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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  Beautiful Car - 2003 Volvo S60
  By Steve G - July 17 - 2:00 am

  I have had my S60 for about a month now and I absolutely love it. I went from a Lincoln LS to the S60 and was afraid that going to a much smaller car would be an issue but its not. True it is much smaller in the back seat, however I have not had any complaints (and if I do, they can get out an walk). The lines are nice and the interior is well laid out and very comfortable. I would recommend this car to anyone!

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  Just keeps going - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Volvonate - July 16 - 3:43 pm

  This car just continues to run, i bought it really cheap with problems on the dash, but the car refuses to quit! i turn it over every time and it just keeps driving. i first made the switch to volvo a few years ago and it was a s70 and they both have been top notch cars!

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  My Rating - 2005 Volvo S80
  By pom36jim - July 16 - 7:53 am

  This is my 2nd Volvo. it meets all my expectations.

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  Great car - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Rob - July 15 - 3:13 pm

  After eight months I still look forward to getting in the car. Not as much power as the T5 but more than enough for normal driving. Handling is superb. After driving Hondas, I appreciate the low end torque and the smooth shifting. Controls are logically designed. The interior is spartan but comfortable and without gimmicks. Fit and finish is excellent. I enjoy getting compliments on the car as there still are not that many around. I think it is one of the best looking current models.

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  One Month In, Love It - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By Elmo - July 15 - 3:53 am

  Have had my T6 XC60 for a month now and absolutely love it. Traded up from a T5 XC70 and it is night and day different in terms of comfort, performance, gadgets and head turn. Even my wife loves it and shes pretty neutral about cars. The XC60 is more roomy for front and rear seat passengers, has a much more comfortable ride, and the T6 is a lot of fun. Even the handling is good for a "crossover" vehicle. Not top heavy and mushy like some other higher ends we drove. Knock wood, none of the initial build quality issues noted here (yet) in fact, no issues at all to date. We are very excited about it and love out new XC60.

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  Volvo Bravo 2 - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By Jerry W - July 12 - 4:10 pm

  This is an update of my previous review in May 2009. Ive had the vehicle for 4 months and over 4,000 miles now. Although the observed fuel economy started out low (18-19 mpg), it has since improved to 20-21 mpg in a mix of highway and city driving, using regular grade gasoline. For an AWD vehicle, this is actually quite good! In this review, I have given the fuel economy a 9 (previously given an 8).

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  Versatile Family Wagon - 2001 Volvo V70
  By XC Family - July 12 - 2:06 pm

  If you want to drive a car/wagon without feeling tons of weight and moving a hefty-size SUV, this is the crossover that you need. Ive definitely found myself in love with this XC wagon, not just me but my entire family. Its such a versatile everyday car. Also come in handy moving stuff and going for long trips. Plus the Volvos legendary safety features loaded in this car. The only thing I would do differently is to buy this car earlier. Gas mileage is quite good in its class, I get around 22 to 24 for mostly sub-urban city driving.

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  Under-appreciated car - 2011 Volvo C30
  By Chris - July 12 - 2:16 am

  A great car for a daily driver. Lots of features even on the base model. What you give up at the high extremes of performance you more than make up for with daily usability. Much more comfortable in normal conditions than any of the other hot hatches (GTI, etc).

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  4th Time a Charm - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Ric - July 10 - 6:06 am

  I have now purchased my fourth Volvo. I own a 240 GL (each of my kids learned to drive in it) a V70 XC AWD (wifes) and an 850 GLT. Combined, I have over 550K miles on them all - and this isnt counting my first one, a 240 DL wagon which I put over 300K on as the kid mover car!! Now I own an S40 T5 AWD and it is the best Volvo I have ever had! If I am careful, I even get good gas mileage (around 29 mpg combined). It is fun to drive and a solid handling and feeling car. I anticipate putting lots of miles on this car like I have my other ones!

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  Love this car - 2005 Volvo S60
  By MH - July 9 - 4:00 pm

  I love this car. It is fun to drive. It is a comfortable, good looking car. The inside is a little small but I really like the looks (inside and out), the performance, and reliability. The interior wood grain is really nice. I would buy this car again and out of all the cars that I have owned, this is the only car I can say that about.