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 choice - 2004 Volvo V70
  By zizico - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Excellent wagon ,good gas consumption very confortable for long haul trips.Good road stability in driving

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  Not like the old Volvos - 2001 Volvo V70
  By volvo89 - January 20 - 10:00 am

  What a disappointment! After driving my 1989 240 wagon for nearly 300,000 mi, I decided to get the safety features of a new wagon. Thats all I got. This wagon has less cargo space and is shorter in height (so I bump my head getting things out of the back). Ive had trouble with the electronics in the passenger side door 3 times. The driver side inside handle is pulling away from the door and will be very expensive to fix. The cup holders in the rear seat are crummy and have broken on my car. Overall much more expensive to maintain. I do like the integrated child booster seats. Well, no more Volvos for me. I feel like Im driving a Ford; oh right, I am!

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  Fun in Sweden - 2005 Volvo S60
  By warran - January 20 - 10:00 am

  picked car up at the factory, drove in Sweden and Norway 850 miles in two weeks,fun car, easy to drive, built for the open road.

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  An eye-catcher - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Dave A. - January 20 - 10:00 am

  Great looks. Great ride. The most comfortable vehicle Ive driven. Gas mileage has been better than expected at 21-22 on the highway. Very tight handling for a truck. Got the upgrade on the sound system which is well worth it. No complaints whatsoever. Were a 3-Volvo family and love every one of them.

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  First Luxury SUV - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By pdamski - January 20 - 10:00 am

  This is my wife and my first entry into the luxury SUV market. We have really enjoyed the ride, luxury, and utility of the XC 90. I have taken the Volvo "Drive For Life" class and now feel like we have one of the safest vehicles on the road today. With gas prices climbing, the average mpg is a concern. I also own a Toyota Prius, which is my commuter car. We will always choose the XC 90 for longer trips, gas prices be damned.

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  Early Rating - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Donald W. Davis - January 20 - 10:00 am

  There is a wind noice, that I cant locate. It appears to be aerodynamical. Caused by the design. I only notice it at 60mph.

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  great car - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By Andrea speer - January 19 - 6:52 am

  Its with a heavy heart that I pass my car on to my son who needs it in college. This is been a great car, very comfortable, reliable and its held up well over 10 years and three kids. Only wish Volvo have not priced the new 2016 XC 90s so high. Had to move to Honda pilot.

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  First car - 2002 Volvo S60
  By mostar94 - January 18 - 4:00 pm

  This was my first car, and sadly had to be ruined by a rear ender :( Overall great car, great safety features, good performance. The only downside I can see is being somewhat pricey when I first bought it (2007), as well as a boring and somewhat small interior. Overall great car, you will be missed bud!

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  Best Hardtop Under $50K - 2007 Volvo C70
  By manus198 - January 18 - 3:00 am

  I wouldnt even consider buying a car without Sirius, locking gas cap, and good gas mileage. This car offers the above with the best audio quality of any car Ive experienced. The 6 speed manual with use of 87 octane gets me 21mpg between by highway and city driving. I would probably get better mileage with the suggested 93 octane. That is decent considering the car is built solid and the engine is 2.5L turbo. My only 2 complaints is the drivers left side elbow rest is uncomfortable during long rides. Second I continue to experience small issues with the convertible top software. The car sometimes thinks the roof is open when it isnt so you have to open and close it to reset the sensors.

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  Overnight Test Drive & Still thinking - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Bob B - January 16 - 11:25 pm

  Ill put it this way, the wife loved this car. we currently have a GL450 and its aging and getting to be time to change. Our dealer was nice enough to give us a Inscription for an over night test drive. We found the performance better then what I have read in many reviews, though the comfort in the seats was ok. Im sure there are plenty of settings that we could play with to adjust the seats. While driving, the wife found operating the radio and climate was a little cumbersome due to the ipad like technology. Again, something to get used to and we were new to the car. Ride quality and steering was very nice, but the funny thing is my wife picked up on the tiny steering wheel as compared to her GL. Over all though, the car seemed fantastic and its still in consideration. Our only, and its probably minor to so many out there, is the climate package on the Inscription. This gives you the heated windshield which would take some getting used to. For me it was like looking out a screen door with all the vertical wires running through the glass. Again, not a deal breaker, just something to get used to.