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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  DECK ERROR - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Darrell - April 17 - 4:13 am

  The cd player should be recalled but it would cost Volvo too much to repair them all. For me - $720, not counting labor. I can get one from Best Buy for half that installed. Very disappointing - I thought Volvo would stand by their product but, instead, they hand you a bill. Im going to try Audi or Mercedes when I purchase my next car.

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  2005 S40 T5 AWD - 2005 Volvo S40
  By jstephens617 - April 16 - 10:16 pm

  I bought this car used in 2006 with 20K miles on it. This was my first "new" car purchase out of college. The dealership gave me a great deal at 22K fully loaded with leather, cold weather package, sunroof, etc. I needed the all wheel drive since I drive roughly 100 miles round trip to work. This car has excellent acceleration and while on the highway it has no need to downshift to pass somebody. The power range and turbo plus the AWD system make this car a blast so drive. The geartronic transmission make the drive even more enjoyable by allowing me to switch into manual mode when needed.

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  First time Volvo owner - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By FLRich - April 16 - 6:03 pm

  For years I drove a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I finally wore it out, and bought an Acura TSX. I loved it! It was an awesome car, but it was a car. I missed my SUV, but at the same time, I didnt want to give up my gas mileage! I saw the Volvo XC90 and had to test drive it. I bought it within 90 minutes after driving it. It is like driving a well made, tight car, but has the room and view of a SUV. The workmanship is awesome. So far I am averaging 17.8 mpg in town and 23 mpg on the highway.

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  Dream Car was a LEMON! - 2001 Volvo C70
  By pmm - April 16 - 2:43 pm

  This was my dream car (not). I had it 19 mo. thats all I could take. In the shop 15xs all minor but come on. I had all the issues prev. stated plus a cracked dash that I was told is common in a Volvo (should have been told before I bought) would cost $2300 to fix. The constant rattle noise was so unnerving that I could not relax & drive. Also my SRS light came on 4x in the shop for each till they replaced the air bag.It was a huge sacrifice to buy this so called dream car that leaked from the window seals so bad that my carpet had to be pulled out and the pad replaced. two weeks before I got rid of it I had an oil leak and thermostat go out. I babied this car there is no excuse for such a rip-off

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  This is what I was looking for - 2009 Volvo C30
  By FormerTruckOwner - April 16 - 11:13 am

  Ive only had this car a few weeks, but was looking for almost 2 years. Drove a truck. Was perfect when I got it, but now I have wife, kids, dog, and commute. I needed a practical car, but needed to carry the family on occasion, carry the dog, make dump runs, tow, and be comfortable day to day. Id also like something fun that had a little power, but not a huge engine. I knew I wanted a small luxury type car, but they are almost absent in the USA. Especially in a hatchback (for the dog). But in looking at the Mazda 3, I found out about the Ford C1 platform and the fact that the Mazda, Volvo, and European Ford Focus are built on it. This is the car I was looking for. Nothing else fit

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  Attractive and fun to drive - 2012 Volvo XC60
  By heathholley - April 16 - 10:39 am

  Going from a hybrid sedan to a crossover was an interesting change but Ive grown to enjoy my XC60. The vehicle feels very solid, safe, and with a stance like a tiger, grips the road with amazing tenacity!

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  Poor Engine Performance - 2000 Volvo S80
  By lbyers - April 13 - 10:10 am

  My 2000 S-80 has 87,00 miles on it. I purchased it in Oct of 2000 with 18,000 miles on it. The computer was replaced about 2 years later and thats when the problems started. My car was never the same. Now I am having problems with the mass air flow sensor. Every 6 months it needs replaced. Yet when the remove the code from the computer, it runs fine for about 2 weeks. And now it is starting to have electrical issues, in addition to eating head and tail lights.

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  Great All Around Vehicle - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By steve03 - April 12 - 2:00 am

  I have had the XC70 for about 2 months now and could not be happier. The combination of comfort features, flexibility for carrying cargo, and safety cannot be beat.

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  Great SUV, Small Tank - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By LisaScooter - April 12 - 2:00 am

  This is a very nice SUV, the V6 has lots of zip and is extremely comfortable. Very nicely designed with a lot of clever touches, like headphone jacks in the back seat.

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  Good But Could be Great - 2003 Volvo S60
  By Glenn S - April 12 - 2:00 am

  The AWD S60 does deliver in looks, comfort and bad weather handling. Probably the best Ive ever had in snow. Extremely comfortable and great amenities. Safety should be great. The car is reasonably fast and can corner extremely well. The Achilles heel is a strange suspension that wiggles and jiggles you to the point of distraction. Most small road variations get translated into movement within the car - sharp, annoying and fatiguing. Ultimately I am less confident at speed than in say the Audi A-4, which felt much more solid.