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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  Outstanding Vehicle! - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By Carrie - February 23 - 12:30 pm

  Just took possession of my XC90 and love every minute behind the wheel. The well appointed interior, comfortable seating and smooth and quiet ride makes this vehicle a joy to drive. The XC90 exceeded my expectations.

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  TERRIBLE CAR - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Say no to Volvo - February 22 - 10:40 pm

  This car has been nothing but trouble since the day I bought it. AC switches on/off and turns to heat in the middle of summer. You cannot even change the battery without having to tow it to the dealership and have them reset the computer. Now the starter is dead. I will never, ever buy a Volvo again. Stick with Honda (I had a Honda before this car). Volvo S40s dont hold their resale, either.

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  Best all around for sport and comfort - 2012 Volvo S60
  By ronbham - February 22 - 4:17 pm

  After driving a BMW 530 anything would be a step down but my T5 is great! Not punishing on our crumbling roads as my BMW 3 series loaners were via low profile tires. Yet its not like steering a boat as with most Volvos. Front torque steer is almost nil. Comfort is great and interior seems more spacious than BMW 3s or Lexus IS. Both of which will bleed you dry with tire prices! Interior looks high quality. A little more road noise than I expected but not intrusive. Base stereo speakers are disappointing. Cursor on wheel is too easy to accidentally change stations when turning. Center console easy to scratch. My T5 S60 base model DOES have auto-on/off headlights! Great price, style.

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  Solid Choice - 2009 Volvo XC70
  By A.R. - February 22 - 2:10 pm

  We bought the XC70 T6 to replace a Passat wagon that was totalled in a car crash- both kids inside. Not as sporty and fun as the Passat, but all of the practical features surpass it easily. The higher ground clearance is great for our winter climate, the AWD is reassuring and the T6 is great for hwy accelerations. As a family with two small kids, the cargo space is excellent and getting kids in/out is easier than in the lower Passat. Fuel economy could be better, but my kids safety is worth it, especially after our accident. Great interior space for tall/ leggy people too.

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  Fun car. Buggy with age. - 2005 Volvo S40
  By cygnuspix - February 21 - 8:46 am

  I have my 05 T5 (FWD) since day one - just a hair over 9 years now (and is an auto transmission, but somehow not an option here). I still love getting in to it twice a day for a 30 mile commute. The fuel economy is tough to beat, averaging 32MPG. However, it is fussy and likes to be babied to avoid issues. My fuel pressure sensor failed, causing tremendous ride issues, but no error code was generated, therefore the dealer threw up their hands at the issue, and wanted $450 parts/labor to replace it. The part is $50 on Amazon.com, and takes 1 hour to install. If you feel the car lose power or otherwise ride rough, look into changing this sensor!

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  Beautiful Mid-size SUV. Cargo area is great. - 2017 Volvo XC60
  By Kwok Chong - February 20 - 11:22 pm

  Great performance and smooth ride. If you need 3 row seats, you need to pick the bigger brother XC90.

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  Junk on wheels - 1998 Volvo S70
  By redoctober - February 19 - 11:16 pm

  There are not enough curse words in the world to describe how I feel about this car. Extremely unreliable and expensive to fix. Sensors broke at least 10 times. Lights burn out montly. Engine leaks. Brakes wear out twice a year. Door locks broke 3 times. Windshield fluid pump exploded. Extreme lifter noise. Battery dies twice a year. Cannot pass emissions. Repairs cost a small fortune. Even an oil change is a big deal. Windows stopped working 3 months ago, but I no longer have the money to fix it. Electric mirrors and sunroof dont work either. All this started happening right after the warrantee ran out. STAY AWAY ! ! !

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  Super Sweet - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By Stinky Jones - February 19 - 5:16 pm

  Its so great, I had to pinch myself. Go and get one, be cool like me.

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  Owned for 4 years - love it - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By JimmB - February 19 - 2:08 am

  We bought this vehicle at least 4 years ago. Love it. Wed get another one. I didnt rate it for maintenance cost as we really havent ever had major maintenance issues beyond changing oil etc (we are just at 70K miles). At this point, wed buy an updated version when this one wears out. The 2.5L Turbo engine has plenty of power for us.

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  Excellent all-around street car - 2007 Volvo S60
  By Ric - February 18 - 11:40 pm

  The best value in an all-around performance street car. Superb brakes. Car feels noticeably lighter than it is when driven hard in the mountains or on the track. More fun to drive with DTSC on because of active yaw control. Ignore most of the negative comments of some other reviewers. The R *has* vented brake rotors, the gas cap is on the side of the car away from traffic so its not "wrong," there *is* a 6 CD changer option, turn the radio off for "mute" (duh), the key fob opens the trunk if you press the trunk button *twice* like it says in the manual (bad design, but its right there in the book), and if you unlock the doors the trunk opens with the touch of a button.