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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  2008 C30 R-Design - 2008 Volvo C30
  By cadyjw - May 11 - 11:23 pm

  I traded a Focus and Sky and got the best of both worlds- the functionality of the Focus and nearly the power of the Sky Turbo. I call it my "hybrid". The fit and finish is a real step up. Of all the small luxury vehicles the C30 is the best choice- more stylish and sportier than the A3 and much more roomy than the Mini. As far as the other small vehicles like the Civic, Corrola, etc. they cannot even start to compare.

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  50 50 s40i - 2005 Volvo S40
  By abqdn - May 11 - 12:03 pm

  Good car but have had fuel pump problems twice in less than a year.

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  Who knew a Volvo could be this much fun? - 2004 Volvo S60
  By boondoc - May 11 - 2:00 am

  Its strange to think that Im driving one of the faster yet also one of the safer cars on the road. With a car of this caliber, a manual transmission is a must. Auto shouldnt even be offered. Pretty much set on buying the 330xi until I noticed the R existed -- on this web site as a matter of fact.

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  All around SUV and reliable vehicle - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Stretch999th - May 11 - 2:00 am

  HAve owned approximately three months now - has performed flawlessly in blizzard conditions and handles great in the city. Pleased with the ride, interior, etc. The rear windshield wiper nut cover came off but was replaced without question at the dealership. So far, no major problems to report.

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  Only serious complaint - 2005 Volvo S60
  By raymac8563 - May 10 - 10:06 am

  Have you ever tried to see what station is on your radio on a bright sunny day? Mission impossible. Same for the temperature and time. Very poor design I think. As comfortable and better handling than the Lincoln.

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  You Get what you pay for ( AMEN!) - 1998 Volvo S70
  By JRuss - May 10 - 10:00 am

  After a horrendous bout of "Dodgeitis",or the non-latin transcripton, blown head gasket at 65,000 highway miles, I decided to take the unchartered foreign car route. I read of the legendary durability of the Steel Viking road vessels known as VOLVO and, immediatly decided to "Invest" in a vehicle that could stand the rigors of every day wear and tear. The "Investment",after 4 years and 88,000 miles,is still serving dividends in a civilized fashion.The S70 carries the durability that the price sticker suggests, thus showig that one truly does get what one pays for!

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  What did they do to Volvo??? - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Volvofan - May 8 - 3:10 pm

  I love Volvos. I have a 97 850, a 92 740, a 90 740, and this 1999 S80. Beautiful car, fun to drive, excellent gas mileage. BUT, VERY unreliable and VERY expensive repairs. Try a $700 rear-view mirror, a shifter that just breaks: $700 part alone ($1,400 repair bill at Dealer), a brake Booster (~$600 part alone)? Front Suspension problems, turbo bearings (twice!), pillar headliner falling off, rubber cracking, car dying when accelerating (recall item), etc. Volvos are known for safety, but this car.... All that said, if Volvo would have stepped up to the plate and provided some ack via price redux, ANYTHING... Ill stick with Volvos, only I am purchasing them prior to 1999.

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  2008 Volvo XC 70 Basic - 2008 Volvo XC70
  By Hector Ingram - May 8 - 10:46 am

  Purchased new. Basic model with no options. Very comfortable interior, great seats, clear controls. Reasonable acceleration, sounds fine, smooth transmission. Average fuel economy for weight and off road capability. Well built and feels solid with lots of airbags. Plenty of space. Floaty ride, but comfortable and seems reasonable for a cross over.

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  Fun 0n the roads of Sweden. - 2007 Volvo XC70
  By Stowe - May 7 - 8:10 am

  Love our Volvo, especially around Sweden. Safe, comfortable, sturdy. What`s not to like!

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  3 weeks and counting... - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By coachrick - May 5 - 12:20 pm

  We are about three weeks and 600 miles into enjoying our new XC 60. We traded an 07 XC 70 so some comparisons may be in order. This vehicle has a much smoother power band than the XC 70 had...VERY powerful at low RPM and very smooth and quiet. Ride is very tight and smooth, not cushy but actually similar to our 08 C 70...fairly tight cornering, some feedback from dips and rises in the roadway. Havent been over 80 yet but freeway speeds are effortless. Even somewhat loaded, this wagon has plenty of low-end grunt. The wagon we traded was plenty capable...the XC 60 is all that...and more refined. The bells and whistles... Nav, Blis, City Safety, etc deserve their own review--to follow.