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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  Test Drive the Comp - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Florida - September 17 - 2:10 am

  I have owned Ford and Chevy SUVs and numerous other cars. Clearly this car is vastly superior in all respects. In my experience, many of these critical points presented are not true. The Turbo makes almost no noise. The air conditioning fans have multiple modes of operation and is very quiet. The stereo is totally simple....Just read the owners maunal please. wo piece back which gives comfortable seating at tailgaters and such and it is very easy to load large objects into back. The third seat is a wonder verses the competition and I regularly use thrid seat for kids/kids friends

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  volvo T6 - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By xc74 - September 16 - 2:00 am

  the wood steering wheel is an upgrade

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  Best car out of the 15 Ive ever owned - 2015 Volvo XC60
  By pranner - September 14 - 4:16 pm

  Our T5 is the perfect combination of what I want in a family vehicle: Outstanding fuel economy for this size/weight of a vehicle, perfectly comfortable for long road trips, great power when you need it. All of this in a premium but understated, unpretentious package.

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  Great safety, liability and insurance protection, But.... - 2012 Volvo S80
  By rrruuunnn - September 14 - 5:58 am

  I got this car for the technology package, since my father is getting old. And already been in more than one major accident. The car works great. This car is at the pinnacle of safety features. Like the pedestrian sensing camera. The auto brakes. The cruise control that distances itself from the car ahead. Okay, great. But Volvo forgot that most of their customers are elderly. I just got a call from my father that he doesnt know how to turn off the defroster. The window has been fogging his windows. And he still cant control the AC. He has had this car for months and cant remember the complicated and unintuitive controls. Volvo if you are reading this, make the controls simpl

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  Going Strong at 160K - 2001 Volvo V70
  By drh - September 13 - 5:20 pm

  Now at 160K with no problems. New tires and preventive care is all this volvo has asked for 8 years. Very fun and comfortable ride with the 2.4turbo and luxury cabin. Besides family of five chores and vacations, we take this volvo antiquing and regularly treat it like a truck. On the highway we get 28-30mpg on regular grade fuel.

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  COMPLETELY SATISFIED - 2004 Volvo S60
  By spooly10 - September 12 - 10:00 am

  THE S60 IS EVERYTHING I EXPECTED AND MOORE. JUST WENT THROUGH THE WINTER SEASON SUBJECTED TO SNOW AND RAIN THE VEHICLE HANDLED GREAT IN THESE CONDITIONS.

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  Wonderful Car - Fun to Drive - 2004 Volvo S80
  By Bob Erfle - September 12 - 10:00 am

  The 6 cyl (non-turbo) moves this full- sized car very well. I look for excuses to go for drives (or steal it away from my wife & take it to work!). The trunk is very roomy. The Safety features are and have been one of the primary hallmarks of Volvo – they don’t come much higher rated

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  Loving It - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By sandra123 - September 12 - 10:00 am

  I am a first time Volvo owner and have absolutely no regrets. The ride is as smooth as glass and it is an amazingly comfortable ride. Friends have told me the seats are more comfortable than their living room couch. I have the third row seat and thats quite comfortable as well although with the seats up you dont have much trunk space left but no worries because Volvo has every accesory so strap your luggage to your luggage rack. Ive been in lots of luxury SUVs and this is the best ride. I live in the city and dont get more than 11-12 city miles to the gallon. Thats my only complaint. The engine is small but pretty powerful.

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  My most perfect ever -- of 8! - 2006 Volvo XC70
  By Rick - September 11 - 1:23 am

  Acceleration is weakened by the all - wheel drive somewhat, but imagine it on slippery roads! If the drag strip was wet, no one would beat it! Comfy for 10 hour drives, stylish...not a SINGLE complaint!

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  **No Issues Here** - 2008 Volvo XC70
  By **no issues here** - September 10 - 8:20 am

  I have been driving this car for about 3 months and so far it has been a great vehicle. I recently got back into by old car (00 Outback LTD) which my wife now drives and really noticed the comfort and smooth ride of the Volvo!! I live in CO and drive to the mountains nearly weekly. It does great getting up the passes. While not excessive the power is adequate to get around people around you. Fuel eco is really not bad if you do a decent amount of highway miles. If you stick to city only it sure does drop quite a bit. I am getting between 20-21 combined. Some issues with a the air blower (makes a clicking noise) but have not yet tried to take it in for a fix. Overall a great car!!