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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  Excellent Alternative - 2004 Volvo S60
  By biscuit - February 17 - 10:00 am

  If you want to consider a viable alternative to the BMW or Audi, you should look at the Volvo S60R. It is extremely quick, comfortable and well constructed. Its price point is better than its competitors. Overall, there is significant value in this car. There have been no problems or defects noted since we picked the car up in May.

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  Best Car Ive Owned - 2003 Volvo S40
  By big rich - February 17 - 10:00 am

  Best car I have ever owned in 30 yrs. of driving. For this price ($26,000) range you cant do better. Quiet, super comfortable, and an unbelievable ride. I will never buy anything else.

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  Well built, classy & fast - 1998 Volvo S70
  By Prevs2door - February 17 - 10:00 am

  Haven driven 2-door, manual, turbo for more than 11 years just before buying a 4-door sedan is a big change that I surprise myself and others that know me. But my Volvo never disappoint me - the quick pickup, power and comfortable seats that one cant get a sore back from a straight 10 hour drive, whatelse can you ask for more! OK, maybe the retain value, thats about it. If used the car long enough, this doesnt even matter.

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  NOT THE FAMILY CAR WE WERE LOOKING FOR!! - 2001 Volvo S60
  By kris - February 17 - 10:00 am

  Great car, if you dont have young children, in car seats! Only one rear facing car seat on the market fits in the car, and it cant be placed in the center, (the safest place in the car for children) by the way the car seat costs $300.00! If you use any other car seat, the passenger seat cannot be used. So much for our family car. Doors dent and scratch very easily. CD player has problems, fuel gage says it has gas, but car wont start?

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  My First Volvo - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By seXC90 - February 16 - 7:23 pm

  This is my first experience with Volvo and for the most part it is a great one. The XC90 V8 is impressive and fun to drive. The styling of the exterior far out weights it competitors. I can no longer go back to the Japanese cars I drove in the past. They all now seem so cheap. I have had a few problems with my XC90: rattling noises (drive me crazy), front dash crackles during change in temperature (very common in Volvos) but go away when temperature regulates and a strange transmission whine at 55 mph (being resolved). In Short I trusted the Japanese cars for their reliability, so thats why I chose the V8. Japanese (Yamaha)engine and transmission wrapped up in a luxury SUV. I love mine!!!

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  Volvo S80 AWD - 2005 Volvo S80
  By Don Matl - February 16 - 4:46 pm

  Overall the best car I have owned. I bought it for Volvos safety and durability. Handles very well and it is easy and fun to drive. It is very comfortable.

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  So Close... - 2006 Volvo V50
  By David J Hayden - February 15 - 7:53 am

  So close on design execution. Beautiful lines on the outside, and for the most part elegant design inside. Power is surprisingly good, and the handling not bad, though not as tight as my VW; it doesnt feel quite as "glued" to the road, at faster speeds gives the impression that it might leap off the payment. Some minor build quality issues though nothing major. Falls down a little on ergonomics -- the center console is all digital and impossible to operate (radio, climate control) with your eyes on the road -- no tactile feedback. The bigger issue is the spacing of the pedals -- my size 11 feet get jammed between the accelerator and the brake! Overall though a great car.

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  Volvo S70 GLT - 1998 Volvo S70
  By Volvo Tech - February 15 - 4:36 am

  I am a Volvo Technician so I can not complain about my cost of repair. The car is a joy to drive. It is a very understated car. It will pull away from just about any average car at a light and it does not attract attention from police being a Volvo. It has plenty of storage room, very comfortable seats and ample room for 4 to 5 passengers. Common issues some suspension squeaks and rattles (spring seats, swaybar links and steering stops). Possible ac performance problems due to leaking evaporator cores. Over all the car has 140K + Miles on it and it drives very well. (I actually take the car to the local 1/4 mile track for fun)

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  Love my V50 T5 AWD - 2005 Volvo V50
  By KD - February 13 - 2:30 am

  I test drove several small wagons, small SUVs and this car was head & shoulders above the rest. Love the heated seats. Easily load skis! Now Ive had the car for just over 6 months and I STILL LOVE IT! Now have about 8000 miles on it. Would buy this car again.

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  Nothing more than problems. - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Carlos - February 13 - 2:20 am

  In the first 24 hour, the car had to be towed back to the dealer. Problems with the cars software. Two months afterwards, problesm with the key, could not start the car. Terrible service, no one is responsible for the car. Not the dealer, nor Volvo, nor Ford. If I could sell it right away, I would. The car is now parked in the dealer station. Complaining for about two moths with local authorities. No commitment at all.