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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  Finally could get rid of the SUV - 2010 Volvo V70
  By SUVFREE - October 8 - 12:30 am

  I am finally able to get back to a wagon after 5 years of SUV (2 XC 90s). What a great car the V70. Extremely comfortable; smooth and responsive engine; brisk and "sporty" handling. Rock solid/ safe feel. Way better gas mileage that the XC90s I test drove the XC 70, but did not like the external sheaths of plastic on the car, nor the raised ground clearance and the rougher ride. I do wish they made the v70 in AWD, but front wheel will be fine in snow with winter tires. The interior of the car is beautiful. better than BMW and rivaling Audi. Rear seat room is tremendous as is the trunk. Base sound system is more than acceptable. Best family hauler I can think of.

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  Happy because I bought the model with the good engine! - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By rootleaf - October 7 - 11:37 pm

  We purchased this car a little over one year ago. I never thought we would be a Volvo family but now we are. I was looking to get my wife out of the mini van rutt we had been in since our first child. Now the kids are getting bigger and a van is not so necessary. I bought this car for her as a surprise. I paid 12k for it in Dec. 2011 and it had 100k miles on it then. The timing belt had not been done yet so I had that replaced immediately by our mechanic as well as the water pump and other belts for 500 dollars. Since Dec. 2011 we have not spent one more dollar in maintenance other than oil changes. This car drives great. Read the reviews and be sure you buy the 2.5 turbo engine!

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  Great Car - 2006 Volvo C70
  By Carl Degas - October 7 - 3:40 am

  This is a marvel in automotive design. The coupe (metal top up) is just as attreactive as the convertible (metal top down). The interior is simple and nicely done. We have a Saab 9-3 convertible in the family. It is a nice car but will not hold its own against this Volvo. Quite a car!

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  S80 AWD - 2004 Volvo S80
  By Teach - October 7 - 2:00 am

  AWD is impressive in untreated snow- covered roads (3"). Able to stop, start, and climb hill without difficulty. Bi-Xenon headlamps are a must for rainy night-time driving. Speed sensitive steering makes parking a breeze. I looked at BMW 5; Lexus ES330 and Audi 6. I feel I made the best choice for price, comfort and convenience items. My passengers are impressed with the comfort (back seat has leg room!) Gas mileage has been 19.4 for many short stops; 27 for highway driving. Its a pleasure to drive with the comfort and engine power.

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  A mistake - 2002 Volvo S40
  By 18yearolddriver - October 6 - 10:00 am

  With no added options, not even a CD player, the car came with nothing. 100 watts of sound is barely enough to drown out the loud engine and the sounds of the road. You can hear everything on the road, and everyone can hear the sound coming from your car. Very thin doors. Poor placement of cup holders, and they are square. Since when are cups square? Many problems: brakes, tires, steering wheel, wipers (headlight and windsheild), and the windshield itself. Weak body is prone to little dings that occur with everyday driving. Gas and brake pedals too close to each other!

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  Great European Automobile - 2002 Volvo S40
  By Aaron1 - October 6 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I purchased our 2001 S40 in September and have very much enjoyed owning it. The 1.9L turbo charged engine provides great acceleration and the ride quality of the S40 is very smooth, even over rough surfaces. The service light issue, many other reviews have mentioned, was easily fixed by a recall from Volvo and a quick software upgrade to the car’s internal computer. The S40’s relatively low price and long list of standard features offers BMWs 3 Series and Audis A4 solid competition in the upscale entry-level sedan realm. The passenger compartment of the S40 is well-finished and its large trunk provides ample cargo capacity.

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  Awesome - 2008 Volvo C30
  By Anna - October 6 - 2:36 am

  I love this car. It flys on the highway and responds at the low speeds too. I had the sales guy hanging on for dear life while I ran through the gears! The kicker for this car is that it can pull 2000 lbs, so my jet ski will now tour the country with me!

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  Fun, Perfect compact size, Great look - 2005 Volvo V50
  By M. Burgoyne - October 5 - 12:36 pm

  Great workmanship inside and out,sharp european lines, solid feel driving and when you close the doors, love the hi-tech fabric on the seats - easy to wipe off and stands up to my two teenagers and the dogs extremely well ! Perfect small size that is wonderful handling around town and parking but,on the interior, it can get big when you put the back seats down. Volvo has been very good with updating software changes- my automatic had a timing problem shifting between 1st and 2nd gear in some limited situations and when I took it in, they already had a software update - downloaded it and runs perfectly now. Never had any other problems.

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  Great SUV - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By KW - October 4 - 10:06 am

  Have had my XC60 for 5 months and so far this SUV has been great. It feels very solid on the road with just the right amount of feedback. The seats are the best in the auto industry as I can drive for hours and not feel fatigued. There is enough space for four adults and plenty of gear while not feeling to large like the XC90. The gas mileage is fair, Ive been getting 18 MPG on average. City Safety works great, a car in front of me stalled at a green light, I went, got to close and the car stopped itself...saved me from an accident. Great looks inside and out, especially at night with the LED lights. Really enjoy driving this car as my daily commuter.

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  Its the best I have driven so far - 1997 Volvo 960
  By Stuka - October 4 - 6:16 am

  I never thought I would have bought a Volvo. But after riding with one of my friends in his S90, I could not keep away from getting one too. I have had it for 8 years and taken it all over the east cost as well as Canada several times. I am ready for a new car and decided to give it to my daughter as her 1st car. My experience with this car made me buy my wife a V70 XC , an awesome car too . Will buy myself a good V70R next