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:

• 

  best car ever i love it - 2005 Volvo S40
  By D shap - January 27 - 10:00 am

  an exciting fun car with the feel of the BMW 330xi at a lower price. Exact same features as the 330. Getting the same thing for less money. My family owns both cars and they are almost identical.

• 

  Safe but unreliable. - 2001 Volvo V70
  By sunny2 - January 26 - 10:30 am

  Bought this car new. It was a very comfortable car and drove smoothly for a couple of years. After 2 years and 13k miles, transmission problems arose. Transmission problem temporarily fixed with some software upgrades. However, at 56k miles, the car jolts between gears and it needs an entire new transmission. I have read this is a problem with this model. Volvo NA claims no responsibility and that the car is simply past warranty. The company hung up on me! Transmission failure has resulted in numerous other problems with engine mounts and suspension. This vehicle has serious mechanical problems. Beware.

• 

  What a lemon - 1999 Volvo S70
  By Disappointed - January 26 - 3:23 am

  This car was a problem from a month after I bought it. It wouldnt start. Back to dealership about 4 times on flatbed truck. Dealer was great. Car not. Then problem finally solved, and all sorts of little things went wrong. Antenna gear broke, drivers door hinge broke, trunk hinge broke, trunk lock broke, air bag stopped working, and a big thing, stalled on freeway. Never buy another Volvo. Im heartbroken.

• 

  Great Car! - 2005 Volvo S40
  By kohlv - January 25 - 10:44 pm

  I love this car! I bought the car a year ago as my first car and its awesome. Ive read everywhere that its amazingly safe and I dont doubt it. The car looks great inside out and I have never had any major mechanical issues with it. This car works great in the snow (at least the AWD model). If you keep up with regular maintenance and actually care for the vehicle you shouldnt run into any problems.

• 

  Back for Seconds - 2009 Volvo XC90
  By Second Timer - January 25 - 7:03 pm

  We just bought our second XC90 after having owned an 06 since Jan 06. We had such a positive experience and now, with the unbelievable new warranty (five years 60K miles, including all routine maintenance plus wear & tear items) buying another one was a no brainer. Its safe, functional and fun to drive. Only complaints. Lousy gas mileage and third row seats are not great for anyone older than ten.

• 

  Need a Second Job Just to Keep Going - 1996 Volvo 850
  By Joe-Unhappy Owner - January 24 - 2:00 am

  As with others, I have foudn this car a disappointment. It works very well, but I need to work two jobs to keep it in good working order. Also, quality of dealer servicing is variant. I had a dealer mess up a belt replacement, which caused engine failure on highway, destroying original engine. I have spent approx. $13K servicing this car since buying it new. I am looking for a new Japanese compact...

• 

  Cool... - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By softwareitsat - January 24 - 2:00 am

  I feel so safe in this thing I cant even begin to tell you... Living in San Francisco I do drive agressively and the T6 has plenty of power for me plus, I saw a segment on KTVU that had the reporter really do his best to try and flip the XC90... to no avail. this vehicle is cool, slick AND safe.

• 

  excellent - 2002 Volvo S60
  By burningsuitcase - January 24 - 2:00 am

  This car is the best value for teh buck in the automotive industry... Bar None...

• 

  A Sporty Sedan fo Volvo Lovers - 2008 Volvo S80
  By WC - January 23 - 11:26 pm

  Good year-end deal for current Volvo owner on 08 S70 w/Sports Package. Smart style/profile;Great alternative to BMW or Audi; A very comfortable/roomy sedan with a sports car feel. Love rear visibility (drop down rear headrests);Accessible controls;Many convenience features, e.g. auto-folding rv mirros, smart key, heated/cooled f/r seats; Runs on regular gas. Would not have chosen low profile tires-expensive, impacts turn radius and mileage.

• 

  10/10 Would buy again - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Grayson T - January 23 - 6:00 am

  This review is coming from a previous BMW 7 series owner. This car in short is reliable, safe, extremely comfortable, great on gas and more! I purchased this car at 163,000 miles. Right after i purchased the vehicle, i drove 12 hours straight, and i instantly noticed how comfortable the car is. The seats are great for long drives. It also is great on gas. Got 30 MPG on the highway doing about 80 most of the time, and about 24-26 MPG city. The stereo is amazing, i ussualy listen at hugh volumes and it handles it well. As far as overall reliability, it has been great! Only a few minor fixes. This car does have a few minor annoyances, like the wood steering wheel has started to crack at the top (just surface cracks), and there are a few rattles from the dash when small bumps are hit. Overall this car is amazing. It drives great, super easy steering, easy breaks, and it accelerates exceptionally. I would reccomend this car to anyone.