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:

• 

  Stylish and Safe - 2005 Volvo S60
  By Kim - March 6 - 10:20 am

  I have been longing for the S60 ever since it first came out. I jumped the gun and bought the S40 in 2000, and was not too happy with it. I did not stray from the Volvo family, in 2004 I traded in the S40 for the S60. So far I could not be happier. The look and style of the car is sporty yet classy. I do not have the turbo, yet it had definitely got a lot of pep to it. Not so quick out of the gate, but on highway, really nice ride. I am a fan and would reco. this car to others. Now, I have my eyes on the S80...the plan is to keep upgrading!

• 

  Buyers Be Very Aware!! - 2017 Volvo XC90
  By JT - March 5 - 4:33 am

  Oh, were do I start? I will keep this short. DO NOT buy a new model year Volvo XC90. Our first 2016 XC90 was in the shop more than we drove it. Volvo ended up buying it back from us. The problems are too many to list, but range from dashboard and info screens going dark (while driving), auto park feature wanting to engage when stopped at a stop light, exhaust noises during acceleration, AC not working properly from time to time, the $2,600 B&W sound system whos speaker grills rattle more than anyone should tolerate and driver profile settings not working/syncing with the key fobs, acceleration is jerky and anything but smooth (we have the Polestar performance chip installed) and various infotainment glitches. Now the kicker, Volvo wanted to keep us "in the family" and worked a deal to get us a new 2017. LOL, this one has the same issues and has been in the shop 5 more times, with one of those service appts lasting 4 weeks. Also, it gets terrible gas mileage (15 mpg city-20 mpg hwy) and the ride is so stiff it’s worse than driving my BMW with the sports suspension pkg. You feel EVERY bump and crack and not in a good way. The whole driving experience is like a twitchy, nervous gazelle before a lion feeding frenzy. Don’t believe all the reviews that paint a glorious picture after driving this SUV for a few hours. The designers, engineers and Volvo management should be ashamed of the car they approved and built I wish we would have walked away after the first one was returned. Now I see why the original Volvo company went bankrupt. Never Again

• 

  The best car Ive ever had! - 2006 Volvo S40
  By LaLu - March 5 - 2:56 am

  I love my S40! It is very stylish and different, but also super reliable and safe. I never thought Id get hooked on Volvos, but I really am now. I just went out looking at new cars, but was drawn back to Volvo because nothing else compares.

• 

  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.

• 

  Volvo V70 2,4 (2004) - 2004 Volvo V70
  By Jacob - March 4 - 6:53 pm

  Actually I got some problems with my car only one week after purchasing it. I had to leave it at my local workshop. But since then everything has been working fine. I really feel that this is a good car. It drives very quiet, the design is nice, etc. Volvo is definitely quality.

• 

  A truly awful car - 2002 Volvo S40
  By whiffer - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I am in the second year of a four-year lease and am getting out of it as soon as I can. Ive owned a lot of cars in my time; the S40 is the most uncomfortable, least driver-friendly car Ive ever had. The interior is cramped, the drive is noisy and flat, and the fittings are cheap. If you have long legs (like I do), dont even think about the S40 -- youll spend half of your drive getting up and stretching. The rear seats have practically no legroom at all. Ive also had a lot of problems with reliability, specifically with the electrical system, and at times the CHECK ENGINE light comes on for no reason at all. My advice: look somewhere else if you want a sedan.

• 

  117,000 and going strong - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By LARRY - March 3 - 9:46 am

  I have read 20 pages of reviews and wonder how I managed to get one of the good ones. I get in, start the engine, engage the transmission and go. We have been doing this for 117K miles. Replace tires every 40,000 miles, front brake pads at 72K miles and timing belt at 111K (scheduled maintenance). I suppose I must have low expectations because we have been satisfiew with this vehicle. This is my 4th Volvo and the most user friendly. Not as fast as our S80 t but more practical. Our other vehicle is a 2000 BMW Z3 so when more than two go, this is the horse we ride. I average 21 mpg, not great but without a car payment ( do not feel the need to replace every 3 years)

• 

  Best Car Ever - 2002 Volvo V70
  By USArmy ChiefWO3 - March 2 - 5:06 pm

  This is our 3 Volvo and its my favorite. When I was 12 yo, I almost lost my Mom in a car accident and I thought to myself "when I grow up Ill buy the safest car in the market so my kids wont have experience such sadness" Well, Im now a mother of two and I love to put my kids in the car. I know Im driving them around not only in comfort buy Safe. We all love it. My husband doesnt usually like to drive but since we bought this V70 we have made trips up to ten hours and I tell you what an experience. I wish everyone could drive this car.

• 

  Great value - 2008 Volvo S80
  By jay2001 - March 2 - 10:50 am

  Great value for the money. Comfy ride, decent power, high safety ratings. A lease payment of under $400 on a $40K car was just impossible to pass up.

• 

  C70 HPT 10/10 - 2003 Volvo C70
  By Frank Majeau - February 28 - 2:00 am

  Perfect car. Love it. FM