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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  Only 7.7 years not for life - 2001 Volvo S40
  By AJFH - March 10 - 2:53 am

  Purchased this car after seeing it in France in the summer of 2000. We were first impressed by its ride, peppy motor and looks. We thought the car would last well beyond a estimated 10 years..oops big mistake. It is no better than a Chevrolet when it comes to reliability. Numerous visits to the shop for all kinds of repairs. Luckily we bought the 100000 mile warranty. Since it ended in August 2007 over $3000 in repairs have been done and its still doesnt run well. The engine light is continually on. Its just become a headache.

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  Best car ive ever owned - 2007 Volvo XC70
  By LOVNIT - March 8 - 6:50 pm

  After researching cars for a year and a half we decided on the XC70 and have never looked back. This is by far the best car weve ever owned. Love it on long trips. The economy is much better than reported (I average 21 city/27 hwy), and there is always more than enough power, even in the mountains! I have 26K miles on it already and not one issue yet!

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  4 Years of Monthly Warranty Repairs - 2006 Volvo V50
  By Renee - March 8 - 3:50 am

  I have owned this vehicle just under 4 yrs. Beginning around 10k miles started having issues. Door locks worked intermittently, small stones would get caught in the rotors,making an awful metal on metal sound, the battery died/car needed towed to dealer at 25k miles, door locks worked sometimes, other times got locked in and had to crawl across passenger seat to get out, a piece of the roof rack would fall off during car washes, and the gas gasket went. Many of things were unable to be fixed and needed multiple service appts. This was my first and probably last Volvo. I just traded this in for a new Honda, mostly due to the reliability. But Ill miss driving this. It was a blast to drive.

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  This Is a VOLVO? - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Wolf021 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I test drove many cars, including the automatic version of this car which completely lacks FUN of any sort as I knew before I drove it. However, I was locked onto the interior. What a pleasure! I made calls and wrote e- mails and behold someone backed out of their special order...6 Speed. Night and Day compared to the auto. And yes I drove the heck out of it before I purchased it. I put so many miles on it I had to buy it. I wasnt about to let this one go.

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  Volvo S60 R - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Jabrwkjer - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Great car.....balanced, fast, well built, safe

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  what you will - 2003 Volvo S40
  By boyo - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Despite problems with the central computer unit, this is the best vehicle Ive owned over the last 40 years.

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  Interior Falls Apart - 2000 Volvo C70
  By GlueGun Ready - March 6 - 11:26 pm

  Solid and fun to drive but the interior of this car is literally falling apart. Both door panels have needed to be replaced (at a mere $1000 per door) electrical switches stick, work when they want to, or fall apart. The leather is peeling on the drivers seat and the sunroof assembly constantly needs to be reglued as the glass seperates from the metal. Ive never had a car do this and the darn thing is well taken care of. Amazing for a car with only 25,000 miles - and the dealer just shrugs....

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  VolvoC70 - 2008 Volvo C70
  By wendydan - March 5 - 6:10 pm

  My husband and I purchased the C70 after doing extensive research over the last year. We owned a soft top Sebring Convertible and loved it but were considering a retractable hard top. We bounced back and forth between the C70 and the S60 with a sunroof. We admired the Volvo C70 the first time we saw it while on vacation, but were not sure we wanted to pay the high dollar amount. The mechanics of the hard top were a concern and while it makes this car very heavy, the safety features are a huge plus. Although, after selling our Sebring and missing the convertible for a week, it was decided that the C70 would be the choice. This car is incredibly sleek, comfortable and tremendously fun.

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  Volvo XC90 - very happy overall - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By mgkelly - March 4 - 9:30 pm

  Comfortable to ride in and drive. Very roomy interior. Rear fold down seats are very handy when needed. Spacious storage as well. Handles well.

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  Love it all but the maintenance - 1999 Volvo V70
  By A Kirkland Mom - March 4 - 7:16 am

  I adore everything about my Volvo but the price it takes to keep it. Even the dealer admitted it is a lemon. Another reviewer hit the nail when he said "very good or awful." I got the short end of the stick on this one with weird problems (unraveling muffler gumming up exhaust, unexplained smokes inside and out...) and so may trips to the dealer, I know all the service peoples kids names. That being said, I love the way it drives, looks, feels and physically holds up, structure wise, I just picked a lemon. Would buy another one but cant gamble on picking a winner.