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:

• 

  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.

• 

  Try one, you may just like it. - 1999 Volvo S70
  By Patches - February 21 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is a pure pleasure to drive. The seats are very comfortable on long drives & trips. The turbo hesitates before kicking-in, but the power will surprise you for a five cylinder engine. Had only one major headache, difficulty starting that took over four visits and multi-days at the dealer before the problem was diagnosed and repaired. If you can avoid the dealership service, please do. Regular service averages about $300 and major service about $800. This doesnt include the big one at 60000 miles (timing belt).

• 

  OneFineCar - 2006 Volvo XC70
  By AlecZander - February 19 - 2:50 pm

  This vehicle gives my rather hesitant and extremely cautious wife a confidence in driving she has found in no other. Much better than the Jaguar Sportwagon. This is a very well thought out car. It is happy in all driving conditions. We expect to keep it for ten years or more! It is a mid-size car, and one should not expect the roominess, particularly in the back seat, of a similarly priced luxury sedan.

• 

  Great Wagon - 2009 Volvo XC70
  By Thom Walsh - February 18 - 11:40 pm

  As a satisfied owner of a 99 XC70 I purchased the 09 because of all the incentives. What a great wagon! Fast, comfortable, spacious and fun to drive. A big improvement over the "99. The 3.0 Turbo is a blast and the transmission is a seamless partner. Handling is considerably better than any SUV I tested. Considering the weight of this wagon and the horsepower, the gas mileage is fantastic (21mpg).

• 

  From Mercedes to Volvo - 2004 Volvo S60
  By QualityFreak - February 17 - 2:00 am

  I went from a 2001 Mercedes C240 to the Volvo. The Volvo has much better acceleration and the ride is more sports-like (which is either good or bad depending on your taste.) The interior is gorgeous despite fewer luxury touches than the Merc. Build quality is excellent and the seats are the best Ive tried. The "thunk factor" on doors and trunk lid give an impression of better quality than the Merc.

• 

  New Toy - 2008 Volvo C70
  By Dennis - February 16 - 6:33 pm

  I have only had this car a few weeks and it has exceeded my expectations, Fun to drive, love the hard top convertible. It wont mess your hair. I upgraded the sound to the dyna system and I was literally blown away, I have owned BMWs, Audi and Acura. This is the most fun I have had. I hope I am as thrilled a year from now. Only complaint is not enough accessory outlets, one for my gps and one for my cell. They have to share!

• 

  I like it - 2002 Volvo S40
  By eddie05 - February 16 - 10:00 am

  Overall a great car. A rattle I needed to fix on the pass. side door. The dearlership took care of it asap.

• 

  Solid, but feaures should work better - 2006 Volvo S80
  By Spike12 - February 16 - 2:56 am

  A very solid and easy car to drive. Power comes on somewhat unevenly but not as bad as Passat. Turn-in is very nice. Brakes are good too. Overall pretty smooth but noisy on coarse pavement. Ride can be somewhat harsh. Coming from a Caddy SLS I find that some of the controls are not nearly as easy or as thoroughly designed in their use. Much better seating and leg room both front and back.

• 

  xc90 in ohio - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By schatzi - February 13 - 11:10 pm

  this is my fourth volvo - bought it for my wife but i love to drive it. it has plenty of pep around town. i am glad i got the 5cylinder and the 5 speed transmission. it is really quick. took it on a trip about 600 miles; drove great on expressway but at 70 to 75 mph the fuel economy goes down. it has approx. 6000 miles on it; so far no problems. i would recommend this vehicle. i looked at the acura mdx and the lexus rs330 but my wife liked this the best

• 

  Mistake ? - 2011 Volvo C30
  By kandrew68 - February 13 - 7:08 am

  WIND NOISE - drive it and pay carefull attention and make your own informed decision. The C30 has major wind noise issues. This gas milage is aslo poor - 21 in combined city/highway driving. After 3 months and 1300 miles, had to take the car into the dealer - hissing noise under hood. Leaking either coolant or refrigerant. Only good thing so far is it comes with 5 year 60-month bumper-to-bumper warranty and it looks COOL. If only my wife had chosen a another car or I had waited for the LEXUS CT-200! So buyer beware.