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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  I wanted to like it BUT... - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By bletour - April 9 - 10:00 am

  Loaded T6 Accel poor unless you slam it to the floor. Slow to downshift Suspension mediocre. This car never feels even a hint of sporty in corners. Seats: Cant get comfortable Lights: "auto" on feature so when it gets dark they turn on, but the high beams wont function in that mode. Rain sensing wipers: Adjust the intermittent control and the rain sensor takes over anyway. "Approach lights": You have to push a separate button on the keyfob from unlock N/V/H... This car makes nasty noises sometimes and never seems smooth. Squeeks and rattles already forming at 10K miles. Build Quality: Doors need to be slammed, compartments stick.

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  Not naughty but very nice - 2012 Volvo S60
  By jimbonada - April 8 - 11:55 am

  Coming out of a 2008 G35x, i did have second thoughts, but after only 140 miles, im giving it two thumbs up. Im averaging approx 25 mi. per, quiet cabin, interior wreaks of luxury and the seats are the best...ever. Minuses...small trunk, handling is a bit numb and no voice command for bluetooth. If youre looking for an entry level luxury sedan thats great on gas and wont kill your budget, the T-5 is it!

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  a vintage year - 96 - 1996 Volvo 850
  By soberone - April 6 - 10:00 am

  In general always buy low engine models in any brand: the hype of more hp is a marketing trick. So with volvo stick with the 168 hp engine. Turbos allways are more prone to problems (as in any brand car)...Road handling more important than racing to next stoplight...we bought this 1996 model on dec 27 1996 (showroom model) and -knock wood- have never had any major problems. Very low maintenance costs, thanks to a local swede-car mechanic (would have been much more expensive with dealer service, our advise is to avoid the dealer network, they are ripping you off with unnecessary repairs). Very reliable, spacy and comfortable.

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  S60 in Alaska - 2001 Volvo S60
  By Tucker - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Love the car. Manual transmission gear box a little notchey in feel. Gas mileage not much better than a V6 so it might as well be a V6. Great support from local dealer for maintance.

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  Why I just purchased a second 2011 XC70 T6 - 2011 Volvo XC70
  By Robert Zamenhof - April 5 - 11:53 pm

  Overall this is a pretty good car. Having had only Volvo wagons since 1980, I have to say that this 2011 seems more solid and heavy (in a good way) than any of my previous models or later models I have driven as loaners. Generally reliability has been good--with a few exceptions: At 85,000 miles, the engine started to use a lot of oil. Volvo examined it and replaced the entire engine. They told me that it was a bad batch of piston rings that was responsible, so this wasnt really a "bad" feature of the car. Volvo has never been able to properly balance the wheels, so I have learned to live with a slight steering wheel vibration at around 60 mph. They said the rims were distorted and sent them for repair; but that didnt help. Tire Rack replaced all 4 tires TWICE, with no improvement. The design of the rims is such that mud stays put and makes the balance problem markedly worse. I have never been totally happy with the brakes, but a recent full brake replacement has fixed this problem. There is a really stupid feature of the software: when the fog lights are on, they go out when high beams are selected, but dont come back on when you return to low beams. Interestingly, the second identical model I just purchased doesnt do this! Finally, I am singularly unimpressed with the headlights, specially the high beams. Ive replaced the low-beam bulbs with high intensity "silver tip" bulbs, but see hardly any difference. There are no high intensity replacements for the high-beam bulbs, so when I drive at night plplllI envy the bright headlights of much cheaper cars. LlLL2nd Review 9/1/16: L having now owned my 2nd 2011 XC70 T6 for about 6 months, I can add a little to this review. The 2nd XC70 seems just as well built as my first one. I do, however, miss the folding rear-view mirrors and the front seats donr seem to be quite as comfortable; but since the car has less than 30,000 miles, it could just be a break-in phenomenon. The headlights are markedly superior to those on the first car (see above review), even with standard bulbs, and there are no problems with wheel balance or braking (see above review). The silly fog-light phenomenon I described for the first car is also absent. In summary, the 2nd car is just as good as the first, and just as robust and "heavy" in a good way. Id like to replace the first car with another 2011 (it has 130,000 miles); but I dont think I could find a low-mileage 2011 again. Since the first review (see above), the first car has had the following major repairs (all covered by an extended warranty policy): New A/C compressor, new motor for drivers side mirror (motor failed).

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  Never Again - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By phred3717 - April 5 - 3:43 pm

  I will never buy another Volvo. This car cost me countless hours and huge sums of money to keep running. I had an extended waranty to begin with but then the real problems began. Brake pads annually, main engine seals, tierod ends, transmission. Broke down on family trips even after being serviced faithfully by dealer! Last straw - the turbos blew on a road trip 1,000 Km from home with family and friends onboard. Got $100 for it and was happy to see the end of it. Fool me once shame on you Volvo - wont happen again.

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  Fast and fun - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Jared Nikle - April 4 - 3:53 am

  Worth the cost

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  our best volvo yet - 2004 Volvo V70
  By wenronian - April 2 - 10:00 am

  This is our best of the 5 Volvos we have owned. Volvo has seemed to work out the minor, yet annoying, electrical problems experienced with their previous cars. This wagon has lots of room, performs well and is very comfortable. We got the integrated booster seats this time and love them!

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  Very Disappointed - 2001 Volvo S40
  By Unhappy in Ottawa - April 2 - 10:00 am

  Very poor quality. Engine light kept going on unitl Volvo finally replaced O2 sensor 2 years later. Brakes and tires wear out prematurely. It seems like at every service appointment I must replace the front or rear brakes, not only the pads but also the discs and rotors. Trunk lock and gear shift knob had to be replaced. The worst part is that after 3.5 years the paint started peeling off the car in the area around all 4 wheel wells and where the fenders meet the bumbers. It is clear that this car, which was made in the Netherlands at a factory shared by Volvo and Mistsubishi has a lot more Mitsubishi than Volvo in it. Overall, I am extremely disappointed.

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  Consistently great, Brooks Bros like no other - 2017 Volvo XC60
  By F. Knight - April 1 - 1:22 pm

  Comfortable, sizeable, yet very nimble