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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  Volvo for Strife - 2003 Volvo S80
  By netxpert - December 23 - 10:00 am

  I recently purchased a brand new 2003 Volvo S80 T6. The first time that I opened the hood I discovered that the car has significant rust and corrosion problems. The problems were brought to the dealers attention immediately after purchase, however after several months, the factory has done little to address the situation. Neither the dealer or the factory seem to care about customer satisfaction. There customer service rates an F.

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  A good car, but could be better - 2011 Volvo V50
  By teagardin - December 13 - 7:21 pm

  Owned v50 for over a year. Styling is excellent. After a year, still like looking at the car. The interior is unequaled in this class, high-end minimalism, nothing annoying visually. Power is not one horsepower more or less than average. Wish it had 5 more horses at least, but not bad. Disappointing mileage--18-19 city, and maybe 22 highway. Should be better! The handling is so-so. The suspension takes bumps fairly hard, and feels rough on dips and larger bumps or road imperfections. Just stable enough. Feels European, in a good, but not great way. Good utility. Good space. Visibility is compromised by FAT pillars. Overall, recommend this car. But... dont love it really.

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  Had enough - 2004 Volvo S40
  By Lou - December 10 - 2:30 am

  Bought car new July 04 and 6 mos later check engine light came on and everything replaced above engine block- cylinders 3 & 4 had 75% leak-down. Tried software download which is a joke. Replace brake pads too. Car out 18 days. Then ignition console went out car died. Out 5 days. Then radio went out, ate my cds. Out 3 days. Next tranny issue- braking/accelerating produces nothing. Let off gas and retry works. Fixed. Windows work on/off, speakers work on/off. Strong electrical smell appeared. Defective condenser. All fixed. Out longer. As of today windows/speakers/strong smell issues still there, tranny wierd. Bottom line not safe or reliable. Software updates dont wrk.Is a lemon. Giving back. Had enough!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  Trans failure - 1999 Volvo S70
  By Burnt - December 6 - 10:00 am

  Love older rear drive volvos but not new front drive. Volvo is cheaper to buy than BMW and Mercedes (who they claim to be in same company) but the lower price comes with cost----early failure of major parts. Auto trans failed at 79,000 miles. If that is not enought, other cons include: Poor dealer performance and high cost for parts. Harsh ride over poor pavement and bumps, weak brakes.

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  I WOULD NOT purchase another XC90 - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Beckett - December 1 - 2:23 pm

  Our lease on the XC90 is up and we wont be leasing a Volvo again. The factory Pirellis lasted 12,000 miles and the replacements are going bald with about 18,000 on them. Thats expensive; especially when you add a brake job at 20,000 miles which the warranty fails to cover. Other annoyances are a totally inadequate A/C, a stereo that picks up 1/2 the local stations and seats that dont fold up/down dependably. When compared to the Lexus and Acura automobiles we have owned, the Volvo is equal in price, but NOT EVEN CLOSE in quality. If you are looking at buying an XC90 make sure you get it CHEAP so you can afford the repairs.

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  Maintenance can be expensive - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By jbatl56 - November 29 - 6:16 am

  My 2010 XC60 has been a good vehicle since I bought it used 2 yrs ago. It is very comfortable and with the T6 its quick off the line. But now at 73,000 miles Im beginning to wonder if its not the beginning of the end. Brake vacuum pump needs replacing ($700), sunroof leaks during a hard rain ($500), tires cup regardless of brand apparently, leather is wearing worse than my moms 1989 Cadillac, the lift gate pistons needed replacement (caught under warranty), brakes wear quickly ($400) and I need a new motor mount ($500). I think thats a bit much for a Volvo with what many consider low mileage. But then again, its really not Swedish anymore, is it?

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  No more Volvos--EVER - 2000 Volvo S40
  By S40NoWay - November 21 - 2:00 am

  Extremely disappointed. In the shop more than I can count. Rear brakes, rotors, calipers replace. Oil line to turbo leaked. Headlites burnouts (its like headlites were just invented!), premature wear on tires and brake pads, etc, etc. Check Engine & service lites go on and off; All 4 wheel medallions fallen off. NO POWER BRAKE ASSIST INTERMITTENTLY ON STARTUP - MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE -dealer cant fix it. Electric vacuum booster pump is the culprit. Over the warranty limit so Im on my own with this hunk of junk. service department is the worst Ive EVER experienced. What arrogance and ineptness! cost of repairs is astronomical.

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  At the end of my lease - 2008 Volvo XC70
  By luisja - November 9 - 11:13 am

  I am so happy I returned the lease, Ive had so many problems with this car that at the end I did not even bother on taking it in to the shop. I would not recommend this car to anybody unless you want to spend every other week at the shop. AC issues, transmission, pieces/hardware coming off outside and inside, thermometer, squeaks and rattles, BLIS system, Park assist, and more. I guess thats the reason why Ford is selling this to the Chinese, too many issues to fix. Check consumer reports and youll see what I am talking about. On top of all that Ive been waiting for Volvo US or the dealer to contact me about my experience but a response never came back.

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  Expensive, with dangerous design flaws - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Will Jennings - November 4 - 11:20 pm

  At 5 years and 50,000 miles, our 2001 XC70 needed: a new ignition-key tumbler ($600), a new set of rear shocks ($750), which had destroyed a 6 month old set of tires and required their replacement ($650). Lastly, its solenoid transmission design failed while we were on the highway, cutting all power in a critical, dangerous situation. Solution? $3,400 for a new transmission. Together with some minor glitch fixes also not covered by warranty, our new car has cost an avg of $1,250 per year in repairs alone. Proving, once again, you never actually own a Volvo...you just keep paying rent to your mechanic, local towers, and Volvo dealer service. Volvo Customer Care = total fraud.

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  So Much for the Dream - 1998 Volvo V70
  By bewilderedbear - October 24 - 10:00 am

  We bought this car as a demo and have been plagued with the notorious CEL. Have put 1000s in repairs after warranty and still no resolve. Car sits useless in the driveway on the brink of repo (no great loss cant afford to fix any more) I dont think it would be much of a stretch to say most all fuel system has been replaced as well as emmissions to the tune of 1000s of $s. Dealerships are impossible and state that they or Volvo will DO NOTHING) This car is a lemon in every sense, eats brakes and tires and the owner up in service. So much for our dream car that we would have for 100k miles.