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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  Hold off buying this car ! - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By SweetOldBill - April 23 - 4:46 pm

  Love my new Volvo XC90 when it starts. Beautiful inside and out, lots of great safety features, and a pleasure to drive. However, there have been severe software issues and most recently battery draining for no apparent reason when it sits. Each trip to shop has been 2 - 3 days, because their technicians are not fully up to speed and/or the software is too screwed up. They generally have to do a remote consult with Volvo engineers.. As I write this I am about to jump start it to take it back to the shop again, just a month after the last battery episode (they did a battery reset and then installed a new battery last time, but never did find the cause). Do a Google search and you will find dozens of other people with the same problem. Another issue is quirky navigation system. Usually reliable, but occasionally totally screws up destination city. My recommendation. Do not buy this car yet. Perhaps wait a year until Volvo gets their act together.

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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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  Good until 90k - 1998 Volvo S70
  By Glen - April 2 - 4:13 am

  The following have required replacement/repair in the last 10k miles. Three AC modules. Power steering harness, ABS module, Struts, Shocks, Power radio antenna, power door locks, Power seat does not work properly. To this point the engine and transmission have been solid. The bottom line is $4,000 worth of repairs for a car that had been reliable but has turned into a money pit of repairs. If you have one sell it before you put too much mileage on it.

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  Great Drive, Bad Car - 2001 Volvo S80
  By KJHOG92 - March 29 - 11:40 pm

  Ive had this car right after a transport company owned it for less than a year. Its great to drive, its slow, but steering feels great, control is unbelievable. Ive had this car up to 140 on the highway, was straight as an arrow, not even a vibration. Ive taken this car on exit ramps at 80 mph. The car just grips the road. And it is so comfortable. I just love that aspect of the car. But the problem is the car isnt built right. The Sunroof has been replaced twice and doesnt work anymore, my front window barely work, everything is plastic and is just falling apart. New Tranny at 99,000 and the engine has an oil problem. And it sucks the fuel. If you have deep pockets than its good.

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  Volvo - 2001 Volvo S80
  By Mike BJ - March 26 - 2:00 am

  Volvo is a very good car. I had this car 2 years. It beats my 1991 Ford Explorer that lasted two years and my 1997 Linclon Town Car that lasted one year. It still doesnt beat my 1992 Acura that lasted from 1992-1997 and my wifes Honda Accord that lasted 1987- 1997. I would always recomend Volvo. The only problem is it had 3 electrical problems.

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  2003 V70 - 2004 Volvo V70
  By aaaaaa - March 19 - 2:00 am

  The mechanical design needs more help from engineering, already I have problem with the stabilizer bars this is the second time with two different years cars..Many of my friends who have bought a V70 have said to me the quality has decreased in the past years.

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  Stay away from Volvo - 1999 Volvo V70
  By Valerie Wood - March 8 - 9:50 pm

  Bought vehicle used in 2003 with 42,000 miles on it. Paid $23,000 for it. Have had nothing but trouble. Multiple visits for leaking antifreeze, replaced hoses, tightened clamps, replaced reservoir. Volvo dealer says this is wrong, independent mechanic says that is wrong. Had to return multiple times for a faulty ETS that Volvo finally replaced due to multiple class action suits. Warning lights flash on and off and no one can figure out what is wrong. $2000 later, car is worse than when I first brought it in.

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  Sad car - 1996 Volvo 850
  By pickaxpete - March 5 - 2:00 am

  I think this is the worst used car I have ever owned. After having the car inspected pre sale, all kinds of problems have cost me thousands and I have only driven it 3000 miles. From emission control problems to sensors to brakes this car continues to go bad. I spent over a thousand on emission repairs and hundreds more on brakes and recently the sensor that controls traction, ABS and cruise went bad. The dealer I am going to says that many of these problems are not common at my mileage of 100,000 but this car seems to have alot of problems. If you buy one, do it from a dealer and get a good, written warranty which includes passing state emission tests.

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  Do not buy this car - 1999 Volvo S80
  By texasgirl - February 28 - 2:00 am

  At first I loved it, even though the right blinker was hanging out of the car when I got home from the dealership. That has happened two more times. The check engine light comes on every other time you get gas. The air conditioner went out (on a road trip, in summer, in TX, with a baby. Bushings had to be replaced. I have had 5 new 17" tires (never had that problem with any other car). The ride is no longer quiet. A lot of little things that add up to severe annoyance!

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  My Lemon - 2002 Volvo S60
  By Carlh - February 23 - 9:10 am

  I bought the car at around 80K miles and the car checked out fine from my Volvo mechanic. After a snow storm, the bottom of the car was basically corroded and I needed to replace the entire exhaust system and several brackets. I was unable to find tires that would not rub against the interior wheel well, so it made this awful rubbing sound whenever I turned. The tire company insisted they sold me the manufacturer recommended tires. At 113K miles, the transmission gave out. Repair estimates are $5000-$7000. The car is basically junk now.