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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  Sunroof & Brakes - 1997 Volvo 960
  By Larry - May 27 - 6:26 pm

  This is my third Volvo. I have been VERY disappointed with the poor quality sun roof. After having it repaired five times (three under warranty) I finally gave up. In addition, this car eats brake pads and ended up needing new pads every 9-12 months. Cup holders in interior are a joke.

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  S80 2.0T unique to Europe and Asia - 2005 Volvo S80
  By MAURICE WILLIAMS - May 27 - 1:30 pm

  This is my third Volvo having previously owned a 850GLT and an S70. In comparison the S80 2.0T is underpowered at 190 hp. Its slow off the mark but once on the highway its brilliant and comfortable all the way up to 180km/h after which it gets choppy. This would not have been the case with the S70 or 850GLT which has superior power to weight ratio and better handling. I recently went to BSR Sweden and reformatted the OBD. And now it runs at 225 hp which makes it a whole lot more economical to run in town and performs like stink in excess of 230 kmh. I had to shod on a set of 18" rims with 235/40 series tyers to keep the car on the road. Overall this car vs my Merc Coupe is good.

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  Best AWD Wagon on the Market - 2007 Volvo XC70
  By langloj - May 25 - 6:23 am

  The car is smooth and responsive, making for a great handling vehicle. It had surprising acceleration for a 5 cylinder. The leather seats are the most comfortable I have ever had in a car. On trips, the longer I drive this car, the more comfortable it gets. The cargo space is enormous. The interior is well laid out and with the leather package and wood trim, very luxurious for a wagon. Best car weve ever had.

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  I love my 2017 XC90 - 2017 Volvo XC90
  By NYC carguy - May 25 - 12:34 am

  I love my 2017 XC90 T6 Momentum. I have had it for about 4 months and done multiple road trips will no problems. The car accelerates like a beast when merging or passing and handles very well. After reading a lot of reviews about road noise, i made sure that i got the 19" stock wheels and as a result the car is fairly quiet (still need to be careful with potholes though). I would definitely recommend.

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  Good car for Volvo savvy enthusiast - 1998 Volvo V70
  By VolvoRottie - May 24 - 11:50 am

  Purchased at repo auction and obtained service recs from selling dealer. In time owned, did upgrade to ceramic brake pads and top of the line rotors at minimum cost as a DIY job (Im a woman!). ABS module out per usual paid $150 to get it fixed - now perfect. Oil changes using Mobil 1 and mann filters. Thats it. Now finally a tune up for less than $100 in parts again DIY. This car rocks. Mine is loaded and other than very routine maintenance, knock on wood, its been good. This year must recharge the Freon.

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  Dont wasteyou $$ - 2000 Volvo V70
  By rottn1escaped - May 24 - 10:00 am

  Bought CPO at 23K. 2 months later, the front axle and transmission needed to be replaced. Ive also needed to replace the Turbo & Catalytic converter. Carfax clean, volvo certified. From reading Msg boards, I have one of the better dealers who replaces everything as warranty work - not always the case. Car now has 43K and its decision time as New car warranty is expiring. I bought this to be a long term tank, but not the case. Stick with the pre-1998 for quality (pre-ford years). My first Volvo was amazing, not this one. Also, check message boards, Im not the only one with this opinion. JD Powers and associates is downgrading Volvo quality.

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  luv it - 1998 Volvo V70
  By precisionmike - May 21 - 4:16 pm

  bought it brand new, and until about an hour ago it was the best car ever. just hit a deer head on and the car will probably be totaled due to cosmetic damage. 165k and it runs smooth as glass. serviced every 5k and doesnt burn a drop of oil and we get 27 to 28 mpg on the highway. not one rust spot on it and we live in new york, the winter salt belt. the R engine is a kick in the pants, weve surprised many a driver with the power and performance. AWD never let us down in snow and ice. some issues with AC and the CD player... other than that normal wear and tear... i will buy another one.

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  XC90 + Extended Warranty = Happy Driver - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By SafeDriver - May 21 - 3:50 am

  I really like my XC90. While it has had some minor issues, overall it has been a pleasure to own. After driving this vehicle in LA, i got rear ended badly (the Lexus was totaled that hit me) and my XC90 was a tank. I cant say enough good things about his vehicle.

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  Great Combo of Power/torque and Gas Economy - 2015 Volvo V60
  By Steve Paul - May 20 - 2:28 am

  Ordered our 2015 V60 in March 2014 soon after it went on sale in the USA, and delivered May 2014. Our dealer only had AWD in stock, but wanted FWD with the new Turbocharged Drive-E 4cyl engine/8-speed transmission. What a great combo of power/torque and gas economy. Easy 30+ mpg highway. Two options ordered were the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) and heated fabric seats (all)…one of the few cars you can buy heated seats without leather. Base model also lacks the roof rails, also my preference for a cleaner look. And base model dashboard I prefer over the upgrade electronic dashboard. Best Features: engine/trans combination, classic Volvo seating perfect for my 6’ size, 36,000 miles of maintenance included, and Euro styling. Worst Feature: 1) Excessively aggressive start/stop. Learned to use the paddle-shifter Left to disable in traffic and in anticipation of signal light change and turns. I doubt the feature really saves very much. Just one unplanned repair of this feature in the life of the car will more than negate any fuel saving. 2) No Oil Dipstick in the Drive-E Engine…ugh! Also considered the Audi A3 but arrogance of dealer turned me off, and would have also considered a Saab had they not gone broke. Wife has the XC60, and I prefer the V60 as a driver’s car. Tip: Free 6 months of Sirius has expiration date, so activate your free period promptly. Had to negotiate with Sirius to get my full 6 months. Favorite car after previously owning (new) in order: VW, Audi, Impala SS, Saab 9-3, and Cadillac CTS.

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  Safest SUV, Stop Crying about MPG - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By Dave - May 19 - 7:16 pm

  People, youre talking a Volvo not a Honda, you will live through a horrific crash, you will have 311hp, this vehicle is safe, and because of that it weighs as much as much larger SUVs so the 13-18 mpg isnt that bad. Stop crying about fuel economy, put your family in a Prius if thats important to you, if you want a truly safe, well built, nice looking SUV this is the truck for you! Remember you get what you pay for, theres a reason that this truck is over $50,000 without things like navigation and rear view cameras, because you are paying for safety! This is another of those "imports" that you can buy and still buy American, Volvo is a proud member of the Ford Motor Company!