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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  Failures - 2004 Volvo S80
  By William S. Devey - June 19 - 11:20 pm

  This is my second Volvo in 14 years. This model has not been as reliable as my previous 850. Failures to date: tumblers falling out of ignition; passenger mirror simply falling off the car; both trunk support struts broken; ventilation malfunctioning (can be repaired for $1,200 per Volvo dealer); windshield washer not functioning properly (repaired once).

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  Love It!! - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By t_hokies - June 19 - 8:56 pm

  I laughed at my husband when we bought our first Volvo 3 years ago because we are both country people and this just didnt fit in with the Fords and Dodges the we had prevously owned but now we wont buy anything else. We just recently bought the XC90 and so many of the features sold this SUV to us even after looking at several others on the market. The reliability along with the luxury is hard to find anywhere else. We see ourselves taking a Volvo with us wherever we move. The power behind it is so much better then what I could expect, handles wonderfully on an almost vertical rise.

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  excellentvolvo - 2001 Volvo S60
  By gash - June 16 - 2:00 am

  extremely comfortable, reliable, and fun to drive. dont forget safety features!

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  Luxury and Practical - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Tanya - June 13 - 11:03 am

  Love my volvo, i get great compliments on the looks at the same time i packed it to the rim and used it to move into my new home. It comfortable and fun, from dressing up for a nice dinner to heading out to the beach with your surfboard on the roof rack, I LOVE IT!!

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  I love my car - 2004 Volvo S60
  By dewey - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I love my new volvo. It has alot of power and the interior is so comfortable. I love all the safety features on this car.

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  Best ever - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Pegster - June 11 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car...fun to drive, fun to own! I have gotten all kinds of compliments on its styling and handling.

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  far better than a minivan - 2001 Volvo V70
  By murraycat - June 11 - 10:00 am

  We replaced a GM minivan of dubious quality with this. The turbo makes it feel more like a performance sedan. Roomy back seat and lots of cargo space. The free 6 yr/100k mi Volvo Certified Used Car warranty is terrific. The dealer recently replaces some working lightbulbs with new ones, for free (apperently lightbulbs have been an issue.) We plan to drive this car til it wears out, then go back for another.

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  One of the finest Ive ever driven - 2002 Volvo S60
  By srfrdrew - June 10 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I test drove Audi, Lexus, Mercedes and BMW... the Volvo S60 was the most comfortable, sporty and fun to drive car. We love it!!

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  Great car - 2010 Volvo XC70
  By JD - June 9 - 5:36 pm

  This is the 4th Volvo I have owned and the first AWD. Since I do a lot of winter/mountain driving this made sense and roads I would have never made it up without chains, this car handeled like the roads were dry. Only two minor suggestions. The instrument panel doesnt show engine temp and the drivers side windshield wiper wont clear the hood and stay up when I want to clean the glass. Maybe in the 2011 model they can fix this. Otherwise Im very happy.

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  A Near-Perfect Car - 2004 Volvo S80
  By spike2 - June 8 - 5:40 pm

  I never owned a Volvo until I bought this for my wife. It quickly found its way into my hands - a deal I could only swing by agreeing to buy her a new XC70 wagon as a replacement. Neither of us can imagine owning any other brand now. This car is perhaps the most complete vehicle one can own. It has just about everything - unsurpassed safety, good performance, acceptable reliability, room, AWD, the most comfortable seats Ive ever experienced, and an understated elegance. I have around 8000 miles now and have had no problems. Like other reviewers, I now look for any excuse to drive. Despite Fords ownership - this is still a Volvo at heart. I absolutely love it.