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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  Impressive Vehicle - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By Buffalo Bill - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Ride is superb. Pick-up very good. Mileage 14.2 mainly around town. Fit and finish are perfect. Features are plentiful. First upscale vehicle we have owned, what a difference. Fun to drive.

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  Reunited - 2016 Volvo XC70
  By MMS - October 23 - 11:35 pm

  Sold my 2004 xc70 5 years and two cars ago with 150,000 miles on it. Missed it from day one. When I heard this was the last year for the model I had to get one. Best car ever. Solid ride, excellent performance with the 5 cylinder engine. The best all around car on the road. The Golden Retriever of the car industry.

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  C30 is great! - 2008 Volvo C30
  By kad - October 23 - 6:23 pm

  wanted a safe car (after an accident), discovered C30. it was a great find! this car has some muscles! while inside, you feel like you are driving a large car, such solid build!

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  Near Lemon 2004 Volvo S60R - 2005 Volvo S60
  By drrjb - October 22 - 4:30 pm

  From the begining this car had problems. The radio never kept tuned in, the turning radius is horrible the brakes squeeked and the trany slipped in second. After 15 months I excahnged this car with some money for a new 2005 model S60R. So far the problems are fixed but it was a long ordeal

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  XC90 T8 plagued with problems - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Ramsay Battin - October 20 - 5:13 pm

  We bought our $84k TX90T8 about a year ago and its been nothing but problems. Weve had it in the shop twice for a total of 30 days to fix problems with the hybrid system. Message from car was "Hybrid System Failure, take to dealer immediately". Both times we were out of town. In the first instance, we ran out of gas before we could get it to the dealer and the car wouldnt restart. Had to get it towed to the dealer. The second time we had enough gas to get it to the dealer fortunately. We also had issues with the "Park Assist" where it intermittently would shut off. Our dealer finally determined that one of the sensors was broken and they replaced it. Another time, my wife was driving it down the highway with the kids in the car when it suddenly lost all power. Thankfully she was able to get it to the curb safely. She called the dealer whos advice was to "turn the car off and then turn it back on". She did so and it worked - but the whole situation did not engender confidence in the car. Not been a great experience thus far and were only a year into it!

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  What a daily dream!! - 2004 Volvo V70
  By Raccareddie - October 19 - 10:00 am

  I recently traded my 2000 V70 for the v70R I had admired for some time. I have put 4K on the car and love to drive it everywhere. I need some tuner sound and Ill really be in heaven.

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  Perfect Car - 1999 Volvo S70
  By Jacobfyda - October 19 - 10:00 am

  Hi there, this car has been awesome,its safe. there have been some minimal problems one of the most noteable was a problme with the ETM, and theETS light came on the dealership took $200 and didnt fix it and then i got it fixed at another deathership for $100 and got my money back from the first (turns out it was simply because a clble was disconnected) aditionally the inition had some prob. the key was stuck insude ($100) the car gets about 300 miles to a 17-ish gallon tank,do the math)

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  Volvo XC90 -- 2003 - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By RoJo - October 19 - 10:00 am

  Toss up between the X5 and XC90--we choose the XC90. Although were happy with the vehicle overall, the gas mileage, acceleration, audio system and navigator system need Volvos attention. Overall the vehicle gets high marks for style (interior/exterior), craftsmanship, comfront and maintenance.

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  Well worth the money &everything is well designed! - 2016 Volvo XC60
  By Scott - October 19 - 8:06 am

  I shopped around for months. First of all, dont be afraid to internet shop outside of your geographic area. I bought mine 300+ miles away and got an extraordinary deal on exactly the car I wanted. Otherwise, I am very pleased with the car--everything is well thought out, intuitive, and the car is a true pleasure. I opted for the platinum/BLIS/heated seats etc. pkgs. and all of the added safety features are amazing. The workmanship, build quality and thoughtfulness of design shows here. Frankly, I havent had anything to criticize or second guess. I would suggest that u drive several models to find the right engine, AWD v. FWD etc before choosing. The combo I chose emphasizes a more cushy ride which is what I was seeking. Remember, that you have the option of getting 19 or 20 inch tires. I stuck with the 18s and no complaints although some may find this model not "sporty" enough. I did rent an AWD while in Canada for a week, and found that model to be faster and sportier. The choice is yours! Also, I chose the base engine and it is more than adequate and zippy.

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  2016 S60 Inscription Platinum tight & fun to drive - 2016 Volvo S60
  By Paul Raine - October 17 - 1:22 pm

  Im a week into ownership of my new Volvo S60 Inscription Platinum and Im VERY happy so far! Volvo does front seats better than anyone in my opinion; these are sculpted and amazingly supportive in beechwood/black leather. The feel of the car is luxurious, tight, quiet and cocoon-like but it gives you a sense of being in touch with the road and very much in control. Consumer Reports recommends this car and says reliability is "better than average." This trim line comes with an excellent Harmon Kardon stereo with 12 speakers, LOADS of safety features and electronics; my car insurance went DOWN 25% due to Volvos safety record! The lighting throughout the cabin--which is very important to me--is really nice...with foot well lights front and back and lots of little ambient lighting touches throughout. The center console storage area feels small to me and is a little too vertical in comparison to my last car. The car feels welcoming and calming inside with its beautiful Scandinavian design cues and subtle luxury touches. This car has the extra 3" wheelbase and therefore backseat room which is really nice. It feels sporty and nimble and can take corners quickly without a squeal but isnt a sports car per se. I shopped Audi A4, Lexus 250, BMW 328 and Volvo felt like the best overall choice for me in European sport sedans was Volvo. (Most striking to me was that the current A4 was rated "poor" in one critical IIHS front collision test!) The Volvo trunk is spacious. This car comes with intelligent cruise control, backup camera, parallel parking assist, Volvos BLIS system, keyless entry, fold-up outside mirrors, home link, navigation and mine has the 19" alloy wheels with big Pirelli tires. I will check in again in six months and hopefully still be as happy then as I am now with my S60.