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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  Volvo SUV - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By peter d - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Some petty mechanical and electrical problems . Poor service on the "extras" - ie. Video system.

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  Transmission Troubles - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Julie - December 23 - 2:20 pm

  I love the car but am very disappointed that after only 85k we are getting rid of it quickly due to alleged transmission problems and fuel pump problems. This car has been babied - all services, all maintenance, all done at the dealership. We just cannot justify a new transmission at a cost of over $4k. I really thought the volvo brand would take me much farther than 100k miles. I hate that we are in such a disposable society that we sacrifice quality for profitability. Volvo will not get any more of my money.

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  Fun car if youre rich - 1996 Volvo 850
  By zachj - December 23 - 10:00 am

  Bought 96850R volvo in 99.I was 16 when I got and for the first few months it was great.After that I wished I had bought a bicycle instead,would have saved about 15000.Had to replace both back brake rotors.Battery went dead about twice a week.Alternator broke twice.Tracs and abs light is always on and dealership doesnt know a damn thing about fixing it.A/C is the worst thing ever.Leaks out once a month.

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  Swedes do a German Dance! - 2002 Volvo S60
  By criollo2mil - December 23 - 10:00 am

  Fabulous interior feel. The car feels like a much more expensive car. Seats are the most comfortable in the business.

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  Amazing Wagon! - 2004 Volvo V70
  By jadedj - December 21 - 10:35 pm

  Ive had the six-speed version of this twin turbo 300HP behemoth for about 6 months now and love it. Although the interior isnt as luxurious as my old Audi, it does the job just fine and when considering how much faster this thing is, Ill take performance over interior any day. There truly is no other station wagon with this type of power and handling that comes in a six-speed anymore. Add in AWD and were talking about a car that can go anywhere.

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  Likes the shop - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By Very dissapointed - December 19 - 11:13 pm

  We trade in our 2006 XC90 to take advantage of a great offer on the new 2007 when it came out. Big mistake. We really liked our 2006 and only had minor issues with it. It drove well and was a good performer. Our 2007 has been a disaster. It has had a horrible ride since day one. It has been in the shop for almost 7 weeks in the first 18 months we have owned it. Both front axle shafts have been replaced, power steering issues along with numerous minor items. Even now, the car jolts over any bump and rides so loudly it is hard to talk in the car. At least it looks nice and we only have a two year lease. Volvo has tried to fix it, and the dealerships have been pleasant, but we give up.

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  worst vehicle ever - 2000 Volvo S80
  By ex volvo owner - December 19 - 2:03 pm

  Got to be the worst car ever made take heed of all these poor reviews theyre not making this stuff up, Suspension, electrical, AC the list goes on. Seat leather worn through, constant software problems or so the dealer says. The user who said 187/mo maintenance isnt exaggerating. Weve got extended warranty and still shell out a thousand a year. One positive note, Ive decided to buy a jaguar knowing it couldnt be any worse and I wont mind putting money into a car that has a bit of class. If you need a reliable car get a Camry.

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  Quality costs upfront but is worth it - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Zoe Fleming - December 19 - 10:00 am

  We wanted an SUV that would be safe, fun and long lasting. We checked out various SUVs. The VOLVO offered every item we wanted at a price that was in line with the other SUVs that were comparable. We have the navigation system, the DVD, sunroof, super radio and leather seats.The drive is fabulous and the view is great. The vehicle is a wonderful mechanical dream and easy to operate. The radio and

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  Bad Trani - 2002 Volvo S60
  By horaciog - December 19 - 4:43 am

  The car has been ok for the first 75k miles however, thing started to go wrong. This car will not last past 90K miles without having major work done on trani or front suspension.

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  Enjoyable, but quality concerns - 2004 Volvo S60
  By porterj - December 19 - 2:00 am

  The dealer experience was only average at best, however I felt the S60 offered the best value. I also strongly preferred the European feel of this car to its Japanese made competition. Car is very well laid out, has a fantastic all wheel drive system.