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:

• 

  Huge Amount For Your Money! - 2003 Volvo S80
  By jeff kiesnoski - June 3 - 2:00 am

  I looked and test drove many of the cars in the s80 class. There is no doubt that you get much more for you money on this car than the others. The lease specials in Feb 03 are great!

• 

  Great Car! - 2003 Volvo S40
  By alainecd - June 3 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car new for $21,995 + tax and lic. with premium package (leather and moonroof!) You cant beat that price. It has excellent safety features and is a comfortable ride. The interior materials are very nice and classy.

• 

  Love the XC90 - 2017 Volvo XC90
  By JB - May 30 - 11:18 am

  Ride noise is a little more than I would have asked for, but all the other extras turn a slight negative, into a small deal. Have only owned for a month, but we are thoroughly enjoying it - great road feel, handling, technology, SAFETY, etc.

• 

  Is This a Volvo? - 2003 Volvo S40
  By CGs binky - May 29 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car 3 months.I have taken 2 long trips,commute and fun trips.On short drives it handles and has great pick-up.On long drives it has been extremely comfortable and easy to drive.In a pinch,it moved with stabil- ity and traction.Ive never owned a Volvo,but I am absolutely sure my money was well spent.It has been fun, good- looking, comfortable and best of all, safe. It has enough verve to equal the responsiveness of a manual trans.As a friend mentioned -"look at all the old Volvos you see on the road".Cant say I want to own an old Volvo,but its nice to know it would likely last as long as I would want.I could not be happier with this car!

• 

  BMwho??? - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By jaymiz - May 29 - 10:00 am

  Awesome! After trying to negotiate for a 3 series and falling way short from what the dealer thought was reasonable, we went over to the Volvo dealership. It took my wife two seconds to decide that she wanted the car and didnt even test drive it! It has everything and more. This SUV is a sure bet with its options and styling.

• 

  Great Car ! - 2007 Volvo V50
  By Frank - May 28 - 1:46 pm

  Had the car for almost a year now and I love it more now than when I bought it. It has the ride of a Town Car and the fuel mileage is great (26-31). I bought the premium sound system and several upgrades and havent been disapointed one bit. Its a solid car and gives a lot of bang for the buck!

• 

  Best AWD Wagon on the Market - 2007 Volvo XC70
  By langloj - May 25 - 6:23 am

  The car is smooth and responsive, making for a great handling vehicle. It had surprising acceleration for a 5 cylinder. The leather seats are the most comfortable I have ever had in a car. On trips, the longer I drive this car, the more comfortable it gets. The cargo space is enormous. The interior is well laid out and with the leather package and wood trim, very luxurious for a wagon. Best car weve ever had.

• 

  I love my 2017 XC90 - 2017 Volvo XC90
  By NYC carguy - May 25 - 12:34 am

  I love my 2017 XC90 T6 Momentum. I have had it for about 4 months and done multiple road trips will no problems. The car accelerates like a beast when merging or passing and handles very well. After reading a lot of reviews about road noise, i made sure that i got the 19" stock wheels and as a result the car is fairly quiet (still need to be careful with potholes though). I would definitely recommend.

• 

  Good car for Volvo savvy enthusiast - 1998 Volvo V70
  By VolvoRottie - May 24 - 11:50 am

  Purchased at repo auction and obtained service recs from selling dealer. In time owned, did upgrade to ceramic brake pads and top of the line rotors at minimum cost as a DIY job (Im a woman!). ABS module out per usual paid $150 to get it fixed - now perfect. Oil changes using Mobil 1 and mann filters. Thats it. Now finally a tune up for less than $100 in parts again DIY. This car rocks. Mine is loaded and other than very routine maintenance, knock on wood, its been good. This year must recharge the Freon.

• 

  luv it - 1998 Volvo V70
  By precisionmike - May 21 - 4:16 pm

  bought it brand new, and until about an hour ago it was the best car ever. just hit a deer head on and the car will probably be totaled due to cosmetic damage. 165k and it runs smooth as glass. serviced every 5k and doesnt burn a drop of oil and we get 27 to 28 mpg on the highway. not one rust spot on it and we live in new york, the winter salt belt. the R engine is a kick in the pants, weve surprised many a driver with the power and performance. AWD never let us down in snow and ice. some issues with AC and the CD player... other than that normal wear and tear... i will buy another one.