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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  hissing noise/brake concern - 1999 Volvo S80
  By jackson99 - June 25 - 3:23 am

  Been hearing a hissing noise now for several months..understand may be a booster problem? Whats this going to cost and will it get worse and brakes eventually fail? Thanks for any help!

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  Love my XC90 - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By ValerieNJ - June 24 - 4:13 am

  I spent over a year deciding on what SUV to purchase. Seriously considered the Lexus RX330, and the BMWX3 the Volvo XC90 won my heart!!! I wanted an SUV for cargo space and I wanted comfort. The XC90 rides like a car, gets better gas mileage than my 97 jeep. I get 21 mpg highway and about 18 city. I was concerned with the 2.5 turbo, no problem it has wonderful pick- up on some very major hills. I purchased a Demo from the dealer 3 months ago and have had no problems since Ive owned the car. Absolutely love driving this car on long road trips. It is very comfortable, hugs the road, feels very stable. I also own a nissan 300zx for my summer driving and cant get out of my Volvo.

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  Fun, Fun, Fun! - 2004 Volvo S40
  By RYan - June 22 - 4:53 pm

  We are finishing up our 3-year lease on this car and have loved driving it. We have all options including upgraded stereo, leather, htd seats, etc. and it is a blast to drive. We have owned a few Volvos in the past (240, 850) and this one is by far the coolest (beats the stodgy S60 and S80 designs by a mile). It is peppy, even our 2.4i, gets good mileage, 32/22, and handles great, even in the snow. We are in MN and had two major storms this year. I popped the car in manual mode and plowed right out of 1-foot snow drifts, while our Camry bottomed out and got stuck several times. Great car.

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  SUV Convert - 2010 Volvo V70
  By ironman - June 22 - 4:13 pm

  I did not think I would ever own a wagon of any kind, however, after driving SUVs for years .... I realized that a wagon is just a lower, more affordable, more comfortable version. I have been extremely satisfied with this vehicle since day one. The difference in comfort(traded in a 2003 Lexus RX 300) is unbelievable. I decided to look beyond the ubiquitous Japanese vehicles and found an outstanding vehicle in this Volvo.....The root meaning for the word Volvo "rolling strength" certainly applies.

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  Never drive a minivan again! - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By twinmama - June 22 - 9:53 am

  Love this car! Only complaint: mileage. I only get about 14.3 mpg. Other than that, spacious, great design, user friendly, great for kids and cargo. Love it. Will never go back to a minivan or station wagon again (unless its another Volvo!!).

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  Its Been Fun - 2004 Volvo V70
  By RHS - June 22 - 5:40 am

  Sometimes there is a bright and fun momemt when I remember what this car will do. Mostly it is used in normal service where it functions admirably. But when it has the opportunity it is a brilliant and extremely well balanced road car. I love it. My only complaint is that Volvo-Ford copped out on the interior stuff--too much plastic especially.

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  Love it! - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By Lars Hoej - June 22 - 1:36 am

  My fourth Volvo, but SUV. A 2008 V8 Special Edition with practically all options. Paid $56,000 and have no regrets. The ride is smooth, steering responsive and road grip and stability far better than my wifes Acura MDX. Second row a bit cramped, but as it is meant for kids and they are more interested in the entertainment system, its not a big issue. Air condition for the rear seats is on all the time, as it enhances the over-all airflow. The air quality system and BLIS makes highway traffic very comfortable. I drive the car pretty hard and has a mileage below 12, but the V8 sound is so great that its hard not to use the power.

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  Dont waste your time - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By No longer a volvo fan - June 21 - 7:29 am

  We brought our xc90 back on June of 2015 after trading in our 2013 xc60. It was one of the first models, fresh off the assembly line. It is a beautiful car. But dont let its looks fool you. The first 6 months were great. Then things started to go downhill. The first thing that happened was the hood flew open while we were driving. Luckily we were on a city street and were only driving 30 miles per hour; this could have been a disaster. We had the car towed to the dealer. They identified a faulty hood release and fixed the body work free of charge. Next we started to notice that the safety system is too sensitive. We had 2 instances of the car stopping itself (braking) for no apparent reason while in city traffic. Again, disaster was averted due to low speed and traffic. The car also has electronic and braking issues. Out of the blue the brakes started squealing and grinding to the point that it was undrivable (at 11k miles). Had it towed to the dealer where the front and rear brakes and rotors had to be replaced. While there, I asked that the software be updated (the dealer couldnt manage to figure it out when I was last there). They had problems with it. My car was out of service for 2 weeks due to an inability to update the software that controls many features of the car. A week after I picked it up I took it back because the brake light would not go off and all of the tire sensors were on. Its been there for the last 2 weeks and they cant figure out how to fix the issues. Shame on volvo for using its customers as guinea pigs; the car has many issues that they are working out in the field and its not okay! Save your money, time, and energy and buy something else! Ive moved on to a lovely audi!

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  Never-ending repairs - 1998 Volvo V70
  By adampeart - June 18 - 12:30 pm

  I admit it. I fell for the comfort, space and "safety" of my 98 V70XC. I purchased the vehicle used, and everything seemed to function for the first month or two of owning it. Then the onslaught of malfunctions and glitches began. In the two years of owning this car I have had the following work done on it: 3 headlights, 2 tail-lights, 8 new tires, two alignments, CV joint replacement, ABS Control Module($700), Viscous Coupler (drivetrain issue-$1700), 2 sets of brake pads, 4 new rotors, engine mount replacement, and ETM replacement ($700). There is still a long list of comfort features that dont work, but I cant afford to fix - interior lighting, power windows/seats, etc., etc.

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  Best used car Ive owned! - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Wagon of Wagons! - June 16 - 10:53 am

  Ive owned 2 other Volvo wagons prior to this one. A 94 850 T-5, 99 XC and my current 01 V70 T-5. I live in Anchorage, Alaska and decided on the 2 wheel drive model due to my previous XC was a nightmare with repairs. Drive handling with my 2001 V70 during winter has been pleasant on slippery roads with the normal all weather tires. The winter tires rubbed against the wheel wells while turning and elected to ditch them. The lower ground clearance helps with stability with little body roll in turns Ive noticed. Transmission takes a little getting use to for effective use. Ive found when accelerating from a stop it was best to ease on the gas which allowed gears to catch up.