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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  Best Car Ever - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Gabriela - October 14 - 1:43 pm

  Great pick up when you need it. Stops on a dime. Very ergonomic,everything is within easy reach on the dash. Safe, and a beautiful design.

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  Myriad electronic problems - 2012 Volvo XC60
  By rglambsb - October 14 - 6:40 am

  weve had numerous intermittent problems with electronic systems in our 2012 XC60 T. It s now with the dealer for the third time, with no fix in sight. Here a partial list: BLIS system gives false readings most of the time. Problem duplicated by dealers. Nav system reruns message "system not available" . Blue tooth stopped working entirely gate opener either doesnt work or works only within a few feet of the receiver. Key opener either doesnt work at all or requires repeated pushing from about 8 feet. With car runnung, rear seat passenger gets out, and car flashes "key not found". if you put the key in the slot, the engine stops running, which is dangerous. Back up video stays...

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  Great Vehicle - 2007 Volvo XC70
  By Yuri - October 13 - 8:10 pm

  I owned this wagon for about 9 months and made about 16,000 miles. Had a few long trips (2,000-4,000 miles). I love this vehicle! It’s very reliable, especially in complicated driving conditions. Well, Volvo is known about this, but this car is exceptional. I love to it on sharp bends, especially on wet road. So far I could make anybody in this conditions feel absolutely safe. It took my wife quite a time to trust this car for she used to drive a family sedan. She simply could not believe that the car can do such things. I’ve tried to convince her to use it for me to be nor worried about her. The seats are excellent. I’ve some problems with low back but I can easily drive it.

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  Volvo S80 - 2007 Volvo S80
  By JP - October 12 - 6:46 pm

  I have been extremely pleased with this car. I had never owned a Volvo before but the experience has been great. It drives very well, its comfortable and has been extremely reliable. I get 25-28 MPG driving mostly highways. I would recommend this car.

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  Nice Ride - 2008 Volvo S80
  By TommyB - October 12 - 3:40 pm

  Excellent vehicle for the price. With the rebates they are offering you just cant compare to the German and Japanese alternatives. With all the safety features, very safe ride. All controls are very intuitive.

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  Love it despite its issues - 2012 Volvo S60
  By T Nowlin - October 12 - 9:59 am

  I have owned nothing but Volvos. That said, Im a bit of a car guy and know the comparisons between my 2012 S60 T5 and its competitors. While it may not handle as tightly as a comparable Mercedes or BMW, a T5 beats a base 3-series or C-Class hands-down when it comes to speed and comfort. Its also a sharp-looking car. My primary motivation for purchasing this vehicle was because it was the second safest car ever tested by the IIHS (next to the Tesla Model S) at the time. I bought it certified pre-owned from a Volvo dealer with about 30,000 miles in 2014. It has the premium package (sunroof, leather, power passenger seat) and climate package (heated seats, headlight washers, rain-sensing wipers). The draw to the CPO car was the 100,000-mile/7-year drivetrain warranty. While I adore this car, I am also very, very glad I have the extended warranty. I dont think Ive ever had to take a car into the shop so often. At the time Im writing this, I have taken the car in four times to fix a leak in the passenger floorboard that they cannot identify (I will give the dealer credit for their exhaustive efforts with this). The silver trim on the steering wheel and console began to peel, which they replaced. They also replaced a broken air vent. One leather panel on the backseat has begun to flake while the ones beside of it have not. Its obvious to me that the tiny panel in the middle is made of inferior material to those surrounding it. The dealer would not address this because they "found evidence" that my dog had ridden in the backseat. Most problematic is that the oil pressure warning came on 4,000 miles after my most recent service, meaning that it was four (of five) quarts low. It goes in later this week to have that issue figured out. I maintain this car well, having my services done when (or before) theyre due, and only use synthetic oil. It shouldnt be having these problems. But most importantly to me, Im safe, comfortable, have the power to escape a treacherous situation, and look damn good doing it. But, of course, it is as Im on my way to the dealership for the millionth time for warranty work.

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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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  The perfect cure for turning 30. - 2008 Volvo S40
  By Cdydatzigs - October 11 - 4:03 pm

  Growing up in the 1980s, Volvos were known as the boxy yuppy-mobiles that your hip friends parents drove. Nowadays, the cars are still hip but they are far from boxy. The S40 is the perfect entry-level sports sedan for the post-college crowd. The car is very attractive but you can still tell the car is a vault under its skin. Huge door pillars and the comforting thud when the doors close tell you this is still one of the safest cars on the road. Materials inside are durable and attractive, and the controls are very easy to read. There is some turbo-lag off the line, but when yer cruising at 25 mph on the freeway on ramp and need to get to 75mph in a hurry? This car flies at mid-range.

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  Volvo Engine Seizing due to sludge - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By BeetleBaby - October 10 - 10:16 pm

  My Volvo wagon was ok until my engine SEIZED from sludge buildup at only 49000 miles. I had ALL oil and maintenance done 100% at the dealership and per their schedule This could be a problem with them all. Be very careful and ask about sludge and have them check for it. Having your oil changed regularly does not help, there is a problem with the engine running too hot in relation to the pollution control devices which basically cooks the oil to sludge.

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  worst car ever! - 2007 Volvo C70
  By paul collica - October 10 - 1:30 pm

  I will never buy another VOLVO. This car has had the engine replaced, new brakes, roof squeaks and master computer went. The car in 2 years old and has ony 10,000 miles The biggest waste of $49,000!!! Stay clear of this car