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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  far from perfect,but love it - 2002 Volvo C70
  By sorento2006 - December 19 - 10:01 am

  i was looking for a used convertible,and came across this 2002 c70 with 108000 miles.found out all mechanicals were in perfect condition.feel very lucky,and get lots of compliments

• 

  xc90 - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By sdath - December 17 - 10:00 am

  Excellent SUV. Only real down-side is the mileage, avg. 15 mpg

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  XC90 Transmission Nightmares - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By idealltg - December 16 - 7:33 am

  My 05 T6 XC90 has already had three transmissions replaced. Lucky for me its all under warranty but based on the frequency of the problem Im afraid that the new transmission will fail after my warranty has expired. Looks like the only solution for my problem, since I cannot use the lemon law, will be to get rid of this thing as soon as I get it back. The dealer has had it now for two weeks. They cant figure out why the new transmission went out after only one week!

• 

  BAD IN THE SNOW - 2003 Volvo S60
  By Volvo Finatic - December 8 - 2:00 am

  I have owned 4 volvos. The s-60 being the 4th for my 18 year old daughter. I have owned mercedes,porches,and bmws. Volvos by far have always been more economical in my eyes. They do not have the power but they offer the protection. HOWEVER, I do not recommend using the s60 in the snow. My daughter got stuck 3 times in the past 3 snow storms that Connecticut had. The car gets no traction, slides from side to side is not a safe snow vehicle. I made a huge mistake by not buying the AWD s60, it is a DEFINITE must because this car cannot handle snow! She also complains that the heated seats are not warm enough.

• 

  All around good vehicle - 2001 Volvo S60
  By yomendos - December 8 - 2:00 am

  Although I have had to bring the vehicle into the shop for a few minor adjustments (covered under warranty), for the most part this vehicle has been everything that I expected of it.

• 

  Great family cruiser - 2006 Volvo V70
  By capemaymatt - December 5 - 8:43 pm

  We bought our red stick shift V70 last summer, and are very pleased with it. If you want a 7 passenger vehicle (we got the rear rumble seat) without having to drive a huge SUV or minivan, this is it. Its not tremendously sporty, but has adequate pickup and corners well. Its also very comfortable for long drives. Service and parts are very expensive.

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  Good Driving - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Chris - December 4 - 11:43 am

  This car is fast and fun to drive. Handles like a real tight sports car. High performance. Like it better than the Acura TL the gas mileage is not good but has improved since the car is more broken in. (25 on the highway at 1800 miles).

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  A great car, when it works. - 2000 Volvo V40
  By Isaac - November 30 - 5:16 pm

  Drives well, handles confidently and is exceptionally safe. Heated seats and leather interior are nice too. Gas mileage is generally good, and its an attractive looking car. Ive always liked my Volvo 240s so I thought this was a good bet. So whats not to like? over four years, a $700+ CV joint, $2400 top end, $500 radiator, $300 bearings, more burnt out electrical gadgets than a cheap chritmas tree (hope you like staring at the check engine light) and the price of 93 octane only gas. That is, of course excluding the performance tires and brake wear. Oh, and as previously mentioned, the cup holders and armrest for the driver on this model are less than helpful.

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  so far so good - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By han - November 27 - 12:16 am

  best looking suv in its class

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  XC - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By Alpharetta - November 26 - 10:00 am

  We purchased a XC wagon for safety and reliability but its been in the shop 7 times in 12 months, one time to replace the airbags which had malfunctioned! Most repairs have been electrical issues. Very fun to drive and front seats are ultra comfortable. The back seats are not comfortable and there are no cup holders unless you use the front middle console. Backing up is difficult due to low seats/narrow windows = poor visibility.