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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  My pod of civilization - 2002 Volvo V70
  By jdw31 - November 2 - 10:00 am

  Why do I love my Volvo V70? I love it because it is solid, safe, very comfortable, has a great sound system, and because the dealership treats me like a king when I take her in for the checkups. I used to think that spending over $25K for a car was too much, but I did it anyway, and it is worth it. This is a great car. My "road rage" has dropped by 90% at least since I bought it.

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  Poor quality - 2002 Volvo S80
  By Charlie Mak - November 2 - 10:00 am

  Vehicle is underpowered. The sheet- metal used is very poor. After one year car has many dents that can’t be explained. The roof has two that looks like the car is buckling. The smallest door bang turns out to be a large dent. The doorjambs can’t be quieted. The sunroof is noisy and grinding. I had upgraded interior wood installed by the dealer. Without the wood the interior looks bland. The front wheels have to be cleaned weekly due to the heavy brake dust. My wife loves the car. I on the other hand wouldn’t purchase another until the issues described we corrected. However, after 31K we have had no mechanical problems.

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  T-5 Power - 1999 Volvo S70
  By kruedy - November 2 - 10:00 am

  The car is very well built and has exceptional interior space as compared to like size American and Japenese autos. T-5 Turbo power is very impressive after you get used to the slight hesitation when full gas pedal is applied. Suggest getting service from other than a dealership, they are very high. Love to drive the car!

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  Run and never look back ! - 2001 Volvo S40
  By 1tickedmom - November 2 - 10:00 am

  When I choose the Volvo S40 I believed that I was purchasing a safe and reliable car with top-notch customer service. WRONG! What a lemon. The paint on the car is chipping off. The power adapter in the car has failed 4times and the service light comes on for no apparent reason(the dealership can never find anything wrong)SRS light has come on 3times in six months and the air bag system had to be replaced twice. The cup holder over the cd player is a joke and the cup holder in the back pulls right(it is currently laying on the back floor of the car). The A/C NEVER gets cold enough (dealer says checks out OK) but Im sweating it out.Bottom line, Run and never look back.

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  Volvo Hit A Home Run Bringing the V 60 to the US - 2015 Volvo V60
  By bbrigham - November 1 - 11:24 pm

  What value for the money! I didnt have to pay big money for this ride. The car handles beautifully and is fun to drive. After having driven the XC 90 and V 70 AWD models for the past 10 + years --- I found the V 60 gives me the same satisfaction of ownership at a much lower price.

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  Great car! - 1998 Volvo S70
  By Jim - October 31 - 4:10 pm

  I was surprised to see all the negative reviews on my car! I bought it 4 years ago with 80k miles on it and it just turned 160k last week. I drive about 70 hwy miles/day. No major repairs so far. Incredibly reliable car. Left it at the airport during a recent ice storm. When I returned, it had been coated with about 4 - 6 inches of ice for a couple of days. When I finally got into the car it started up immediately! The bulbs were a nuisance at first, but I now just keep a few extra in my trunk (pretty cheap). Only takes a minute to replace. I probably change a bulb every 4 or 5 months. Hope to get another couple years out of it, but even if I dont it has served me well.

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  A great alternative to an SUV - 2008 Volvo V70
  By John - October 30 - 5:10 pm

  Ive put 6,500 miles on this car over the past 6 months and have been very pleased. It replaced a Lexus LS430 and an older Volvo V70. The ride quality is smooth and quiet. While I really enjoyed the super-quiet ride and precise handling of the Lexus, I am also enjoying the sportier driving experience of this Volvo. I much prefer this car to the roughness and sway of the SUVs I have owned. Based on the cars computer readout, fuel mileage is considerably better than the EPA numbers (30 - 32 MPG at 60 MPH). Build quality seems good with no significant problems so far.

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  Best Car Ive Owned - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Janez Narojnak - October 30 - 10:56 am

  Performance is astounding! 5.4 seconds to 60 with the stick, or 6.0 with the automatic. Great handling and tire grip. . 4-piston Brembo front and rear brakes stop on a dime. The BEST feature is the adjustable suspension, which has 3 positions: Comfort, Sport, amd Agreesive, which increase suspension stiffness and enhance handling further! And the agressive mode puts the transmission in the Sport mode, which inceases acceleration! Comfort, considering the 18" wheels, is very good, but dont expect the ride to be as soft as a Buick. Also, rear seat is a bit cramped. Just one more inch of leg room would help! Great reliabilty, great durability/build quality, and excellent value! Phenomenal car!

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  Jack of all trades - 2010 Volvo XC70
  By jackofalltrades - October 29 - 11:00 am

  Turbo is great in Colorado mountains. Super comfortable seats. Decent handling. Quiet, great ride. Bomb proof in the snow with snow tires. It has a better ride, more room, more power than our previous car, 07 BMW 5 series wagon. Gets about the same mileage as the 5 series wagon.

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  Perfect car and beats every 325i match - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Expat-happy-with-T5 - October 29 - 2:00 am

  I ordered my Volvo in the summer of 2002 as an Expat living in London, England and had it delivered to my home in Seattle. It is a great car and the service I received direct from the factory was out standing. I wish I could say the same about the dealership in Seattle. I recommend this car to every one I meet. I am currently working in Japan and miss my T5.