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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  GM Transmission - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Jim - August 8 - 6:13 pm

  I have a 1999 Volvo S-80. I just had the tramission rebuilt, It was done by a friend of mine so the cost was cheaper than someone off the street. I was surprised that when my friend told me that the transmission was a General Motors product. The problem was the 3rd gear went out. The mechanic told me this was common in this type transmission weither it was in a Volvo or a GM product. The clutches in this type transmission are not as tight meaning the shift will be smoother, but this leaves weaknest in the shifting process but smooth. So if you have tranny problems it will problem be the 3rd gear clutches. But the good news is it will probably be a good old GM transmission.

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  Smooth Ride, but at what cost? - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Still ridin - August 8 - 10:13 am

  This car is amazing. Definitely an eye turner. Great acceleration in top gear when pulling away from traffic or overtaking slower cars. I have a geartronic and I believe that it needs to be six gears and not five (Volvo corrects this with the latest models). The front seats are comfortable for taller people. Theres a lack of storage space for things but otherwise not bad. I noticed fuel economy got better after approx 15K miles. Can somebody please do something about the turning radius and the wheels?

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  Love it so far! - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By Celeste - August 8 - 7:23 am

  We bought this car about 6 weeks ago & I really love it. It fits my kids two car seats easily & will fit a third - all in the second row. Ive read that it doesnt have that great of pick up when you accelerate, but I havent found that to be the case at all. Drives great, love the sunroof, really love that the backseat has a/c vents for the kids! It is without a doubt the best car Ive ever driven (have previously owned Chevys & an Acura).

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  Vord not what Expected from the Swedes - 2002 Volvo V40
  By arad - August 6 - 7:56 pm

  I loved this car when I bought it. I believed in the Volvo reputation of long-life and reliability. Honestly, I thought Id found my match for life. It handled well and was very comfortable. Had this car for about a year before experiencing major problems with overheating. Dealership repair visits 4x over the next year until, at 112K mi, the vehicle overheated one last time, the head gasket blew out and the turbo charger wanked. $5000 in repairs! If you can find one of these cars still on the road, Id be surprised. I havent seen one in about 1 1/2 years. You might not see it in the dark though, because they burn through lamps like crazy. Also, expect to replace brakes frequently.

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  Volvo XC-90 SUV Review - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Jeff Dickens - August 6 - 6:33 pm

  The XC90 is the 6th leased Volvo in our family. We lease them because of the confidence we have in the safety engineered into the vehicle. I never anticipated just how safe the XC90 is, until I was offered and participated in the Volvo XC90 off road "Owner Experience" driving test. This car performed far better then my expectations. The Dynamic Stability and Traction Control along with the Roll Stability Control performed flawlessly, and gave me complete confidence that this vehicle is capable of responding well under a wide variety of hazardous road conditions. I spend much of my time in the XC90, and this is probably the most comfortable, enjoyable and safest car I have ever driven.

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  Stay AWAY FORM THE AUTOMATIC - 2004 Volvo S60
  By bigmistake - August 6 - 10:00 am

  After break in I realized just what a total joke the S60R GT/Automatic was. DO yourself a favor and really drive this car prior to buying it. You will find early upshits kill all the performance and just as lousy downshifts limit how much fun, acceleration and control you can experieince with this joke of an R car. The S60 T5 is faster by far as well as other cars in the Volvo line up. I wont even get into VOLVOS total reluctance to acknowledge a problem with the automatic...all they say is operating within specs....yea maybe if it were builf to compete witha Honda accord...heck the honda will beat it in a drag race..I kid you not

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  S60 step up - 2004 Volvo S60
  By skm - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I previously leased a Volvo S40 and with the lease coming up, my husband found a private owner of an S60 who needed to sell because of a change in circumstances. We test drove the car and what a step up from the S40. Dont get me wrong, I loved the S40 but my kids quickly outgrew the backseat. The S60 has so much more leg room I am sure I will be keeping it for a long time. The drive is beautiful with a tight steering wheel smaller than I am used to but feels like a race car!

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  Mediocre Car - 2000 Volvo S40
  By VOLVOS40DRVR - August 6 - 10:00 am

  The S-40 is an average attempt by Volvo to create a fun little sedan that will appeal to a younger demographic. Ive had no major issues with mine, but little things have plagued me... especially that darn "check engine" light that seems to need resetting every month. The paint is of very poor quality and looks much older than three years even though Ive had the car repainted. The leather seats have already started to crack and the car has less than 40k miles. Overall, I would not recommend this particular car.

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  Never again! - 1999 Volvo S80
  By mstice - August 6 - 10:00 am

  I have been back to the dealer more times than I can remember with this car. One thing after another. I fix it and Ill be damned if it doesnt brake again. Leaks, rattles, and an all around poor experience is what i got with my S80T6.

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  WJMJ 2003 X-C 90 T-6 Review - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By wjmj - August 6 - 10:00 am

  Unbeatable safety features. A very versatile, roomy, quiet and comfortable vehicle that gives you an extremely confident road feel. All- wheel drive is excellent. Despite reviews in the press, my T-6 has shown plenty of acceleration ability, especially in 3rd and 4th gear. A very comfortable ride and excellent brakes. My vehicle has had no defects, a remarkable thing for such a complex vehicle. Gas mileage has been somewhat disappointing (15-16 around town and 18-19 on highway), even for a heavy 5,000 lbs. vehicle. Excellent climate control system. Wonderful vehicle overall.