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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  W ow! - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By TEEJ - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Best engineered car Ive ever owned.

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  best car ever! - 2006 Volvo V70
  By bob bob - July 17 - 1:13 pm

  good handling, very safe, good visibility, very comfortable, nice car, heated seats, i will drive it for a long time, best car in the world

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  The Anti Lemming Mobile - 2008 Volvo C30
  By RapidRick - July 16 - 11:20 pm

  Purchased my C30 OSD in Mar, picked it up & drove it in Sweden over Memorial Day and picked it up again in Tampa in July. The car is a stunner and draws rave reviews from folks, especially the younger crowd, but plenty of wiser enthusiasts have forced me to chat with them about it. The turbo comes on smooth and fast. Going 115 in this car is like going 30 in my great ZTW. Real easy to bust way over the speed limit, if you dont pay attention. Mine is in matte Gold, which the factory said there were not many made, and supposedly thats the only car Volvo makes that you can get in matte gold (?)

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  Brilliant Automobile - 2011 Volvo C30
  By modcookieparty - July 15 - 7:42 pm

  This car is absolutely fantastic. Ive had the R-Design for about 6 months now and love driving it. The handling is very tight and the acceleration is good for its class. The body styling sets you apart from the crowd and the interior styling is comfortable and very functional. The ability to customize features and options hits the mark. The only drawback is that the exterior r-design styling features seem a bit flimsy - well see how they hold up over time. I couldnt be happier with this car - at least until the polestar version is available.

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  Great car but I have a wish list for changes - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Pat - July 15 - 6:26 pm

  I give the car a five-stars but I do have a wish list for changes 1. Hard to see the heads - up display while wearing sunglasses 2. Needs captains chairs - theres no comfortable rest for either elbow for either front seat 3. Would like the front pockets in the front seats like my 2005 XC 90 4. The moonroof just has a mesh interior covering . I suggest a plastic cover to keep the sunlight off of your head 5. Factory SPF protection on the windows

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  Happy with my purchase so far - 2010 Volvo V70
  By Greg Rasa - July 15 - 1:23 pm

  Had it 1K miles so far. Solid build. Nice ride. Great seats. Nice stereo. Quiet. Reasonably-priced luxury. Beats my old SUV in every way. Getting 21 mpg city so far. As for models I didnt buy: Audi A4 Avant was gorgeous but had terrible rear-seat legroom and bit of road noise. Passat wagon had lots of road noise. V70 won out on those counts and others. Also, it has 5yrs/60K full maintenance. My only beef: It was scarce in my area, so I didnt have many color choices. Scarce because Volvo would rather sell you an XC70 or 60 (for way more money); also most V70s are a factory buy, apparently. But V70s mileage is better than the XCs. V70 is sleek, solid, luxurious ... the quintessential Volvo.

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  Keeping this one! - 1999 Volvo V70
  By Jennifer - July 14 - 7:10 pm

  I really enjoy our wagon and the goal is to keep it as long as possible. We recently had to do some work on it but I would consider most of it normal wear and tear for a 10 year old car. We have gone on several 12+ hour car trips and always enjoy the ride and I am six foot tall so I cant say that about most cars.

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  My first Wagon - 2004 Volvo V40
  By arness - July 14 - 10:00 am

  I recently purchased a new V40 and so far, I was quite impressed with the features that it came with for the money. The seats are comfortable as well as the ride without eliminating the road feel (I have 16” wheels with 50 series tires). The V40 is a perfect family car and perfectly fits my needs of hauling family and groceries without the gas mileage of an SUV and most of all; it is a very SAFE car. I like the quality of fit and finish of my Audi A4 better but I would say I get more value on the V40 for the money I paid for it. It is definitely a better choice than any other common SUV since it is not only practical but it looks good on my driveway.

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  Its so great! - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By lh - July 14 - 1:06 am

  I cant say enough about this car. It is easy and fun to drive, is very safe, and feels like a sturdy well built car. I chose this car after driving several others in the same price range. This by far seemed like you were getting more "bang for your buck"

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  Best of Volvo - 2005 Volvo XC70
  By hcsaun - July 13 - 5:30 pm

  This is my fourth Volvo, which I have been buying new since 1996. My 2005 XC70 is by far the best of all. Its handling is what I like best, so solid in its gripping of all road surfaces. Seating and interior space are top notch. I currently have 30,000+ miles and have not had any maintenance issues, other than those scheduled!!