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:

• 

  Disappointing quality - 2004 Volvo S80
  By carluvr - March 26 - 2:00 am

  My S80 T6 spend the better part of its first 2 months in the shop dealing with a heavy vibration at high speeds and the eventual myriad of resulting rattles. This car did not impress upon me the quality one would expect for $46K. An inept service department and crooked dealer certainly didnt help resolve my ill feelings either. After four months of ownership, I am trading mine in (another reflection of Volvos quality is reflected in its re- sale value). Watch out! If you are looking for an impressive machine, at least test drive a Saab 9- 5 Aero.

• 

  Glad its gone! - 2001 Volvo S80
  By rose - March 24 - 5:00 pm

  I had a 1999 S80 that I loved. it was a dependable car had over 150K when I got rid of it. I bought a used 2001 S80 it had 70K on it. During ownership I experienced lots of problems-transmission, faulty air valves,sway bars, sensory issues, headlights burning out, suspension problems. I was thrilled when I finally sold the car. I had it almost two years, 22K miles and thousands of dollars later! I would not recommend a Volvo car.

• 

  Buy a BMW or Audi instead - 2004 Volvo V40
  By George M - March 22 - 10:00 am

  We purchased this car recently...back brake pads needed to be replaced, it is a common problem according to the service people at the dealer but they refused to cover under warranty. The paint on the car is very soft and scratches very easily. Overall is an okay car, not worth the money. It is our fist and last Volvo, customer service is a joke! Dont buy this car, the BMW is going to be our next mini wagon, a much more solid car that only costs a few thousand dollars more.

• 

  Worst big-ticket purchase of my life - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Paul in Bethesda - March 16 - 10:00 am

  What a disappointment. Terrible ride -- you feel every bump. Loud interior. Awful electronics: blown lights, faulty electronic key. Ignition problems. Broken gas tank sensor. Steering column leaked fluid. Altinator failed. WORST RELIABILITY OF ANY CAR IVE EVER OWNED - - AND I ONCE OWNED A FORD. Terrible in- dash stereo for the price. And Martens Volvo is terrible, too. Were already looking for a replacement.

• 

  Stay away - 2009 Volvo XC70
  By luis - March 14 - 11:16 am

  Ive owned this car for 14 months and I cant wait for my lease to be up. Wait a couple years before Volvo puts everything together in this car. Every week there is one thing, electronic issues, alert messages, ratles, transmission jumps from one gear to another for no reason and in the mountains the car goes nuts. The dealer says it is normal in this model and Volvo is still trying to improve it. Resale value is horrible, reliability is even worse, check for yourself Consumer reports and see the ratings from the editors at Edmunds. Do not make the same mistake and wait until they do something about it, it is hard to believe that from the past model Volvo has done such a bad job.

• 

  Hate this car - 2007 Volvo XC70
  By Marie in Atlanta - February 24 - 1:00 pm

  Had the worst experience with this car than any other car I have owned. After 35,000 miles car broke down due to a fuel sensor. Had to wait for 3 hour in over 100 degree wather for Volvos road side assistance. Had to drive 75 miles to pick up the car only to get almost home for it to break again. Now the back seat seatbelt is not working and have to go up to the dealership again. Paid to have tires rotated, service did not do this. 35000 miles on the car and I need new tires. I do not drive cars hard and we always keep up with oil changes, tire rotation etc. I am a working mom who has to do the school run. However I recently feel every time I get in the car, there is a problem.

• 

  oops - 2004 Volvo S60
  By blue eyes - February 24 - 10:00 am

  bought the 2.4t liked the looks of it. Plenty of room up front with supportive seats, to bad the leather is falling apart after 3 months. Highway driving is noisy, lots of wind noise crap tires I bought the sport package with the 17" rims. When turning the wheel full lock the tires rub against wells. At times I feel like im driving a cheap car.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.