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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  Love My Volvo - 2002 Volvo V70
  By Volvo Saved My Life - January 29 - 9:06 am

  After my prior Volvo V70 AWD wagon was squashed by a truck that went airborne on top of it, and I lived through it, I had to have another one. I went out of state to get a rare combo, V70 with AWD (not an XC) plus the nav system. I have been extremely happy with this car, my 4th Volvo. The nav system rises up out of the dash, so you dont have to take your eyes off the road. Its great on snow and ice, with amazing braking power, its gorgeous, and it gets good gas mileage. You have to keep it in alignment, or the AWD will go through tires. Its also a little too polite about letting you know youre low on gas. Keep it aligned and gassed up and youll love this car.

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  A very good expierence with our Volvo - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Rick A - January 29 - 6:43 am

  We simply would unequivocally recomend a Volvo XC 90. Safe reliable and fun to drive. It is also a very capable 4 wheel drive.

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  Great car almost perfect - 2008 Volvo C70
  By Paul "E" - January 28 - 8:33 pm

  I saw the car at the 2006 New York auto show and fell in love with it. The lines on the car are beautiful with the top up or down. The ride is good and its quiet inside. The interior is a little on the plain side when compared to other luxury brands. The front wheel drive is great in order to cope with New York winters. I would not even consider a rear wheel drive car.

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  $Love it But Leave It - 1998 Volvo V70
  By ilovemyvolvo - January 27 - 7:46 pm

  I love this car. Comfortable, safe, reliable and can get me anywhere. My $5000 purchase of a used car has probably now cost me upwards of $10,000 including repairs. Ive owned it for 5 years. Not what i was looking for in purchasing a used vehicle. Its been one thing after another- engine mounts, locks, windows, power steering leak, rear drive shaft now the air pump system. This is not a used vehicle you want to buy if you are not willing to put a lot of $$$ into it. Going back I probably would have settled for something cheaper to repair.

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  Excellent family sedan - 2003 Volvo S60
  By Incubus - January 27 - 10:00 am

  The ride comfort and handling are excellent. Suspension is rather softer than other makers sports sedans. But if you like comfortable ride, thats not a big problem at all. Tire grip is also good, especially with sports package (P215/55/R16). People recommend to choose non-turbo model if you drive this car more than 60,000 miles.

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  S60 AWD Good Bang for the Buck - 2003 Volvo S60
  By cccccccccccccccccccc - January 27 - 10:00 am

  This is my first "luxury car" and Im very pleased so far. AWD was a must where we live and the lease deal on a similarly equiped car couldnt be found among competitors. I had a manual Maxima so the turbo lag took some getting use to, but pick-up is nice and interior is beautiful. Love the exterior look. Very classy! Cant wait to test out winter handling.

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  Luxary at an affordable price - 2003 Volvo V70
  By Zaro R. - January 26 - 10:00 am

  We have been pretty happy with this car. It drives well, and great fuel economy for the size. We took this car up the mountain 5 time a year, on camping trips. Last couple of years we have been towing a 2500lb pop-up camper and I sometimes when the traffic is clear, drive at 80-mph with no problem. I wished I would have bought a XC70, but this is good enough for us. The only qualm we have is the volvo maintenance cost...it is very expensive!

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  Great personal car - 2005 Volvo S60
  By dsensing - January 24 - 6:40 pm

  Great car for a commuter or a couple. Very smooth ride and I get 30 mpg on the interstate, better than the Camry this car replaced. All the power I need (2.5T). Best front seats in the business, bar none. Back seat good for kids only; adults can tolerate only if front seats are moved well forward. Good sized trunk. Ive had no probs with long steering radius reported in other posts. Best long-range cruiser there is, period, better than Infiniti, BMW or Mercedes Ive owned. Very secure driving experience, feels like Im driving a fast bank vault on wheels. Appearance is very handsome (ruby red ext. with tan leather int., very nice combination). I am very satisfied.

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  Sadly, a disappointment - 2004 Volvo V70
  By Dave - January 23 - 6:36 am

  Beautiful car. Very comfortable. Fun to drive. Unfortunately, the engine would stall periodically and unpredictably. The dealer could never fix it and ignored the techical service bulletins I found on line describing the behavior. Huge blind spots that made merging with traffic a white knuckle experience. MPG could have been better. Vehicle maintenance was outrageously expensive.

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  Great Car, but... - 1998 Volvo V70
  By markymark - January 23 - 1:06 am

  This is my 4th Volvo and it is definitely a "love/hate" relationship. When all is good, I love it. Its the most comfortable car Ive ever owned. The heated seats are sublime on a cold Colorado morning. But just too many small problems that indicate poor design and engineering. Ive replaced, engine mounts, suspension, brake rotors, check engine lights, turbo seals, and am holding my breath now that my extended warranty has expired. Ill keep it as long as it doesnt get too expensive, then Ill probably jump to an Audi or maybe a good ole dependable Subaru! Too bad for Volvo, I think we all want to stick with them, but they just seem to have lost their focus.