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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  Overall Excellent - 2008 Volvo XC70
  By BrettW - April 29 - 6:30 am

  Overall, this vehicle has been excellent. I purchased it with 10,000 miles on it and have added another 12,000 in the past 9 months. The car handles snow like a champ- in fact much better than the touted Subaru all wheel drive system (I traded in a 2007 Legacy for this car). It is slightly underpowered off the line, but at 55 miles per hour and above this car has plenty of torque to pass on tough Colorado mountain passes. The interior design and quality is excellent, and the seats are everything you expect from a Volvo. They wholeheartedly live up to their expectation. Only issues have been a few rattles and squeaks and a defective speaker that the dealer solved.

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  Best sedan on paper and on the road - 2006 Volvo S60
  By sfoster - April 28 - 11:33 pm

  I test drove many comparable sedans but could not get past the S60Rs choice of features and performance. The car is a sleeper but still has an exclusive factor. 4-C suspension is great and the 6-speed is smooth. Truly nothing like it for the price (I got if for 9k under MSRP!) and performance.

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  Chinese Engineering! - 2015 Volvo V60
  By Jeff D - April 28 - 5:39 pm

  Do you like a car to be stylish? Do you like your car to perform? Do you like your car to have seamless phone connectivity? Do you like a car that makes you say "WOWZER!" when you get in and it roars to life? If you have answered "yes" to any of these, then you should pass by the V60. The bluetooth entertainment system facilitates that the driver will need to physically use his/her phone to navigate through music selections. Power? There is none. I cant imagine having a load of family and bags in this thing and trying to cross a busy road. I have no confidence in doing so solo. Selecting manual shift mode will help somewhat, but even then, the shifting is so delayed that you could get stuck trying to get out of traffic in a hurry. Style? It has the style appeal of a harvest gold dishwasher in a granite and stainless steel kitchen. Youve no doubt heard the expression that one could screw up a ball bearing....Welcome Chinese ingenuity to the world of Volvo.

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  Most comfortable car! - 1998 Volvo S70
  By cali mom - April 26 - 4:06 am

  I have over 200K miles on my Volvo S70. Original engine and tranny. Recently had to replace ball joint and struts. No biggie since that is all have had to put in it in the last year. I put synthetic oil in mine. I noticed that I get a random black film on the inside of my sunroof. -Not sure why. Door panel pleather came away from the door and needs to be re- glued. It did this on all 4 doors. My mirror control buttons are melty and sticky! Yuck! My black leather has held up well in the CA sun. I condition it regularly and put up sun shades. Most comfortable seats I have ever sat in. I have driven it to Seattle and back to Sacramento 6 times in less than a year. Great car for weekend get aways

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  Great car - 1997 Volvo 960
  By Aimee - April 25 - 11:56 pm

  I have owned this car for three years now and the car is 11 years old. Great performance, very reliable for its age. I have only replaced the brakes and rotors once. Thats not bad in three years. My only complaint is the cup holders. They are cheap and dont hold a cup. This is the last year that Volvo made there cars. Ford now builds them and I would never buy from Ford. All in all this is a great car.

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  Volvo Does Not Get It - 1999 Volvo V70
  By V70 - April 25 - 10:00 am

  My 2nd Volvo Wagon. Surprised to find it listed as a luxury car. The tan on my leather wrapped steering wheel comes off on my hand. I drive with my right hand on the passenger seat to keep it from rattling and the car has a rough idle(dealer says idle is "normal"). The V70 has distinguished itself by racking up over $1,500 in non-routine- maintainance costs in the seven months since the warranty expired. Other components had failed under the warranty period. Now that Subaru has turbocharged the Forester and is offering a leather package, guess what my next wagon will be? Originally bought a Volvo because of the reputation for safety AND durability.

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  volvos failure - 1999 Volvo S80
  By e-man - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Inexpensive relative to others in its class?? I remember that write up! What Volvo doesnt charge up front they sure make it up in maintaining this piece of crap. The "on board computer" has been as bad as Windows XP! It has given dealers a new weapon to charge you for things that arent really broken. To name a few sore spots.AC(do the Sweds know what its supposed to do?), transmission problems, fuel pump(60K miles?), sensors, light bulbs?why? Many share this view...as I recommended (months after I first bought my S80) to numerous friends and work associates of which I had three buy the same model! All have spent more money then I have on problems.

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  Finally, an enjoyable car to own! - 1999 Volvo S80
  By BobSellsHomes - April 25 - 10:00 am

  To begin with, Ive owned an Infiniti Q45, an older Jaguar (1987), two Bmws and now a Volvo. I bought my S80 back in 1999 which was the first model year for this car. I do not have a single complaint. To date, two recalls have been performed at no charge and thats it! I have right around 55,000 miles on the car and I wouldnt trade it for the world. I love everything about this car! I have yet to see any luxury car that can stand up to the S80, or even come close. As far as safety, there is not a single car that can touch an S80. On a scale of 1 - 10 I give this car an 11. Its a super smooth and solid vehicle! Volvo did great!

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  Very happy Volvo owner - 2002 Volvo V40
  By jk - April 24 - 11:36 pm

  This is my first Volvo, and I bought it used two years ago. It replaced a Honda Civic. So thats the car to which I compare my V40. As noted, I bought the car two years ago. I havent replaced a headlight yet. The windshield does need to be replaced, but living in Wyoming means high winds and sanded roads will affect a windshield negatively. I wish the fuel economy were better, but who doesnt? The cargo room is just about perfect. The seats are comfortable, and the ride is very quiet. (Perhaps its my tires.) In fact, given the choice between taking our newer Subaru or the Volvo on a 2,000 mile round trip road trip, we decided on the Volvo. This wont be my last Volvo!

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  What a nightmare!!! - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By dok - April 23 - 10:00 am

  I have finally solved all of my 2003 XC90 problems, I GOT RID OF IT! Let me count the thousands of dollars I spent in 7 years on maintenance, 4 sets of tires, 2 were the crappy pirellis, then 1 set of michellins and finally 1 set of goodyear assurance tires rated for 80,000 miles. A leaky power steering unit, both front lower ball joints and tie rod ends. And a new transmission after 57000 miles along with a leaky sun roof and the emissions evporative pump and charcoal canister. but what realy hurts IS not being able to find a volvo dealer that could fix the car reliably and honestly. steer clear of volvo of edisons service department.