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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  My Volvo - 2004 Volvo S80
  By arnoldsail - November 23 - 2:00 am

  The car is a great disappointment. It handles like a truck and steers like a truck. The break and accelerator pedals are dsngerously close together. The brakes are very unreliable. Some of the time they engage near the top and at other times I have to push all the way down before they engage. The dealer tells me that is normal. The dar has the worst power seats I ever had.

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  Not up to luxury standards - 2012 Volvo S60
  By emlod - November 20 - 3:53 pm

  I bought the car after looking at and test driving several entry level luxury cars. I liked the S60 and thought it was a good value. I decided on one car but it was sold when I went back so I ended up with a more expensive car but I got a good deal so I bought it. The cars handling is OK but Id prefer more rode feel but it was acceptable. Acceleration was good. However, I did notice some fit and finish problems in the interior after a few days of driving. I went back to the dealer to point these out and they took pictures and sent them to Volvo. I bought the car in Feb. 2012 and it is June and the problems have not been resolved. I should have bought the Mercedes C Class.

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  PLEASE DONT will cost $$$$$$ - 2000 Volvo V70
  By topdog - November 19 - 4:30 am

  I bought my XC-70 AWD with 98k. Ill start with the good. On paper, this car is great. Plenty of room, very comfortable, power is fine (2.4 turbo). Now the bad. Drive train issues all over the place. Engine light is On/OFF nearly every-other day, angle gear and differential unit both went out (BIG $$$), the AC makes noise on-and-off, the car has a rubber type smell now-and-then. This is my first and LAST Volvo. They are NOT like a Honda or Toyota you can buy w/100k and drive another 100 with regular maintenance. I have a 98 528i BMW 5-speed with 155k that has been great, and 96 Honda w/155k that runs beautifully. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE... avoid, unless you are an auto mechanic.

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  Dont leave without extended service con - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By bakerman - November 18 - 1:43 pm

  I bought my used 2003 XC Volvo with thee highest of hopes!! Aaarrrrgh, my bad. Most comfortable car that I have ever driven and great in the snow but.... The ever so slight noise that I didnt recognize was the AC going bad, which of course, went bad just as my used purchase warranty expired! Boo, my bad again, I didnt purchase an extended warranty. Next, my car computer went bad so the cluster wouldnt quite giving me messages. This was a few months later!! Im up to ~$3000 in repairs and I havent owned the car for a year yet! I talked with the shop service manager. He talked like this should be common knowledge about Volvos! He said that his the same problem..it was a 2006 XC!

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  What a disappointment - 2001 Volvo V70
  By makanani2 - November 15 - 12:10 am

  Im thinking the only reason why this car comes up with 4-stars is for the comfort and interior and exterior design, which are excellent. Tell any Volvo mechanic that you own a 2001 Volvo V70 XC and after they stop laughing hysterically, theyll weep for you. The transmission is going to fail, if it hasnt already. Mine had an oil leak so bad, we named the car "The Valdez". Three weeks after being told that it would cost more to replace the transmission and fix the oil leaks than the car was worth, it blew up on a mountain pass. If you want a Volvo, find an older 740 (non -turbo).

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  Solid but quirky - 1996 Volvo 850
  By Jerry - November 5 - 6:33 am

  I bought this car used in 2004 and still own it today. It still avgs about 20-22 mpg combined, and drives nicely. The car is as solid as a tank, but it has some of the quirkiest problems. The "idiot" lights for abs, traction control, SRS and check engine cycle on and off randomly, and theres nothing wrong with any of these items. The drivers door makes a banging sound when I open it, and currently my horn is stuck and "blowing", so I had to physically disconnect it until I can have it repaired. Enjoy the ride, if you can live with the quirks.

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  Just couldnt cut it - 2006 Volvo V70
  By William - November 2 - 10:10 pm

  Purchased pre-owned to replace XC90 which died. Low mileage example, super clean. Had to have the extra room afforded, but just couldnt handle the minor issues over the two months of ownership. Drove 6000 miles in those two months with dash and dash VIN rattle. Incredibly rough ride for a "luxury" wagon. Traded to a 4Runner and it has a smoother ride. After only two months simply had to give up and eat the depreciation. I avg 35,000 miles/yr.

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  XC60 became inoperable 2 wks post purch. - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By mhollowell - October 25 - 6:06 pm

  Im in the same boat as EX-Volvo (reviewed 6/11/09). I drove my XC60 for two weeks when it broke down, showing a transmission problem. Today makes 8 days since it broke, and I still do not have my car back (nor do I want it back, really). Ive been passed from the dealership to corporate and back a handful of times and am still waiting on some resolution. Volvo says that the valve body needs to be replaced and that my car is not the first that has had this same issue. Make sure to ask about this before you purchase.

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  ehh, its ok... - 2006 Volvo S40
  By Lex - October 12 - 2:56 am

  this car does not perform. its got a bit of turbo but it doesnt effectively come on until higher rpms of third gear. the car handles like a beast. high center of gravity, extreme understeer. this car may initially spark the interest of a twenty-something looking to mod this swedish turbo, but they will find little in the way of aftermarket support. this is a great car for mommies with a heavy foot... but watch out for that gas mileage. mines terrible. boy racers: look elsewhere... you wouldnt want to pay this much to be whipped by an accord (which gets better mps). push it on the backroads and youll end up in a ditch. handling is that bad. car needs more R&D

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  if you live in new york stay away - 2003 Volvo S40
  By jack tawil - September 28 - 2:00 am

  ive had this car for a year the cars performance as far as pick up is great. in the snow it sucks , if you hit a pot hole you need a new wheel base a tire and an alignment. the car really could get on your nerves. maintenance very pricy. overall sometimes it could be your friend but in a second it can back stab you