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:

• 

  Considering the hype about the Volvo brand, indeed - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Mythili Pisolkar - January 6 - 8:24 am

  I purchased this coming from a Lexus 400h expecting to be wowed. The test drive was good. The 360 view, the dashboard were fantastic looking and I was blown over. Post purchase, I began to uncover lots of common sense things that the car simply refused to do. Unlike the Infiniti, the 360 view is not attainable unless you go through several clicks and swipes on the very cool tablet/ipad like dashboard controls. The purpose of the 360 view is lost totally. The rear view can be replaced with the 360 view but then you lose the range of vision of the road behind you. Radio settings are made unnecessary complicated. Another example, the simple and easy windshield wipers. You would think they would have these automated down pat but no. Unlike the Lexus, you actually have to tell it that it is raining only after which it does some level of automated speed up and slow down of the wipers. The service was "ugh" and "aargh" always - condescending disposition of the people and poor time estimation at the top of the problems. A supposed 45 minute wait became "a few more minutes", "half hour more", "15 more minutes" to three hours! There was one time when the service person told me that car pick up for maintenance will happen only if I was disabled in some manner which was an outright cooked up story. The service people behave as if they are high and mighty and want to show that they control who gets picked up and who doesnt. A simple reason such as, "We dont have drivers or cars to pick up at that time" would have been totally understandable for inability to pick up. Lexus service was soooo much better! These are registered complaints and I received apologies. I was okay the first time but some issue or the other came up which did not have to come up. The router and the wifi is not of great strength as advertised for sure. The Lane Assist detected white dashed lines only. The double yellow line and the solid white line were totally ignored. To top all of this, the car self-braked many times for the wrong scenarios such as a car coming on the opposite lane, a parked car in a turn and didnt stop for a stopped vehicle causing a head-on collision and was totaled after 6 months of usage. In conclusion, it comes with a few cool bells and whistles but it is not a well thought through car for overall execution. Service gets the lowest score. Truly disappointing.

• 

  Excellent Value - 2011 Volvo C70
  By billnjax - January 5 - 1:27 pm

  We purchased this car about 5 months ago, and in 6,000 miles have never regretted our decision. The car is very comfortable, has all the acceleration that we require, and gets excellent gas mileage, actually better than our Turbo Beetle Convertible. We looked at several different convertibles in this class and the C70 was by far the best car for the money. Add in the safe and secure warranty coverage and I dont see how you could do better. Take a test drive and you will be hooked.

• 

  Great Car!!!! - 2007 Volvo C70
  By WIlliam - January 5 - 7:56 am

  This is a really great car to have!! I did however have a problem with the wiring in the retracting of my top. But overall a really fun and superb car to have. A 10++++ in the WOW factor.

• 

  Big Problems with 05 XC70 - 2005 Volvo XC70
  By Drea88 - January 4 - 5:36 am

  I have had so many problems with my 2005 XC70, that I am w/o a car more than I am with one. This is my 3rd Volvo and the worst one so far. From the driver door coming open while I was driving twice to gas shooting in my face due to a faulty gas line and cut off. I think I would have been better off with a car that is 20 years old. My car is now inactive again ( every month) because of a faulty trans. Do you think that Volvo or the Volvo dealership will take it back. NO! It is a lemon but of course in PA the lemon law is so crazy that I cant do anything with this car but to leave it in my driveway, due to the numerous times that it breaks down and put myself and my family at risk. So buyer beware

• 

  I do have a choice - 2000 Volvo S40
  By J Hall - January 4 - 2:00 am

  When I purchased the car it was shared that I would only pay for oil changes and everything elso was covered. Not true as I have come to learn as I open my check book one more time! I have had a number of rattles, that have never been fixed, and I need to book my service appointments weeks in advance as the dealer has no loaners, it was even suggested once that since I worked near my dealer I arrange for a coworker to pick me up, something I did not appreciate.

• 

  Excellent Car - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Sriniv - January 4 - 2:00 am

  I am seeing so many bad reviews on this site and wondering why all these people are having so much trouble with this car while I had no problems at all - Well except the Check engine sign. I drive this car more than most people - 45K in less than 3 years. It is still as much fun to drive as it was on day one. In fact the engine seems to be getting smoother by the day. I take frequent long trips in this car (>6 hours) and I can honestly say the trips are comfortable. There are some interior design problems such as the front cup holder but it is not so bad that I would give it a 3 or 4 rating.

• 

  Volvo.............NOT! - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Eyedoc - January 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned this car for over a year and had to replace the brake pads twice. Ive just about experienced every negative comment that is written in the reviews: from replacement of bulbs, wind noise, rattles, brakes, engine lights, etc. It is a great car in many ways, but the reliability is horrible. Although the S40 is cheaper than most of the foreign cars on the market when compared to BMW, Audi, MB etc..the cost of repairs and regular maintenance can be astronomical once the warranty expires. I would definetly not suggest this vehicle to anyone.

• 

  love this car - 2000 Volvo S70
  By volvodriver1 - January 4 - 2:00 am

  last of the S70. The SE model has it all - winter package and turbo engine give it a boost. Love those seats

• 

  Money Pit - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Chery Pie - January 2 - 3:13 pm

  I have had a V70 for about 5 years. It has been one thing or another. The last straw was the transmission that had to be replaced. I cant wait to unload it and get what...another damn Volvo? Think twice about a Volvo.

• 

  unreliable - 1998 Volvo V70
  By wolfpack770 - January 2 - 10:00 am

  My parents actually own this car. After owning 4 acuras, went to the volvo wagon because acura/honda didnt make a wagon. Big mistake -so many problems passin TN emissions (multiple times) mechanic said the best fix for this car was to find someone to drive it off a cliff. Car is in the shop about once every 1-2 months, this should not happen on a car that costs 33K new. We have even talked to Volvo rep for our area, they were unsympathetic. On the plus side, car is great on the highway and very safe, decent gas mileage, but on the whole we will never buy a volvo again.