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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  Truly a lemon - 2004 Volvo V70
  By Meadow - September 20 - 8:03 am

  Weve driven a lot of Volvos over the years, and the 2004 has the worst reliability by far. Were very disappointed that we had to replace the radiator and rack and pinion steering at 82,000 miles. These were very expensive to replace, and theres no reason that either should have failed before 100K miles. Currently the steering wheel buttons that control the stereo are frozen. The gas gauge also swings wildly from 1/3 full to empty when the vehicle is low on fuel. This car is a heap of problems.

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  I thought it was a Volvo not a Chevy - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Mr.NolikeyVolvo - September 12 - 3:03 pm

  Paint on the hood and roof looks like someone took a brillo pad to it. It is starting to bubble and peel, and has been garage kept and very rarely driven. Plastic molding strips along the rear window have popped out and even the dealership cant get them back in. Brakes went out once, and are on the way out now. Turbo replaced once, the interior design is horrible. Adjusting the seat angle by turning a knob, whats that about? The cup holder over the radio is another craptacular design that I could do with out. Thank God this isnt my car and Im only driving it till my 91 trans am is out of the transmission shop.

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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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  Glad to get rid of it - 2003 Volvo S40
  By timo - August 24 - 10:00 am

  Was shocked at what a high matainance car it was. Aside from ride and being safe, the cost of breaks every 15,000 miles and tune up every 7,500 (one over $500) if you want Volvo to do it. Also, went through 6 headlights in 6 months (warrenty covered) and A/C needed work. I was glad to see it go and went for more reliable and smoother riding Toyota

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  $1000 repair every visit. - 2001 Volvo V70
  By JimR - August 13 - 4:00 pm

  Get the extended warranty! Well I just received the call from the dealership that my Volvo needs a new transmission ($4,500). Since the car is worth between $5-$6K thatÂ’s it. The car was a great car to drive. The car just was not reliable. After about 50-60K miles, every trip to the dealer was another $1K bill. IÂ’m not talking consumables here but things that have never broken on any car I have ever owned. (a radio that would change stations every time the car hit a bump or the driver window that fell out of its track twice -after being fixed). There is nothing like driving a $40K car with duct tape holding your window up. My wife hates this car.

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  its a lemon - 2000 Volvo V70
  By drivesmemad - July 10 - 5:43 pm

  I bought this car used with low miles three years ago. Many problems with brakes and replacing rotors, the interior of the trunk door is falling apart, cant get into the trunk without having to crawl through to the back. Just paid 800. for an ABS module replacement. And very cheap interior plastic pieces, i.e. cup holders...I have one left that works. No leg room in the back...not even for an tiny 8 yr old. The rear view mirror broke off today. Going back to Toyota. I really wanted to be a proud owner. But its a lemon!

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  Throttle body nightmare - 1999 Volvo S70
  By Volvo disappointment - July 8 - 4:56 am

  My wife and I had this car for 7 years, it had 113,000 miles and it has had it problems in the past. Most of which were covered by the 100,000 mile / 10 year warranty for the ETS system. We had off anf on problems with the ETS system the past few years. Today it went into limp mode and the dealer told us it was out of warranty now (over 10 years by 6 months). and it was going to cost $1000 to fix and replace the throttle body and reflash the computer. Volvo has known about this problem for years and I think it harable to allow customers to bear the brunt of this cost. It only has 113,000 miles for god sake. To sell it in running order would be about $3,000. So why would I dump $1000. BAD

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  I WANT TO CRY!!! DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY AND TIME !!!! - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By xc90w - July 4 - 11:57 pm

  VOLVO YOU HAVE SOLD A LEMON TO YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS AND THAT WILL CAUSE YOU TO SUFFER GREATLY. This 2004 Volvo xc90 has been a nightmare for me. I spent over $2600 dollars this summer and it continues to add on up. my dash board turns off and i lose power to the rear of the vehicle. This makes this AWD car become FWD!! doesnt make sense but its true and i cant even open my gas door and i have to open it manually from inside. THIS IS THE WORST CAR!! Yesterday the tail light on the passenger went out and some of my front right lights too. "multiple bulbs failure" today i start it and they are all working. WHY do this to your customer VOLVO! VOLVO IS LIFELESS!!!

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  Worst Car Ever - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By discostu - June 24 - 8:53 pm

  So far this is the most expensive, and most unreliable car Ive ever owned. It has been TOWED 4 times in 18 months because it just shut off. We bought the car for percieved reliability and safety and have gotten none of the above. The car looks great and is fun to drive, but a car that breaks down all the time defeats the purpose.

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  Disappointed - 2012 Volvo XC60
  By Amber Moceri - May 30 - 8:53 am

  I loved my XC60 when I purchased it new in 2012. Ive put 40k miles on it since then, and it is at the dealer for warranty work for the 4th time. It has currently been there for 5 weeks with no diagnosis, but I received word they would be rebuilding the entire engine currently. It would keep warning the engine oil was low, however when checked the levels were fine. I expected this vehicle to last me another 10 years, but at this rate, I cant risk the warranty running out. It drives great and is comfortable for what I need, but the reliability is questionable.