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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  No Longer Happy! - 2002 Volvo S40
  By MDB - January 10 - 9:23 pm

  Chose Volvo for safety and supposed longevity. Generally agree with comments of satisfied owners, though have had some of the problems -- lamp bulbs and brake pads. Owned the car for 7 years, yet only 58,000 miles, so expected at least a couple of more years w/o major repairs. Surprise! Last week my wife drove home from work, and upon arrival stated that something was really wrong with the car. Wheels very hot; towed to dealer; week later Volvo area expert determined that ABS pump failed, entire brake system damaged; repair cost $2800. Have followed all recommended servicing; most recent visit no brake problems noted. Dealer service has been very good, yet we will not buy another Volvo!

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  Volvo Troubles - 1999 Volvo V70
  By Mike R. - January 10 - 2:36 am

  Weve owned this car for 7 years and have spent close to $5,000 in unscheduled repairs. Our list: -Brakes and rotors-headlight switch- motor mounts-ABS module-heater core- throttle body (twice)-power window motor-dash repair-cupholder replaced- power steering seals-many headlights/tail lights. Our car is not abused and only dealer serviced. It is very expensive to operate and any visit to the service shop will cost a minimum $120 for a diagnostic. I will never buy Volvo again.

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  Needs Work - 2005 Volvo V50
  By CDF58 - January 9 - 5:33 pm

  My 2005 V50 lacks power, the S40 has more "pick-up" than this car. It has trouble with even a gradual incline and theres a delay when stepping on the gas to speed up. From the time I took delivery of the car, it had an acceleration issue after slowing down to go over speed bump or turning corners - very annoying. It would seem like it was going to stall when I reapplied pressure to the gas pedal. Service people didnt know how to fix it for the first 2+ years I owned it. The horn went out, my keys have fallen apart, and I hear a loud click/clunk when I back up while parallel parking. Visibility is poor - rear view and front-sides of windshield. Driver seatbelt seizes up regularly. Whew!

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  Glad I bought it - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By San Diego Guy - January 9 - 2:03 pm

  I love my XC90...the car is well designed and has been solid as a rock so far. Buying experience was the easiest Ive ever had and the car has lived up to its billing by Volvo. Only flaws so far has been the headlight washers which just squirt onto the hood (had the dealer disconnect) and the Homelink system had to be replaced, but Volvo took care of both. Mileage could be better, but Im getting about 18.5 mpg combined driving so not too bad. Get one if you want a well built, comfortable, and fun SUV to drive!

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  Sports car with space - 2006 Volvo V50
  By Mike - January 8 - 10:43 pm

  I love this car. Its the smallest of the three Volvos Ive owned (previous cars: 245DL wagon and an 850 sedan), but by far the most fun. I wanted a car with sports car-like handling and acceleration, but I also wanted space in the back to accommodate, for instance, a couple of bales of peat moss. I got it all. The car flies--merging onto the highway is really fun now--and its power is evident at low RPMs, too. I have the brushed aluminum interior and its very cool. Cons: Theres not a great deal of storage space up front, and the back seats are a little tight for normal-sized adults, but we have an SUV for long trips. A great drivers car.

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  Parking brake needs service - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Jo - January 6 - 6:26 pm

  I have owned my 2016 XC 90 for a month and it is already in the shop. When I came out of the store my car wouldnt start due to a warning light that indicated the parking brake needed service. I called the Volvo dealer and they had me try putting my key in the slot on the console to see if that would work, nothing happened. I was told that the car would indeed have to be towed into the dealership. Also, since my phone was connected to the Volvo it wiped out my contacts due to a computer glitch in the car! Since the car was in park the tow truck driver had to call the dealership to see how to override the transmission so he could get the car to move. I watched as they dragged my car up the tow truck ramp. I traded in my 2010 XC90 with over 100,000 miles on it and the only time it was ever in the shop was for service. I would wait to purchase the 2016 until all the bugs have been worked out and people know how to work on them. This is so disappointing and frustrating.

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  Man, I hate this car - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Heath Kinsland - January 6 - 10:16 am

  This was purchased as my wifes car but she got tired of it and is now driving my Tahoe and I am stuck (read upside down) in this thing. Rides great on the highway including good gas mileage but around town the turbo lag is just unacceptable. There is no storage inside in areas like the console and the stereo is not adaptable to adding bluetooth or XM/Sirius. Additionally, the controls for the stereo are not very intuitive making it difficult to operate. The rain-sensing wipers dont seem to follow any kind of consistent operating process. To many plastic pieces that seem to break and the cost of replacement parts are out of hand. $180 for a headlight bulb is completely crazy!

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  For the Price - 2001 Volvo C70
  By Volvo for Life - January 6 - 2:00 am

  This car looks like a Mercedes and gets mistaken for a BMW all for a fraction of the price. I think this is one of those cars that was overlooks by the American public. It has the sporty look of a european exotic and the safety of a Volvo. Great for a young single guy.

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  Great Family SUV! - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By SonnyH - January 5 - 6:50 am

  I purchased this XC90 from an original owner about 2 months ago with a little over 80K on it. The XC90 is a very tight/safe ride to be in. Before searching for an SUV Ive looked at the Sequoia, MDX and Pilot (all good cars) but at the end decided to purchase the XC90. The main reason for that was the safety features (curtain airbags on all seating rows) and how stable the car handles on the road especially at high speed.

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  Performs quite well - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By Tony - January 3 - 3:03 am

  We bought ours as a certified pre-owned vehicle and have had no problems what so ever since purchase. Overall the fit and finish of the XC90 is very good and reliability is excellent.The 2.5T is not a powerhouse of an engine, but on the highway and around town its adequate. Its a good,safe family car.