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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  Everything breaks! Marked low to bring its ratings down! - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By lane11 - May 25 - 1:42 pm

  Wow, this is a great car to drive, unfortunately, everything breaks on it. I normally dont post, but I just had to register to let people know. Here is the short list of things: 2004 T6, first owner: Front (both) and rear (both x 2) shock mounts (not shocks, the stupid plastic pieces they put in there). Motors in the dash for the air. Replaced two of them now. $$$ Driver window motor. $$ The rain drains on the roof got plugged up, when they overflow, it goes onto one of the computers on the driver side. $$$ Turbo is now dead $2000, and the traction/stability computer is dead. $$$ Rear wheel bearings $$ plus the tires they ruined. I wont own another volvo, ever.

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  Fun to drive family car - 2005 Volvo V50
  By kermit - May 24 - 11:13 am

  We bought our V50 wagon because we had a baby on the way. It was by far the best looking in it class. Weve had some minor issues. The visor mirror lights stopped working, but the dealership fixed it without complaint. My biggest gripe has been that it goes through breaks and tires fast. The brakes needed replaced at 25k and the tires will need replaced before 40k. The car also has a tendency to look the saved seat settings. It can take or day or two to get it right again. Overall, the car has been great though. I would definitely buy one again.

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  awesome car - 2006 Volvo V50
  By John - May 23 - 11:06 am

  this car is awesome, interior and exterior are excellent. fun to drive, fast and has power. i love everything about this car.

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  Volvo XC90 - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Chuck - May 22 - 4:33 pm

  Overall, were happy with our purchase of the Volvo XC90. Clearly, the safety features were our first draw to the vehicle but styling wasnt far behind. Reliability has been good so far, with only several little things popping up. Fuel economy has been OK, good when you compare to other crossovers. Its not sexy or fast. We didnt get options like a DVD player or upgrade the sound system, but after three years of ownership and one child, we wish we had. Overall, this has been a good car for us.

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  Best overall car - 1996 Volvo 850
  By frederick - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I have driven both the RSX type-S and the Integra GSR but I find that the 850 Turbo is my favorite car. Although it is slower in 0-60 time it is more fun to drive cuz it can easily get to 130. The interior has been pretty good except the radio which needs a little work. Also, I have been in an accident on the highway and NO damage.

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  Volvo Lemon - 2003 Volvo S80
  By Bob Reynolds - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Absolute worse new car I have ever purchased. Dealership service had car first 4months more than I did. Service dept. drove more miles than owner, over the first four months. Local service dept. can not fix problem without bringing in specialist who works with Volvo Sweeden. Problem worse than ever and dealership now saying nothing more they can do. We now have to change our driving habits to try to be safe in the $40k vehicle. Cannot pull out into traffic because we are not sure what car will do. (Either bog down or tramission will slip). 5 visits to service and they cant fix it. They said that Volvo might have a fix in the future.

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  Sorry Volvo - 2001 Volvo V70
  By rkientz - May 20 - 12:16 pm

  Cruise control works randomly half the time. Message center randomly shows that engine needs service. Fuel door fell off the car three times. Message center has shown exterior lights out but none found. replaced the front end suspension at 55,000 miles. (wifes car). Engine roar at idle very annoying.

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  Almost Perfect - 2004 Volvo S60
  By 30 Somethign - May 20 - 10:00 am

  Agree with reviewers who say that this is the one car you should have if you dont want to buy a Mercedes AMG and an SUV. Fantastically comfortable drivers feel behind the wheel, very responsive handling and superior sound from the stereo. Doubles as a family car but really fits in any circumstance.

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  Love my XC90 - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Lin - May 20 - 7:53 am

  I am totally pleased with my 2005 XC90. The ride is a dream and the handling is great. I feel safer in this vehicle than any other car. My other car is a 2004 Corvette which is totally fun to drive. The Volvo is fun too. I wish I did not have the 3rd row seats but that is the way it came. It was the only red XC90 that I could find in So. Calif. so I took it with the extra seats that will never be used. My choice. They are only made for little children. Adults would never fit. Next one, and there will be a next one will not have the 3rd row seats. Summary: I LOVE my XC90!

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  Problems with ECO+ mode - 2016 Volvo XC60
  By Erin - May 17 - 10:47 pm

  I loved my Volvo for the first 5k miles. Then I started noticing the efficiency/eco mode was acting sluggish. A fuse was recalled related to the function and I had it replaced, but theres been no improvement. My car has died on me 3xs in the last few months while in Eco mode, and even when Im not in Eco mode, my transmission is sluggish and choppy. Ive taken it in to the dealer and they cant find any error messages or issues, and so the problem with my expensive, new lux suv remains. I shouldve gotten the Audi .....