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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  Im in Love! - 2006 Volvo S40
  By CoaChKsCar - June 26 - 2:20 am

  I have always wanted a Volvo of my own and I have no regrets now that I have one!! I have never felt as safe in a car after owning a Saab 9000, a VW Jetta and a Scion tc. It is solid and flawless and handles so well in questionable weather. I would recommend it to anyone. I will never buy anything other than Volvo again. Its engine is powerful and the control is amazing. The interior design is slick and incredibly functional and the sound system is great. Im a soccer coach so being able to fit all of my crap in the trunk is a must and this car definitely fills that need!! If you are considering this car I have nothing but strong recommendations for it!!

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  Near Perfect For What It Is - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By Steve R - June 25 - 11:00 am

  It was a close, but the XC60 got me. The X3 is too dated. The GLKs back seat is too cramped for adults-if human. The RX350 has just about everything. Except inspiration. Life is too short to live like that. So it came down to the Q5 and XC60. The face, rear, skin, and interior chest of the Q still make me wonder if I picked the right mate. But its brains came out of the shop as iDrive, and the plastics used made me feel like its beauty may be skin deep. The Swede caught my eye too, though in a different language. She wrapped her 2-tone arms around me. Had a firm, smooth ride. Stirred me with her strength and agility. And made me feel like shed carry my child in safety. Shes the one.

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  NEVER AGAIN - 2000 Volvo S40
  By SLOWVOLVO - June 25 - 10:00 am

  Ive had every problem thats been discussed. Brakes wear out at 15K, front head lights burn out after 5K, the piece of junk has always vibrate at 70 miles per hour. I suggest before you buy one of these, you take it out on the Interstate and get it up to speed. Dyer & Dyer Chamblee really should feel guilty for allowing these pieces of junk to sit in their showroom and for providing years of terrible service. All in all, the car is sooo bad, it sits parked in my garage. Terrible just terrible. I will not only never purchase a Volvo again, Ill never purchase a FORD again, since Ford in responsible for this junk.

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  Expensive Repairs - 2005 Volvo V50
  By Dominicvail - June 25 - 8:16 am

  We thought we loved the car but it has been one repair after another. The kicker was that at 2 years old and with 25,000 the clutch burned out. This repair was not covered by Volvo for warrantee. My wife and I have always driven manual cars and this is the first clutch issue ever. It was $2,500 to fix. We will get rid of the car due to the dissatisfaction we have had with this experience. We have owned three other Volvos (V-70R AWD and XC-70 AWD) but this one has soured us. Say good bye to this one.

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  great car overall - 1998 Volvo V70
  By broadbeard - June 24 - 7:07 am

  Purchased in 2004 with 64,000 miles for my wife, she didnt like the 95 850 turbo wagon because it had too much power. The light pressure turbo and AWD is much better for her. I use high quality parts and do not have tire, brake, or other components wearing out prematurely. Currently have Michelin Harmony and ceramic brakes, best ride of any car Ive owned and the AWD makes the snow disappear. Has not left us stranded in 10 years. Not transmission problems, averages 22 MPG, can get 28 MPG on interstate. High quality and good design. As others posted, it is expensive to maintain at dealer. I do most of the work, however, I do have a friend that helps me with more difficult repairs.

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  Get the PCC - 2008 Volvo S80
  By Lee in Germany - June 23 - 4:23 am

  I love this car! It drives great, and eventhough I dont have one of the larger engines, the car has plenty of pick up and go even on the German autobahns. I love it! Living in Europe, we travel a great deal, and already, the S80 is proving to be a comfortable, luxurious ride. Couple that with Volvos safety record, and this car provides the best of both worlds.

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  An outstanding sedan - 2013 Volvo S60
  By smerdyakov - June 22 - 10:02 pm

  In the last three years I have had an Audi A4 quatrro and a Buick Regal GS, and this car is superior to both of them. The seats are the best that I have ever had, and the 6 cylinder turbo is powerful, and runs on regular fuel. Unlike the same feature in many other cars, the Sport mode enhances performance considerably. It is quiet, smooth, and much faster than I had expected. Mileage tends to average about 32 mpg on the highway, which is not outstanding but adequate. Interior and exterior styling is restrained and elegant, and the layout for all controls is excellent. I dont understand why I feel so few of these cars on the street.

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  Great buy great ride - 2006 Volvo S40
  By jeremybennett8 - June 22 - 1:13 pm

  I bought my S40 used still under warranty after looking at buying a new one. The 6 speed is awesome and a great fuel saver. Power and handling are ample and safety features are unparalelled. Driven right you can have fun and get over 23 MPG. Be warned: spacial reasoning is a must. The trunk is hard to while backing up as are the rounded front corners. Factory premium sound will blow your ears off if you want it to. Nav system is good with steering wheel mounted controls, though this can be distracting at times. I recommend 17" wheels at the minimum to improve grip if you plan on driving aggressively.

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  Very happy! - 2017 Volvo XC90
  By Pam Nichols - June 22 - 5:09 am

  Ive never had a perfect car for me but this is quite close. My husband refused to ever drive an SUV but he loves this car. Hes always looking for an excuse to drive. It has power! There are lots of extras in the inscription that are worth the extra money. I like the larger tires and leather quality especially. My kids love the car too and prefer to ride in the "way back". Some of the technology is tricky but you do get the hang of it and there are so many features that its worth the effort to learn it.

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  Nice Styling and Good Value - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Scott - June 21 - 3:23 pm

  I purchased the 2.4i with the sport package in south Florida and found it loads of fun to drive. Handles very well in the curves and the 2.4 litre engine is peppy enough for everyday traffic. I since moved to upstate NY and it does great on the country roads, but snows are a MUST as the traction control constantly slips in winter. I now have 90k miles on it and have had a couple of major problems, at 55k miles the radiator blew. Thank goodness for the extended warranty, or could have been $1500! Interior design is stylish, but cheep materials. Trim clips continually break (in trunk too) and stupid expensive to replace.