through icy/snow covered roads (as the AWD and Wet setting makes the car hunker down and adjust beautifully to the changing grip). the cabin stays at a nice temperature even with its -20 out and it warms up within 5 mins. Its super comfortable, good audio, etc. etc. Its not as much fun as the saturn - no doughnuts or snow drifting - but its certainly safer, warmer, and at an appropriate level to allow giant F-9000s to see you, not matter the weather.