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:

• 

  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...

• 

  Avoid It! - 2001 Volvo S40
  By alibi - January 18 - 10:00 am

  Headlight burnout, brake replacement, constant check engine lights, unexplained alarm problems and most recently a windshield crack -- all add up to a very disappointing experience. The cupholders block the radio, the radio controls are diabolical, the headlights project a strange, ribbed pattern and, on a sunny day, most of what you see in the windshield is a reflection of the top of the dashboard. Add a miserable dealer (Penkhus in Colorado Springs). Volvo should be ashamed.

• 

  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.

• 

  Leaky Volvo XC-90 - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By MammaDean - January 2 - 11:50 am

  We recently had a series of problems and are very unhappy with both the local dealer and Volvo Customer Service. We had the car towed in 3 times for electrical problems before they found the problem and at the same time it was leaking. We had seen leaking around the sun roof but the car was flooding into the passenger floor - which was blamed on the sunroof drain. Again, we took it in 3 times - were accused of parking it outside! and even dumping a bucket of water in it. We paid over $1500 dollars to clean up the mess and Volvo refused to cover it under warranty. Our car was either dead or in the shop for 42 days out of the past 2 months. I will sell it and NEVER buy another Volvo

• 

  Wish I didnt get it... - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By PBissonette - December 31 - 11:03 pm

  1) The washer reservoir was not hooked up. 2) Tire failed at 1500 miles, 3) a 73 year old man shut a door with his hip and bashed it in, 4) car electrical system failed at 20,000, 6) both headlights went out at 38,000, 6) replaced tie rod and bushings and tires at 40,000. I expect more.

• 

  I wish I could love this car - 2006 Volvo V50
  By Mon - December 30 - 7:20 pm

  I have a love/hate relationship with this car. Its the fourth Volvo Ive owned and I can tell quality has gone seriously downhill. Yes, the car is fun to drive WHEN its not at the shop getting repaired. Ive had the car for 2.5 years and it is in the shop with various problems about once every 6 weeks, most of the time with recurring problems that miraculously dont show up when its at the dealership. The car is comfortable, quite roomy and sporty. I love that its faster than it looks. I just really wish that the car was more reliable. This will be the last Volvo for me. Im getting rid of it as soon as the warrantys up as I dont think Ill be able to afford the constant repairs!

• 

  Great concept; Poor execution - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By CCB - December 23 - 4:56 pm

  The birth our our third child led us to sell our Audi Allroad and purchase the Volvo. Immediatly we noticed the great disparity in build quality. The front brake pads went at 11,000 mi, rotors went at 34,000 mi, no dealer explanation. Steering makes a loud clunk when turning at low speeds. Several trim pieces have consistently fallen off. The leather on the drivers seat is starting to crack despite multiple conditioning. Gas mileage is about 15.6-16.2 according to the computer. And yes, the upgraded 18 inch wheels did not have the upgraded brakes not where the tires provided of any quality. It has been such a poor experince, both with the car and the dealership, we are considering an Escalade.

• 

  Dont By A 2000 Volvo S80 T-6 - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Nicole - December 7 - 7:40 am

  This car is horrible. I purchased this car used and I have had problems with ever since. My car is in the shop every 3-4 months for things other than regular maitenance. This car has had two recalls on it since I have owned it. I had to replace the ECU and the power steering rank. Luckily I had the VIP select warranty. I have prolems with the engine stalling while I was in freeway traffice along with my daughter in the car, I have had to have the radiator replaced, amongst other things. I have owned this car for a year and half and its been in the shop so much that I just should have stuck with a Honda Accord.

• 

  Lemon in KC - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By lemon in KC - December 1 - 10:00 am

  My wife was the second owner of the new XC90 in Kansas City and that may be the problem. This car has been in the shop more than our garage. You name it and it has gome wrong. The power seat/mirror loses memory every time you start the car. The fuel door snapped off when my 10-year old bumped it, ($223 - not under warranty) rear windshield wiper snapped off while trying to clean the window, radiator overheats and had to be replaced, PVC valve rattles and had to be replaced only to name a few. Hopefully these are problems with the first production run or these guys are in for some major lawsuits and lemon law issues.

• 

  Junk After 120K miles - 2001 Volvo V70
  By jmg1977 - November 20 - 8:58 am

  This is a Volvo, right? It is actually my 4th. And my last. Too bad for what used to be a great Swedish product, but not anymore! Nice styling, great handling on the interstate and sips gas. All ok until about 120K miles. Then literally every electronic and fuel injection component, even the seatbelts started to malfunction. Thousands of dollars. Not the typical older car reliability failures and certainly Bosch doesnt make anything reasonably priced for replacement parts. My next car will be American or Japanese. Not as unreliable or expensive to fix.