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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  T-5 Power - 1999 Volvo S70
  By kruedy - November 2 - 10:00 am

  The car is very well built and has exceptional interior space as compared to like size American and Japenese autos. T-5 Turbo power is very impressive after you get used to the slight hesitation when full gas pedal is applied. Suggest getting service from other than a dealership, they are very high. Love to drive the car!

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  Volvo Hit A Home Run Bringing the V 60 to the US - 2015 Volvo V60
  By bbrigham - November 1 - 11:24 pm

  What value for the money! I didnt have to pay big money for this ride. The car handles beautifully and is fun to drive. After having driven the XC 90 and V 70 AWD models for the past 10 + years --- I found the V 60 gives me the same satisfaction of ownership at a much lower price.

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  A great alternative to an SUV - 2008 Volvo V70
  By John - October 30 - 5:10 pm

  Ive put 6,500 miles on this car over the past 6 months and have been very pleased. It replaced a Lexus LS430 and an older Volvo V70. The ride quality is smooth and quiet. While I really enjoyed the super-quiet ride and precise handling of the Lexus, I am also enjoying the sportier driving experience of this Volvo. I much prefer this car to the roughness and sway of the SUVs I have owned. Based on the cars computer readout, fuel mileage is considerably better than the EPA numbers (30 - 32 MPG at 60 MPH). Build quality seems good with no significant problems so far.

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  Best Car Ive Owned - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Janez Narojnak - October 30 - 10:56 am

  Performance is astounding! 5.4 seconds to 60 with the stick, or 6.0 with the automatic. Great handling and tire grip. . 4-piston Brembo front and rear brakes stop on a dime. The BEST feature is the adjustable suspension, which has 3 positions: Comfort, Sport, amd Agreesive, which increase suspension stiffness and enhance handling further! And the agressive mode puts the transmission in the Sport mode, which inceases acceleration! Comfort, considering the 18" wheels, is very good, but dont expect the ride to be as soft as a Buick. Also, rear seat is a bit cramped. Just one more inch of leg room would help! Great reliabilty, great durability/build quality, and excellent value! Phenomenal car!

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  Jack of all trades - 2010 Volvo XC70
  By jackofalltrades - October 29 - 11:00 am

  Turbo is great in Colorado mountains. Super comfortable seats. Decent handling. Quiet, great ride. Bomb proof in the snow with snow tires. It has a better ride, more room, more power than our previous car, 07 BMW 5 series wagon. Gets about the same mileage as the 5 series wagon.

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  Perfect car and beats every 325i match - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Expat-happy-with-T5 - October 29 - 2:00 am

  I ordered my Volvo in the summer of 2002 as an Expat living in London, England and had it delivered to my home in Seattle. It is a great car and the service I received direct from the factory was out standing. I wish I could say the same about the dealership in Seattle. I recommend this car to every one I meet. I am currently working in Japan and miss my T5.

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  Looking Good - 2000 Volvo V40
  By No Way dont do it - October 28 - 10:00 am

  This is truly the best looking wagon around. If only Volvo could make the larger ones look this good. We bought this wagon because of its safety. Not just side air bags but Head protection air bags. Built in booster seats let me know that Volvo thinks of the kids too. The fit and finish is top notch. I drove this car across country and loved it. The front seat fit just right. With the turbo the engine didnt know it was above 14,000ft.

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  Quite Nice! - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Brettbc - October 26 - 11:46 pm

  After driving the MDX, Pacifica and several others we realized that no other vehicle offered the space, comfort, safety, towing capacity and handling of the XC90. With the third row of seats folded there is an amazing amount of room for our Babys stuff. But what really floored us was how eleghant the vehicle really is inside. With the leather and actual wood interior it just feels nice. Not to mention the exterior is also very attractive. Overall a wonderful combination of utility and comfort!

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  Everything I wanted - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Everything I wanted - October 26 - 12:56 am

  This car turned out to be all that and then some. A coworker owned one, but it wasnt until I saw it in Titanium Metallic that I had to buy it. Drop dead looks, in between size, uncommon ( you dont see yourself coming and going)

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  Best SUV for your dollar - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By M. Smith - October 25 - 7:50 pm

  Best fit and finish I have seen in an SUV. We traded-in a 2006 Lexus RX330. The quality of the Volvo is far better than the RX330. The 5 cyl. Turbo has more power than I thought. Great seating, great interior quality, AWD seems to work fine. The XC90 is the same price as the RX330. Once you drive and compare qualtiy and saftey the Volvo wins. The Volvo is built like a tank (solid doors, etc.) Lexus doors are light and dent very easy. After owning the Lexus and Volvo, I feel the Lexus is over rated, and the Volvo is under rated. Volvo XC90 is a great product. With 1,500 miles we average 15MPG (all city driving) the Lexus RX330 averaged 16MPG with 3,200 miles. Volo weighs 600lbs more.