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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  Rocky Start, Pretty Good Finish - 1998 Volvo V70
  By JD Rockefeller - November 23 - 1:56 am

  I love wagons, especially small reliable ones. I bought this used @45K miles, and the dealer did all the maint, but after 50K, I paid and it was killing me (a thousand plus / year). I was mad and ready to sell when I finally found a good local guy. Its been great ever since. Much of what the dealer "recommended" was just a waste - In three years: a Battery Tires Rotors Pads; thats about it, everything still works. This car has no pep, its ugly, I rarely wash it and change the oil filter every 10K, but it is super reliable, the most comfortable, gets decent gas milage, and still feels rock solid after well into 200K miles. Now I might buy another, but a little sports cars calling too ..

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  Ive Never Hated A Car Quicker! - 2004 Volvo S80
  By Rockman1 - November 21 - 10:00 am

  I have never hated a car quicker. Within the first 100 km the exterior chrome molding has started to come off. Within 200 km the gas pedal does not function properly, one must depress it a full inch before there is any response. This is most annoying, and the dealer tells us that nothing can be done about it, that its just the way Volvo makes them. For the cost, I am exceptionally disappointed in this car. It now has less than 2000 km on it and we are about to trade it in on an Audi. Remember its really no longer a Volvo, its an expensive Ford.

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  Disappointed with 2000 V70XC SE - 2000 Volvo V70
  By Jarod Focha - November 18 - 4:20 am

  We bought this vehicle when my wife and I decided to have kids for safety reasons. I bought it with only 42K on it. Dealership had just gone through it and I have the $2K receipt to prove it. Immediately I had problems with the front axle. My mechanic was able to get Volvo to pick up the $2K bill. When the vehicle hit 75K miles the car began falling apart. Turbo went out $2.5K. Car never drove the same after changing it out at the dealership. Shudders, runs rough. 2 months later the fuel pump went out another $2K. 1 month the axle and AWD need repair another $1K. When it goes it goes and nothing is cheap. Not your ideal vehicle if you cannot afford expensive, frequent repairs.

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  Repeated Electronic problem - 2006 Volvo V50
  By marc - November 13 - 10:40 am

  I have been having repeated problem with the check engine, engine shutting down on the hwy and ignition key that cannot be removed from the ignition I bought a volvo for safety and reliability. I never had an accident therefore cannot comment on safety. On the reliability side it have been very expensive to maintain and very unreliable 1) Day 1 engine light 2) 2 month in ignition key stuck 4) 50K replace all tires alignment not properly done by Volvo dealer 5) 85kRigh rear bearing 6) 100k Engine light and engine shutting down while driving, many trip to the dealer problem disappeared on its own after 125K 7) 145K more problem with ignition key Im now look at selling it

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  Whats wrong with my Volvo - 2001 Volvo S60
  By Rainman4 - November 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought a Volvo for dependability and safety. It is a very comfortable car to drive and I like it. However, within 18 months I have had it in the shop for repairs 4 times. Once was the transmission, once the fan and twice the cup holder. The cup holder is once again broken. I am disappointed in the quality of this car.

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  Volvo 4 life-NOT - 2001 Volvo V70
  By bobcarguy - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Great car for long highway drives...but a bit too noisy/jarring. Front seats arent comfortable you cant get the "right" adjustment. The HVAC system is noisy...fails to provide cold AC in the summer. Not enough usable areas to store things in the cabin. Finally, I never paid $90 for an oil change until I owned a Volvo...and took it in for the 7000 mile service!

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  Volvo - Never Again - 1999 Volvo V70
  By George - October 17 - 6:43 pm

  I bought this used from the original owner for my son as his first car. I bought it because of its reputation as a safe car. What a piece of junk. I had the ABS module rebuilt ($170) because of dash lights and performance issues related to it. Dealer would have wanted close to $800 to fix - robbers. Shortly thereafter, it was stalling intermittently. Lo and behold, I needed to replace the ETM module (which was a Volvo defect) but it was done for free, however needed to replace the pedal assembly since it was continuing to stall ($235). Bottom line - it is a super expensive car to maintain and I regret buying it for my son. It will send me to the poor house if I keep it. Safe but costly.

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  PoorAtBest - 1999 Volvo V70
  By VolvoNightmare - October 14 - 10:00 am

  A costly nightmare not only on maintenance but the car has fallen apart under 55k mikes. Service at a dealer costs an arm and a leg and quality is poor at best. What happend to Volvo? Did Ford do this to them? NEVER A VOLVO AGAIN!

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  Dont buy - 2000 Volvo S80
  By ACT - September 27 - 9:16 am

  Worst car Ive ever owned by far. Great ride when Im not spending money on transmission, wheel bearings, rattling moon roof, rotors, etc . . . Stay away.

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  Disaster - 2005 Volvo XC70
  By Polly - September 26 - 10:53 am

  There is a distinct delay when stepping on the gas pedal which can be a problem pulling out in heavy traffic. This car is truly terrible in the snow, seems to float, not in a good way. Changed the tires and this helped somewhat, but dont buy this car if you live in a snowy part of the country. Had over 100 "faults" in the computer electrical system recently, the dealer says this car is a computer on wheels and after over $500 (no parts in this cost) in computer software downloads cannot say if the problem will ever be totally fixed.