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:

• 

  They used to emphasize safety, now its tech - 2017 Volvo XC90
  By Mary - January 18 - 3:05 am

  Be aware that In their bid to jump into the LUXURY SUV market Volvo has only managed to make a its XC90 unnecessarily complex with potentially dangerous Intrusive technology. There are virtually no controls that operate by knobs and the 3 screen tech that controls Everything is Very distracting and more inefficient. Our old XC 90 (2013) was totaled while parked and we jumped into the new model expecting more if what we had loved about Volvo for the last 20 years- We were wrong! I am very computer literate but had to sit in the car & take notes to change some of its worst features. In a bid to Warn the driver of hazards, the overly controlling tech (beeps, noises, etc) is itself a hazard. If I could trade it for a new 2013 Id stay with Volvo. Next time we are looking at American made non-luxury SUVs.

• 

  Better than I thought it would be - 2005 Volvo V70
  By D. Sensing - January 18 - 1:43 am

  I bought my car with 93K miles on it from a friend and have put several K miles on it since. The most outstanding feature? Gas mileage! I get 36-plus on the istate and 29 combined using prem. gas, not so much with regular. The wagon is a great hauler and the reason we bought the car. Very useful cargo space and rear seats fold very easily. Dont mind not having turbo motor; the standard engine has enough power for our needs. All in all an outstanding auto, especially for the price I paid, trade-in value!

• 

  Joy to Drive - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By Trini - January 18 - 12:53 am

  I wish I got to drive this more, it is fun to drive, and I do drive hard. I live and work in the same place, hence dont get to drive as much. It handles very well in the Interstate, especially in corners. I feel very secure cornering at high speeds (over 70mph). This is a joy to drive.

• 

  Great Car - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By E - January 17 - 7:40 pm

  This is a great car....tons of power with new six speed auto....luxurious interior and easy to use navi....drives like a solid tank and you are unstoppable...active headlights are great at night....overall a great car and better than X5, Q7 and ML350

• 

  so happy!! - 2002 Volvo S60
  By jenn - January 17 - 10:00 am

  We drove pretty much every imaginable car, truck and SUV out there before we settled on the Volvo. Ive had it just about a year and am SO happy with my choice. We drove many other luxury cars, Lexus, BMW, Infinity and werent sure which to go with. I have friends and family who went with the other choices and have had so many problems. So glad I stuck with Volvo.

• 

  Money Pit - 1998 Volvo V70
  By lolasluck - January 15 - 10:00 am

  When I went out on a hunt to buy a reliable car, the first car that came to mind was a volvo. At the time my boyfriend had a 86 volvo 240 wagon and that baby never died on was once. In purchasing this car I thought I bought my work horse. A car that would last me 300k miles easy. Boy was I WRONG!! In the first week the check engine light came on. took the car to many mechanics, even volvo, costing me hundreds in diagnostics fees and still not fixing it. heater went out, that would cost 700 to fix. A/C failed $450 to fix. Timing belt (okay thats a given) water pump.. more and more sensors. one sensor was $350 to replace. door lock broke. the list is endless. DON"T BUY THIS CAR

• 

  Love the car, but it costs a lot - 2001 Volvo S80
  By MplsKen - January 14 - 10:56 am

  Ive had this car now for six years, and have loved it from the first day I drove it off the lot. It has been a good performer, but has not been trouble-free: - leak in the coolant reservoir * - radiator fan didnt work * - sway bar broken twice (* first time) - lots of position light bulbs burning out - oil leaking from the o-rings - dismal AM radio reception (never fixed) * = covered under warranty. I have also found the maintenance on this car to be painfully expensive. The doors also get dinged VERY easily. My old Honda never cost anywhere near this much, but I never loved it like I love my Volvo!

• 

  2006 V70 R - 2006 Volvo V70
  By LP - January 14 - 7:33 am

  This is a great car and is comparable and better than cars costing much more. Very smooth 6 speed Automatic transmission and lots and lots of power. This is a high performance car in sheep’s clothing.

• 

  would not buy another - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By j - January 14 - 2:16 am

  We are on the 5th set of tires (not cheap ones either)and Volvo refuses to believe some problem. They supposedly lined it up and even put the first set on at less than 8k miles free. The tires wear on the inside every time. The plastic casing the seats in front sit on have broken. One time they replaced free then I had to pay $95.00 second time and now passenger side broken. They told me they put a better plastic on now when they did the driver seat for second time. I love the look of the car but too much trouble and would not buy another.

• 

  Euro Fun without a Roundel - 2004 Volvo S60
  By SMack - January 13 - 1:43 pm

  We have owned a number of BMWs and like their balance and drivability. When we saw the high performance Volvo at a much more reasonable price than an M car, we had to try it. Car has great styling, raw power, sophisticated suspension and powerful brakes. The interior is very comfortable and the seats are simply the best. The car is stable and corners very flat. There is no real noticable turbo lag. The suspension is expectedly stiff, even on the "comfort" setting. Engine is not as smooth as some others but it comes across a bit as a hot rod. It is pretty thirsty when driving spiritedly (which you will want to do often). The S60R is a bargain and we have been very pleased.