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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  V70 T5 - 1998 Volvo V70
  By 70rsz28 - February 1 - 10:00 am

  This car is a sleeper.. very fast and handles very well. I just accumulates milage too fast!

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  Good Family Car - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By JJ - January 29 - 10:03 am

  The car has served my family well since we bought it new. We avoided the T6 after reading the transmission horror stories. Engine is sufficient for most situations, but lacks power for highway passing. It drives and handles like a car. Gas mileage is average (16/22 mpg). Good looks outside and a very functional interior. Good cargo space with 3rd row folded down. 3rd row isnt useful and cuts 2nd row leg room. Seats are very comfortable for long trips. Dealer maintenance isnt cheap after the first 3 years which were free. Had a couple of unexpected repairs after warranty ($1,200 total). Not as reliable as a Honda, but not as bad as a BMW/MB. Id consider buying the next generation XC90.

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  Awesome car - 2007 Volvo S40
  By redskins5926 - January 28 - 12:46 pm

  The Volvo S40 has been a great car for me. I got the base model with only the automatic transmission, but it still comes with a lot of features like keyless entry, CD player, etc. When I first got the car, the fuel economy seemed pretty lousy, but 5 months and 5000 miles later it seems to have improved tremendously. I have taken 87 octane since day one and the car performs quite well with it. The pickup is terrific for the 2.4L engine, although once or twice I have had to floor the pedal in order to make a quick pickup on a freeway merge. The handling of the car is quite good as well, although during sharp turns the car feels slightly wobbly... definitely not firm as a BMW 3-series.

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  V for Volvo! - 2018 Volvo S90
  By MOHAN DAVID - January 17 - 2:52 am

  Its pricey with all the bells and whistles I got! Extremely techy - which I love! Seems to have taken care of all the intricate details. For a car that is at this level of price, the mud flaps and floor mats should have been provided - with the Volvo logo!

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  Not what I expected - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By Sue - January 11 - 8:50 am

  The interior is a little tight with small amount of shoulder room. Same for cargo area, deep but not wide. Standard audio system really poor. Has no bass sound and cannot be upgraded without a huge expense. Recommend you dont even consider buying it without the AWD.

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  Some problems, but overall very nice - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By Tedmom - January 2 - 10:00 am

  We just went in for our 7500 mile check up and are overall very pleased with the car. It is very comfortable to drive and there is excellent front passenger leg room. We had a brake problem early on that was fixed under warranty. The most annoying thing about the car is an ear deafening acoustics problem that occurs with just the sunroof open on the highway or when only one of the side windows is open. Another problem is the glare on the front window from the taupe dashboard which makes it difficult to see without the reflection of the dash in full sun.

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  Dont judge a book by it cover - 2006 Volvo V50
  By Dave B - December 31 - 10:00 am

  The car looks great and is fun to drive, but I was spoiled by our Volkswagen Jetta in the reliability department. The Volvo V 50 has required work since we bought it- wiring harness issues, sun roof leak that we learned will cannot be fully rectified, gas cap issues-would not pass inspection, battery issues, anti- theft-immobilizer issues. The inconvenience is one thing, but now that it is out of warranty, I worry it is going to cost us a great deal to keep it on the road. This will be the first and last Volvo for us.

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  nice, but not perfect - 2002 Volvo S40
  By marmot - December 25 - 2:00 am

  considered this car b/c of volvos reputation for safety and positive reviews. bought b/c volvo offers such good deals on demos. if not for the good deal, i wouldve bought a vw jetta with 1.8l turbo. the S40 runs and handles very well, but im often cursing the cockpit features. turbo is fun, but sucks gas. thought my next car would be an S60, but will probably look closer at passat and lexus.

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  I think I like this car??? - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Tlover - December 24 - 4:20 am

  Ok, so after being in a bad accident I found this car and LOVED how it drove. This car did leave me stranded on a roadtrip, which was the result of a blown transmission....that cost a fortune! Other than the tranny disaster, I must say the car has actually been a pretty great car. It rides very smooth and is freakin fast! I have smoked many Bimmers and Audis in this. Tiptronic is alot of fun. Front end assembly seems to have alot of problems too. Overall I think I still do like this car. Currently has 95k miles

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  First Volvo Purchase - Not that Happy - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Bossgka - December 21 - 2:00 am

  Some functionality problems. Noticeable hesitation during acceleration NOT GOOD especially if pulling into heavy traffic; CD player has no repeat feature; no adjustable vent at drivers side floor heater it fries your leg; cup holders/middle console too far back for ease of use; warning sound on Pirelli stock tires started after 8 mo & 15K mi; rotation of tires not recommended on mfg checklist every 5000 mi; no compass, drivers side arm rest; poor gas mileage. Experience with dealership a major disappointment considering XC90 price. No follow-up. Overall not a good experience w/first Volvo, dont think we would do it again.