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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  More of a hatchback than a wagon - 2015 Volvo V60
  By threefingr - September 9 - 8:58 am

  Ive been driving my V60 with sports package for the last 3 months and have put 5000 miles on the car. The drive is nice, though theres a noticeable hesitation after stepping on the gas. Handling and ride are very good. Its much smaller than the boxy volvo wagons of old. The back hatch is adequate for groceries or a small dog (like my mini Aussie). But forget about bikes, even with the seats down. The legroom for backseat passengers is tiny. My pre-teen kids are ok but adults would be uncomfortable. The front seats on the other hand are exceptionally comfortable. The hi-tech & eco features are spotty, especially auto engine shutoff when stopped . MPG is well below EPA estimates.

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  never again - 1999 Volvo S80
  By ADF - September 8 - 11:00 pm

  I have had a love/hate relationship with my S80. Beautiful styling, best seats in the business, great 8 speaker stereo. LOUSY reliability, Paid $15,000.00 at 5yrs old and 37,000 miles. Noisy front end, repairing strut mounts twice, engine mount, ball joints, rear shocks, broken fuel line in the tank, ABS speed sensor failure, repairs too numerous to remember. Cost of ownership is way too high with every repair costing $1000.00 or more each time. Volvo has proprietary software diagnostics which requires you take it to a Volvo dealer every or most every time. Its simply too unreliable and costly to own. Too bad, it is a top of the line car. SHAME on Volvo for the poor engineering.

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  Fun! Fun! Fun! - 2005 Volvo S40
  By MSW - September 7 - 7:10 pm

  Ive always had an eye out for the S40s. I happened to purchase one the dealer bought just for show. There is nothing left out of this car, every option imaginable including the sports package. I now drive the only car like it within a 500 mile radius which makes it really unique. Great acceleration, and handling, with a mild set back that the radio might quit working and have to be turned off and back off. But its fun to pull up to a Mustang GT at a light and show em that Fords arnt the best in Texas!

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  xc90 still a good bet after 2 yr - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Susan - September 6 - 5:50 pm

  This is my first Volvo and it has not disappointed. It was purchased for overall safety reasons, and it has been very reliable in the 2 years that I have had it. It is a pleasure to drive. The only problem with performance is the get up and go. It is a little sluggish. The vehicle doesnt get too bad gas mileage. I have been getting 19 mpg in the city and 22-23 on the highway.

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  Best car I have ever owned - 2000 Volvo V40
  By ishq - September 4 - 2:55 am

  Solid, reliable, sporty and can fit everything either in it or on it. I purchased this car after a friend wrapped his Volvo around a telephone pole and walked away w/only a scratch or two. I was surprised to find out how nimble this little wagon is. Must get V rated tires, but it is worth it. Kept up w/maintenance schedule, and has run like a charm for 195,000 miles. Showing no signs of quitting soon. Highly recommend this car.

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  Initial Experience - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By Dukem - September 4 - 2:00 am

  Responsive acceleration, but not mean to be a performance sport car; excellent all-around value in terms of features and price compared to competitors.

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  The best SUV! - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By Hacky - September 4 - 2:00 am

  The SUV that handles like a car. IMO a better ride than that of the MDX. The XC90 is the best combination of space, safety and practicality. If you need the huge space of a minivan, you should get a minivan. However, minivans do not provide the sense, real or imagined, of security that one gets driving the XC90. The third row fold-away seats are awesome, designed to be safe for kids, big enough for smaller adults on shorter trips. Better design than the Lexus 3rd row. With the 5-speed tranny this engine is smooth and it feels much bigger than it is. Better for stop and go driving than the T6 with the 4-speed tranny. That being said, a few more horsies wouldnt hurt.

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  BLIS - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By Long Islander - September 1 - 1:33 pm

  The BLIS has malfunctioned for most of the time I have had this car, with 4 service appointments - the most recent meat 2 weeks with out the car while they replaced more parts. And...it still does not work! Either flashing constantly, warnings on the dashboard, or constantly on. Volvo is unapologetic, and not helping. Pursuing Lemon Law at this point - a car that costs what this one does should work correctly and the BLIS on my car does not, after having quite a lot of work done on a new car. Having a small orange light flashing in my line of vision constantly is distracting and unacceptable, as is the loss of information on my dashboard

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  2001 v70xc - 2001 Volvo V70
  By vb - August 31 - 3:36 pm

  This car reminds me of the old english sports cars... a dream to drive WHEN theyre working. Ive had reliablity issues with this car since day one. Interior and exterior parts are flimsy and break. Front end built too light for American roads. Poor support by dealer. I dont think they know how to fix it, they just replace parts till the problem goes away. I would say.. STAY AWAY from this car.

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  V70 Very safe - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Yope - August 31 - 1:53 pm

  I recently got in quite a nasty accident with my 98 v70 wagon; and boy was I lucky to be in this car than any other... The guys that hit me were both taken to the hospital, and I did not even have a scratch on me.. The Volvo was total loss unfortunately. So safety is definitely my favorite thing about Volvo. Other nice features are sturdiness on the highway, and reliability.