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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  I love my Volvo S80 - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Lawguys - January 16 - 2:00 am

  I have a 99 S80 2.9. What a great car this has been. I put a lot of miles on my cars and have absolutely no complaints at all with my 1999 Volvo S80. My Volvo is currently at 92,000 miles, not far from 100,000 miles. Might I add trouble free miles. One repair only which was covered by the warranty and was pretty minor. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  Excellent SUV to have - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By ncku89 - January 16 - 2:00 am

  Compared to BMWs X5, the inside and cargo space is a big advantage. Compared to MDX, it shows more lux. interior design and impressive exterior outlook. The thoughtful 3rd row seat definately outbeats GX470. Regarding the safety issue, this is so far the best among the SUV.

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  S60 Turbo, 2005 - 2006 Volvo S60
  By S60 - January 13 - 10:20 pm

  I was planing to buy a BMW 325i and had test drove it, but before buying it I test drove a S60 2.5T(Turbo). I loved this car. It had great power, all the goodies and by far a better deal. I bought it on the spot and would not change my decision.

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  VOLVO XC90 - 2017 Volvo XC90
  By kiran - January 12 - 11:49 pm

  This is nice car compared to other cars in same category(acura MDX,BMW X5,Audi Q7) in terms of third row space ,value for the money and technology . I strongly recommend to get Heads up display(HUD) which is 900 $ option as it will help you when you are using semi autonomous feature(pilot assist) and adaptive cruise control feature .

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  Great choice for my wife. - 2006 Volvo V70
  By Robert - January 12 - 4:13 am

  My wife wanted to consider a Volvo V70 wagon as her next choice in an updated auto. She also wanted to get-out of her SUV as well as improved fuel economy. She likes the style and comfort of the interior a lot as well as the established safety record. We both have been very happy with this new car.

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  read the other reviews first - 2001 Volvo S40
  By volvofrom orlando - January 11 - 10:00 am

  The paint is cheap, the location and function of the front and rear cupholders is bad, the headlamps burning out after 14,000 miles and the brakes experiencing frequent wear were unexpected. I also have been in to the dealer many more times than you would plan from a Volvo. Mysterious check engine lights, tires and rims that need to be completely replaced after minor/small impacts with potholes. The service department is always very nice, but why is it they always run out of Volvo loaners right before I get there? I end up seeing the "Enterprise" guy in the lobby and enjoy the hint of smoke- ridden Chevy Malibu for the day.

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  Looks great on paper - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Eric - January 11 - 4:16 am

  ... not so great to actually own. Weve had this car close to two full years now, and although I did some homework going into it, I had no idea just how annoying this vehicle is with regards to repairs. I like working on cars, but it seemed like every weekend I was out in the garage replacing a bulb, fixing a leak, trouble shooting cryptic error messages. Ugh. Final straw was finding out the transmission is going to need replacing, and the engine cant maintain oil pressure. Least reliable car Ive ever owned. I intentionally bought the Volvo to be safe and something our family could rely on, instead its a crap shoot every time you get in the car.

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  Great looking car! - 2007 Volvo S40
  By Ron - January 11 - 1:30 am

  Just got the car last week! The handling is excellent. It is a nice tight drive. I was looking for a luxury car at an affordable price, and when compared to the BMW 3 series or Lexus, you get a lot more bang for the buck. Overall I would definitely recommend a car for someone looking in this price range. Better ride then the Accord, Camry.

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  Best All Around! - 2006 Volvo XC70
  By R2D2 - January 9 - 11:10 pm

  From a stand-still, this car is a rocket, reminding me of the old "Tiger Paws" tire commercials. I can feel the grrrip when I am off-road pulling my pop-up camper, or in heavy rains...

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  XC Volvo Motor problems++++++++ - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By dqman - January 9 - 9:46 pm

  This car has been trouble since day one,electrical problems, front end trouble, and now a new motor with only 130,000 km. It has been towed 3 times back to the dealer. Once I receive my car back (it has been in the shop over a week) it is going over to the Honda dealer to be traded on a new Pilot. Customer service has gone out the window at Volvo I am renting a car now for a week and no help from volvo or the dealer is that how they build customer loyalty.