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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  Worth the wait and effort - 2001 Volvo C70
  By rickG - November 22 - 10:00 am

  I looked long and hard for this car. It took over 3 months of searching to find a 5 speed in the HPT. It was well worth the wait. Handling is phenomenal. A joy to drive on a winding country road. The pick up is great. First gear to about 15 mph. Shift into second, hit the gas and the turbo kicks in to push you back in your seat. Even at highway speeds there is plenty of power left for a quick acceleration to pass or avoid another car or just for the fun of it. The C70 is traditional Volvo quality and sturdiness. Even with hard driving I am able to mainatian gas mileage of 20.7 MPG. My recommendation is go out and get one now.

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  1999 Volvo - 1999 Volvo S80
  By jimvino - November 22 - 10:00 am

  Have enjoyed this particular vehicle but am disappointed with the computor system...too many problems with engine warning signs, etc. Also, sound system is not very good. A very comfortable auto however.

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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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  Great Value - 2007 Volvo S40
  By m4336 - November 20 - 3:02 pm

  We purchased the car used with 20,000 miles on it. We have only done the prescribed services to the unit. It has not required a single repair in the last 4 years and 40,000. We put custom wheels on the unit a couple of years ago, and get regular compliments from strangers on how sharp the car looks.

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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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  S60 AWD is a great car - 2004 Volvo S60
  By amsr - November 18 - 10:00 am

  This is the first Volvo automobile that Ive purchased and so far I am very pleased. I wanted a car with a nice blend of performance and luxury that also stood out over the others aesthetically. The S60 was my choice over other AWD sport sedans such as BMW, Audi, Infinity, and Volkswagen. The other choices are nice cars but their body style was too bland for my tastes except for the Infinity which was my second choice. I really like the overall look of my Volvo S60 with my favorite features included.

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  From a Mercedes to a Volvo - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Chitoe - November 18 - 10:00 am

  I sold my 2000 E430 when I had to leave to goto China for work. When I came back to the states, I needed a car. I compared cars like Acura TL, TSX, Jaguar X-Type, C320 and count less others. I never considered buying a volvo until a nice salesman told me of the big rebates that they were offering. I got almost $7000 off the listed price of a brand new volvo. I can not find anything under $30k new that I can compare. The Acura TSX was the closes thing to compare with.

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  Confused - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Jefferson6599 - November 16 - 10:00 am

  I bought my S40 with 13,450 miles, 2 years ago and must have gotten the only one made well. I blew one headlight before the recall for the wiring harness. The brake pads were changed, but thats normal wear and tear. Other than that just my routine 7,500 hundred mile service. The car isnt as bad as the reviews suggest. Most of the complaints were rectified on the 2001 model. I think Volvo owners just like to complain. The same types of complaints can be found on the brick board web site. I have enjoyed driving my S40.

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  Fun Sedan - 2005 Volvo S60
  By BlazinBob - November 15 - 9:16 pm

  Great car. I got the Premium, touring and sport packages on mine as well as the "geartronic" trans. Plenty of power, handles GREAT, Sporty car and safe too! Not much room in the back, but its plenty for the kids and they have their own AC vents back there. Seats are very supportive and comfortable. Lots of neat little features like if the wife uses her key to lock the car, the drivers seat and side mirrors remember their positions and return to her settings when she uses her remote again. Auto down AND Up on the front windows. They also have an obstruction safety that will automatically reverse the window if it encounters an obstacle while being raised. My second Volvo.