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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  Great car - 2006 Volvo XC70
  By Jerry - December 24 - 9:09 am

  180000 miles love car in snow plenty of power on highway bought new2015 now have 2 xc70s

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  Volvo Cross Country - 2000 Volvo V70
  By kathy - December 23 - 2:06 pm

  My friends call this car "the limo". Everyone loves to ride in it. Sit in the back to see why this car is so special.

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  Sweet Ride - 2000 Volvo V40
  By Sunny - December 23 - 3:00 am

  In school I used to work part-time in a Volvo dealership and saw so many cars come in for scheduled maintenance still going strong with 200,000+ miles, so I decided to buy one myself. The V40 I bought was an excellent choice. It looks sharp and is a joy to drive. Its much faster than most would imagine with the DOHC and is very responsive. Its refined looking but has enough space in the back for most errands. I moved to CA from the East Coast with everything I owned piled high in the back after folding down the seats. No problems at all. As with all Volvos, its better to get the V40 serviced at a dealership. Do this and youre sure to have a reliable, handsome car for years.

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  Better Coffee in the Service Department - 2000 Volvo V40
  By mhl - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Headlights burn out annually. Rear wheel alignment was needed to stop tire burn. Original equipment tire model not stocked locally, had to special order from TX, twice (replaced all 4 at 19,000 mi). Turbo exhaust seal started leaking at 25,000. Leather steering wheel melted and had to be replaced. Steering wheel squeak required replacement of steering rack. Low hum vibration when stopped in gear (suspect motor mount?). Brake service frequent, but this is to be expected with Volvos. All this sounds bad, however dealer and factory have been generally great in standing behind their product.

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  Awsome - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Perfect in every way except for the cargo area when you have the third row seat up, it could be a little bigger.

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  Good Enough For Me... - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By Mom of 3 - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Have had my new baby for about two weeks and love it! Fits three kids all under the age of five - no problem! Plenty of room for groceries and the stroller. Tried the MDX - also very nice, but too vanilla - the Volvo is much sportier!

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  Best Luxury SUV - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By cnc - December 23 - 2:00 am

  Simple the best combination of luxury, safety, utility, and value on the market today.

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  Slacks to shorts with a push of a button - 2006 Volvo C70
  By Jerry - December 22 - 12:23 am

  The summer days in Northern California are perfect for top-down driving in the mornings and evenings. The coupe incarnation of the C70 is quiet and comfortable and you do forget that the car is also a convertible. This car is indeed roomy enough for four adults and by packing light we were able to accommodate overnight luggage for four in the reduced trunk space of the convertable mode. The three-piece retractable roof is definitely an eye- popping piece of engineering. The C70 is fun to drive and fun for passengers. Two favorite moments were driving top-down over the Golden Gate Bridge with friends, and taking a quiet evening drive along the Silverado Trail of the Napa Valley.

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  Stay Clear - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By new jersey - December 21 - 6:06 am

  We bought our xc90 new. Have had a multitude of problems two wheel bearing hubs rear, steering rack, drive shaft, tie rod ends and two transmissions. Funny thing is my mother bought the same car at the same time and had all the same problems and is going for transmission number 3. good luck to all of us who got stuck with the t-6 nightmare!!!!!

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  Excellent Value, great performance - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By Catherine - December 21 - 4:50 am

  We live in Germany and regularly drive on the Autobahns in the XC70. Weve even had it up to 122 MPH while late for a flight and it is rock solid. Vehicle noise is pretty low compared to our old Tahoe and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Been skiing in the Alps and had no trouble manuevering in snow, the Winter feature works great. Pirelli Scorpion STR tires are worth the money. The only thing I really dont like after all is the rain sensing intermittent wipers-- it never seems to be the right amount of wiping for lower speeds and light drizzle. Ive been hit by a motorcycle and Ive backed into a post and the repairs were expensive, but car was not totaled, unlike my friends cars.