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:

• 

  rattle - 1998 Volvo S70
  By NOR - January 26 - 6:56 pm

  This is a great reliable car, most of the time it is comfortable and fun to drive! I am a mechanic and I am right up with anything that might go wrong along with preventive maintenance being done on time;(car has 140000 miles. My only issue is that the car has a rattle in the front(I believe right front fender area), that I can not locate; front end is tight, links, ball joints, struts, strut bushings, along with rear end is also tight. Any help from anybody would be great!

• 

  Love this car!!! - 2005 Volvo S40
  By JBuck387 - January 26 - 1:20 am

  Wow, I love this car, I got mine in September. I have one with the navigation system which is an awesome feature. I love the premium audio system. This car always makes ppl turn their head. I test drove a BWM 325i, and also the Nissian 350Z, and I simply fell in love with the Volvo. We have owned several Volvos, however I have never liked one like I do the new S40

• 

  awesome - 2004 Volvo S40
  By hdmanager - January 24 - 10:00 am

  2nd time for S-40. Love the comfort and driveability. Great ride on the highway and fuel economy is there. Rims get dirty very quickly and detracts from appearance. Would buy another.

• 

  amazing car amazing value - 2004 Volvo S40
  By richkm - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive, easy to use controls, comfort, luxury, performance, it has it all. Rockin stereo has changer in dash, all changers should be in dash. Trunk, under seat, and glove box mounted changers are antiquated. I have had cars that claimed to be sports cars that cost twice as much and did not perform as well as this car, nor were they put together as well. These new volvos are something to get excited about. Everyone should look at these before they buy anything else.

• 

  Best Luxury SUV - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Trini - January 24 - 10:00 am

  This is the most car like ride you can get from a SUV... It is fun to drive.

• 

  Better than Ever - 2006 Volvo V70
  By SJF - January 24 - 8:30 am

  This is my 4th Volvo and one of my favorites - why? Supportive comfort in front seats, handling control around corners is very good, driveability and great gas mileage. City average 28 and Highway 32. Sound system is very good, really like the system health displays. Husband is very tall and enjoys the ride; great cargo space. Back seats are just okay for adults, better for kids. Only issue in 2.5 years and 33K miles is a small rattle in the driver dash sometimes. Love this car.

• 

  Volvo V70R-2005 - 2005 Volvo V70
  By Orion T. Osborne - January 22 - 3:46 am

  I purchased the automatic version of this vehicle because I am a high mileage driver (50,000 miles per year- road miles). This vehicle is a little slugish and I have discussed this with my dealer. I was expecting a faster automobile off the line and currently I am considering an after market EUC upgrade. I owned a 2001 V70 T-5 that was quicker. Mechanically, Volvo parts dont last many miles (bushings, shocks, engine mounts, etc). My T-5 had one of everything replaced in 205,000 miles, except the engine and the trans needed replacing when I traded it in. I truly hope the V-70R holds up better over time.

• 

  Fun Car with Class - 2002 Volvo S60
  By Bob Keenan - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Just lost my 12 year old 5.0 L Mustang and was looking for a more "adult" car (safer with more room). But I did not want to totally lose that engine power that I had with the Mustang. I did a ton of research and narrowed my selection to the Lexus GS300, the W8 Volkswagon Passat, and the Volvo S60 T5. The Volvo just felt right. It looks good, its soooo comfortable, its safe. And when you floor it it almost feels like the ole Mustang.

• 

  BEWARE, repairs are terrible at Volvo - 1999 Volvo S70
  By pletsch@bastrop.com - January 21 - 11:03 pm

  1999 Volvo, bought for a daughter for college. Safe...well, when it actually runs..which is not often. Breakdown with Volvo having NO answers: yyou leave your 19 year old daughter stranded 5 times with no way to run the car. Its not a car at that point, its a piece of junk and your kid is in a very vulnerable place! Will discuss with ANYONE: This is not a safe car!!!!!! And forward looking cars (newer than this one)appear to be no better: their IT problem solvers really are dismal...

• 

  Stay AWAY from C30 - 2008 Volvo C30
  By Stacy26 - January 21 - 7:30 am

  This car has awful wind noise over 40 MPH. I have had the doors adjusted, seals replaced and the noise seems to get worse. I can only turn the radio up so loud. Before you buy check out a volv c30 users forum- it is the #1 problem. Volvo seems quiet on the subject, but it seems to be a design flaw. And I have had it aligned more times (at the dealership and not under warranty) than I think is necessary (3) and it still has a tremendous amount if road noise. It is fixed when I first get it back, but after 5,000 miles out it goes again.