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 T6 - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By xc74 - September 16 - 2:00 am

  the wood steering wheel is an upgrade

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  The worst car Ive ever had - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By universaltaste - September 15 - 4:19 pm

  We have a 2004 Volvo XC90 that required our transmission replace 22 months ago with a 4K bill attached to it, then just last week had to have it towed in again. The first time we did not have our vehicle for 3 weeks, and now again one week has passed already. They claim fluid leaked causing severe damage to the car and now the transmission not only needs to be replaced again, but also the radiator, axle shaft, oil cooler, oil line and a host of others to the tune of $7331.90. The car currently has 122K miles, and the last time the transmission was replaced is was well under 100K miles. The dealer has even told me over the phone this fluid leaking a “known problem

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  Best car out of the 15 Ive ever owned - 2015 Volvo XC60
  By pranner - September 14 - 4:16 pm

  Our T5 is the perfect combination of what I want in a family vehicle: Outstanding fuel economy for this size/weight of a vehicle, perfectly comfortable for long road trips, great power when you need it. All of this in a premium but understated, unpretentious package.

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  starting to wonder - 1996 Volvo 850
  By A.J. - September 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this volvo with 100,000 miles on it. I did all my homework before I bought this car and I did a lot of questioning on wether or not this was going to be a good car for the mileage and all but every review was ranting and raving on how the 1996 850 was bullet proof and all the bugs were worked out. It is a great car but it is expensive to repair . All of the things that I have had repaired on it were wear and tear. Or were they? It needed brakes with one new caliper $720, O2 sensor $350, tracs light came on $500, check engine light $700, I now have 154,000 miles on the car.

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  Great safety, liability and insurance protection, But.... - 2012 Volvo S80
  By rrruuunnn - September 14 - 5:58 am

  I got this car for the technology package, since my father is getting old. And already been in more than one major accident. The car works great. This car is at the pinnacle of safety features. Like the pedestrian sensing camera. The auto brakes. The cruise control that distances itself from the car ahead. Okay, great. But Volvo forgot that most of their customers are elderly. I just got a call from my father that he doesnt know how to turn off the defroster. The window has been fogging his windows. And he still cant control the AC. He has had this car for months and cant remember the complicated and unintuitive controls. Volvo if you are reading this, make the controls simpl

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  Failed Transmission - 2000 Volvo S80
  By joesmith7 - September 14 - 3:53 am

  Bought the car new in 2000, owned it for 12 years and put 126k miles on it. Car was running fine with no problems until about 112k when a pipe fitting on the radiator cracked and ruined the radiator. At 126k the transmission ripped itself apart. Got 3 separate transmissions put in and all 3 of them broke immediately. Either scraping the car or buying a new trans to put in, either way Ive put a lot of money into it. And the gas mileage sucked, 14-15 city is unacceptable.

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  Going Strong at 160K - 2001 Volvo V70
  By drh - September 13 - 5:20 pm

  Now at 160K with no problems. New tires and preventive care is all this volvo has asked for 8 years. Very fun and comfortable ride with the 2.4turbo and luxury cabin. Besides family of five chores and vacations, we take this volvo antiquing and regularly treat it like a truck. On the highway we get 28-30mpg on regular grade fuel.

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  COMPLETELY SATISFIED - 2004 Volvo S60
  By spooly10 - September 12 - 10:00 am

  THE S60 IS EVERYTHING I EXPECTED AND MOORE. JUST WENT THROUGH THE WINTER SEASON SUBJECTED TO SNOW AND RAIN THE VEHICLE HANDLED GREAT IN THESE CONDITIONS.

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  Great car, can be expensive - 1998 Volvo S70
  By MiloF - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Bought used in 2001 with 40K miles and an extended warranty until 70K. Good thing. Before hitting 70K, I had major repairs/replacements with both front rotors, the air conditioning system, and front and rear oxygen sensors...each job would have cost more than $1000 without warranty. Lots of little trim pieces also fall apart (ash tray, fuel door, sunroof lining, rear seat ash tray, etc). Oddly, since warranty has expired, car has been perfect. Go figure. Otherwise, rides great, stops in a dime, starts every time, great seats, great stereo.

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  S-80 is great! - 2002 Volvo S80
  By toothjanitor - September 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Volvo after owning a Lincoln. So, I had to adjust to the lack of comforts in this car. But the security, confidence in the structure and integrity of the car won me over. Took a while to find a comfortable seating. Snap up cupholder replaced 4 times now. Just gets in the way of everything. Miss heated mirrors and rain sens