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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  Volvo You Rock - 2001 Volvo S80
  By Bishop - July 2 - 12:20 pm

  I just purchased a s80 2001 with 152,000 miles on it. This was the best buy of my life being a pre-owed car. Thanks Volvo

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  New Volvo for me - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By MatthewP - July 1 - 10:53 pm

  Within two months the windshield crack not cover by the manufacturing warranty. Too small for 7 seaters, will not fit teen for a trip.

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  pretty solid - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By jj - July 1 - 2:26 pm

  I have had this auto for two years now. I still get looks while driving. It is a very comfortable auto to drive and lots of safety stuff too.

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  2012 XC90 - 2012 Volvo XC90
  By laarcadacpa - July 1 - 1:24 pm

  My wife and I are very pleased with our 2012 XC90. Our last SUV was an MBZ ML 320 which is a very good vehicle. The price of the new ones, though, gave us pause. In buying an SUV we considered seating capacity as a primary quality. We have 5 grandchildren locally. The performance comments concerned me. However, with the 7 speed automatic that manually shifts, there is more than ample performance, if one knows how to use a transmission. The value, space, engineering and performance are all here.

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  Great Little Car - 2003 Volvo V40
  By DKRoss - July 1 - 10:00 am

  Well built car, lots of standard equipment. At $29.5K, its not the best deal on the planet....but after a $4500 incentive, and a $200 deal...the net was $22.5K....a GREAT deal...when used MY2000s sell for $17K. mine has the 15" wheels and tires, I think I would go for the 16" setup. I added the Volvo front strut bar, makes a great differance in handling.

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  Happy, so far... - 2002 Volvo V40
  By slick - July 1 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my V40 for just over a year now and Ive been happy with it. I havent had any problems with it. I ended up with it because the sales people at the mercedes dealership next door(owned by the same company)didnt give me the time of day (I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt).

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  What a steal! - 2004 Volvo S80
  By TravisScher - July 1 - 10:00 am

  I leased a new S80 a few months ago and I got a better deal than you could imagine! I had an S80 before this one and I leased it for $500 a month but when that came off lease I got a new one for $390. I was considering an Acura RL, Lexus GS and an Audi A6 but none of them compared in value. I found the volvo the most comfortable and I love the T6 engine, although it was not worth $150 more a month.

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  Looks Good, Guzzles Gas - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By joeboxer - July 1 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the XC90 since 4/1/03 and have gotten the most heinous gas mileage -- 10/11mpg City and 15/16 Hwy. The interior is very noisy but the excellent stereo mitigates it. Ive had the car back to the dealer three times in three months with various problems.The interior is mediocre/bland/sparse and back seat room tight. Lots of other little annoyances prove that looks arent everything.

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  bigger and better - 2011 Volvo V50
  By v50 - June 30 - 7:47 pm

  I have an 04 V40 with 70K miles and have had exactly 1 mechanical (one of the tumblers on the ignition lock failed). The V40 was a Mitsubishi joint venture and that car feels more Japanese than the V50. The V50 is bigger, heavier, roomier, safer, more powerful and gets about the same mpgs. Both cars have an elegant simplicity to them. The V50 is understated and easy to live with. If I drive slow I average 25 mpg with a mix of highway and around town. If you need power its there. The 5 cylinder turbo has been in production for years and should be reliable. 5 years 60K mile bumper to bumper warranty and free maintenance is unmatched. Like all Volvos = many safety features.

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  Very solid car - 1999 Volvo S70
  By Zach - June 30 - 5:13 pm

  This is my first volvo. We purchased in PA and live in MN, so we had a great introduction to its quality on the ride home. Mechanically - this car is a very solid purchase. It performs extremely well, the suspension is very fun, and the brakes are great. You can really tell that it is very high quality car. Its not without the quirks you usually find in European cars and it is more expensive to maintain. Service lights come on fairly often, but you soon learn that life has not stopped if check engine comes on. Its just how the car works. It eventually goes off (and theres plenty of info online from other volvo owners).