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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  xc70 - 2005 Volvo XC70
  By abeland - May 30 - 8:03 am

  Huge trunk space, good ride confort, average fuel consumption, 11 li/100 Km, annoying vibration problem unsolved yet...

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  Safe but not reliable - 2001 Volvo V70
  By sinew23 - May 6 - 9:46 pm

  I wanted a Volvo because of its safety. I picked the XC70 because it had all wheel drive. Since weve had this car, its had nothing but problems. First, we had to replace all the bushings for the suspension system which cost me $1800. Next the EMT failed which cost another $1200. Now, theyre telling me the torque mount, inner tie rod and rear lumbar rod needs replacing and its going to cost me another $1500.

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  Bad transmission after 2000 miles - 2007 Volvo S60
  By WPBFLA9 - April 13 - 9:03 am

  My transmission conked out after 2,000 miles. I have not yet received any explanation or a repair. I am disgusted with the car and with Volvo. Also, the handling on my old VW Passat is Much better.

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  Never Again - 2001 Volvo S40
  By RPF - April 12 - 4:23 am

  Ill be honest, it IS fun to drive when everything is working properly, however thats rare... Check engine light seems to be a continuously-on feature, parts are expensive and its never an easily diagnosable fix. Sensors are waaaay to temperamental. The car was bucking like crazy when I put anything other than the over-priced Volvo plugs in it. Climate controls work when they feel like it.

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  From Volvo patriot to to Volvo hostage - 2003 Volvo V40
  By bigalexk - April 6 - 11:43 pm

  The car was a subject of three repairs by warranty including one when I stuck in the road and the car was towed to an auto repair shop. After the warranty the owning of the car has turned into financial disaster. The car is purposely design to exclude or hinder repair by the owner. Now my car is 6 years old having 73000 miles on odometer and it has serious transmission problem. The repair costs so much that I cannot afford it. The car is filled with manufacturing defects and bad design solutions. While it was in repairs and I had chance driving S40 and V50. I found them even worse. What a big mistake I made when I got into this Volvo bondage!

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  Run as fast as you can!!! - 2001 Volvo S40
  By Regreting it! - April 4 - 10:00 am

  I leased my 2001 S40 in November 2000 and it has been in for service 16 times. Problems started the first month. The check engine light had to be reset 3 times before a compression pump was replaced, 3 recalls AFTER the problems were fixed, the air conditioner broke, the radio broke, new brakes after 17000 miles, the paint on my hood has scrub marks on it, my gas gauge NEVER reads full eventhough it is, the fabric between my windshield and side window is unraveling, and the pan under my engine rattles during fast acceleration. But, there is good news, my cup holder still works.

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  Great ride but one repair after another - 2001 Volvo V70
  By ksmith905 - March 15 - 7:40 am

  I do love the feel, looks, and power of this car. It is ergonomically the best car Ive yet owned. I am, however, completely fed up with the many repairs (expensive ones at that) that Ive needed for the last 3 years (since the warranty expired). I replaced emission sensors twice, replaced strut top caps, replaced the drive shaft. I have lost confidence in this car... intermittent "emissions system service required" & ABS service required" messages, one blinker bulb or another blowing out every 4 months or so. A month ago a hissing by the brake pedal. Diagnosis: time to replace the brake booster - $800. Tonight a new message: "transmission service required". Argh!

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  Not there Yet - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By par404 - March 12 - 2:59 am

  Thought the XC-90 has been reinvented since 2004, still has room for significant improvements. Vehicle is significantly over-priced for what you get. Fuel economy a big disappointment for a 4 cyc using premium fuel. We got closer to 19-20 MPG average. There are other proven options that are better and more refined such as the Buick Enclave or Infinity (if you are hooked on premium fuel). After renting, the Jury is out and I do not want gamble at $50K+. Take a hard look at the other options before buying.

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  Disappointment S80 - 2002 Volvo S80
  By s80 - March 1 - 9:20 pm

  I have been really unhappy with the purchase of this 2001 S80 Volvo. I have had numeriuos issues with the car. Transmission faulty, engine block was cracked on delivery. Volvo did stand behind the 2 new cars to replace these two duds!! However things did not improve..leaky, squeaky sun roof, dash rattle, must I go on! I am selling this car this week. I really thought that buying the Volvo would be a great investment. This is not the Volvo of the past.

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  Volvos Are Lemons - 1996 Volvo 850
  By Mireya - February 21 - 10:00 am

  When I first bought a Volvo I thought I was buying quality. Little did I know that I was going to be taking my car into the shop every 6 months for major repairs. Problems have been crank shaft main seal (2), AC (4), stereo, front bearings, exterior weather trim and these repairs dont include the regular maintance like brakes and strunts. Ive had Japanese cars that were much older and drove them to the ground. After this experience I will diffinitely go back to Japanese cars. I bought my Volvo at 40,000 miles which is considered new to Volvo but the problems are one after an other.