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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  Dont do it! - 2000 Volvo V70
  By Bashstpaul - August 16 - 3:06 am

  Save yourself the trouble. This car isnt worth it. Last year alone (2007) I had over $7,000 in repair bills on this car. Total repairs have cost me over $18,000. Electrical, ABS Module, Brakes, Tranny, etc. etc. etc. Rear hatch panel keeps coming loose. Now the rear hatch wont lock. Keep thinking theres nothing left to go wrong. This dog keeps showing me how laughable that attitude is. Cant go 3 months without a shop visit. The absolute worst car Ive ever owned.

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  reliability - 2001 Volvo S40
  By Goobs - August 15 - 2:53 pm

  Ive enjoyed this car it has made commuting fun again. Most people when they think volvo think safety or grandpas car, does your grandpas car have a zero to sixty in under 7 seconds. Great performance reliability and its comfy too.

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  2005 S60 2.4 - My First Volvo - 2005 Volvo S60
  By DOUGLASS - August 15 - 10:36 am

  My new 2005 Volvo S60 2.4 is a solid, well built sedan. There seems to have been a big improvement in styling and features since Ford purchased Volvo. This car is as good as my daughters BMW for a lot less money.

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  Style and Substance - 2013 Volvo C30
  By djd123 - August 15 - 1:46 am

  Have owned for 3 weeks now, and the smiles keep coming. This car is very well put together, looks great, handles well, and has plenty of power on tap when you need it. It is very comfortable as a daily commuter, even with the stiffer R-Design suspension. As other reviews across the web have stated, the steering is a bit numb and the manual shift action a bit rubbery compared to other sport coupes/"hot hatches", but it makes up for it with how well the overall package fits together. This is a car that somehow seems greater than the sum of its parts. Hard to explain.

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  Utilitarian luxury - 2015 Volvo XC60
  By ToddW - August 14 - 5:35 pm

  We have the Platinum T5 e-drive and its different than any other car Ive been in. The interface for radio and ac and tech is somewhat simple, but the car has fantastic safety tech, and the simple interface is nice. You turn a dial to adjust the temperature, you dont scroll through your touch screen. Turning safety features on and off is simple, there are dedicated buttons, and the adjustments and customizing for those features is made using the screen when youre not driving. I actually bought this for my daughter. I had narrowed it down the Honda/Acura and the Subarus due to their great active safety features, but sprung for the Volvo since its safer and just nicer in a lot of ways. Interestingly, youll find the Subaru scores higher on active braking because it triggers auto braking earlier and stops you completely when approaching a car at 25mph. With this Volvo, youd still hit the car, but at a slow speed. What the IIHS testing doesnt tell you when it compares these systems, is that Volvo uses both radar and a camera. The Subaru uses a camera that can easily be blinded if you are driving into the sun. The Subaru does warn you the collision avoidance system cant "see", but the Volvo simply doesnt get blinded. I prefer that. It is also built a bit stronger, and seats you wonderfully. The honda and acura use "radar" too, and are very nice for the price.

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  Lemon - 2002 Volvo S60
  By Lemon! - August 11 - 10:23 pm

  Purchased what appeared to be a good condition used S60 - DIM module replaced, new boots, plugs, alignment, balancing, lower control rods all replaced within 6 wks time. Still cant make hard right turn without jerking motion from car. First and Last foreign car. Waste of money.

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  Greatest Car Ive Ever Owned - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By Volvo Lover - August 11 - 2:50 pm

  I am in love with this SUV. I have had experience with SUVs before (Mercedes- Benz ML350) and this car is just as good or better and costs a little less. It is a beautiful and powerful car!!!

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  Id Buy It Again - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Mike - August 11 - 11:43 am

  I was apprehensive about buying an SUV, especially since it was a larger vehicle than I thought that I needed. However, if you think that 18 to 19 around town is OK and 22 to 26 on the highway is fine, consider the XC90. If you like a very comfortable and good handling car to drive for business and personal use, this SUV should be considered. I have been very pleased.

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  Wonderful car! - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Hayley - August 9 - 10:00 am

  When my sporty new Tiburon was totaled, I didnt even think of Volvo until a coworker suggested it. I checked it out and took the S60 for a test drive. Man was I surprised! What I thought would turn out to be a "grandma car" was not just extremely comfortable, but was fun and sporty to drive as well. Safety was definitely a factor in my purchase decision because of my recent accident and Volvo has all the bases covered. The interior is beautiful and everything is conveniently located. I decided to lease rather than buy and will definitely buy/lease another one in four years.

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  Kid Again Feeling - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By Scooters - August 9 - 10:00 am

  Finally bought it.Always liked the XC70.My Wife and son were in an MVA recently in her Volvo S40 with an SUV and the S40 held up amazingly.Any other car in the S40 class would have yielded far more severe injuries. Volvos safety is first class. We chose to replace the S40 with another Volvo, more family practical vehicle. As much as I enjoy my SUV, SUVs cannot compete with the XC70.Rides the way we all wish SUVs should.Accelerates, brakes& corners like many sedans.Feels as comfortable as many luxury vehicles.Great driving experience.And knowing that my wife and son are in one of the safest vehicles on the road, the best feeling. No SUV rollovers.