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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  An excellent car! - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Wiliam Su - April 17 - 10:00 am

  The Volvo S40 is a very powerful, beautiful machine, with a very good value and it is the safest car in the segment.

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  Fun in the Sun - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Volvo4Life - April 17 - 10:00 am

  I have this car for 2 months and it drives great. I bought with 50,000 miles from a car lot and when I took it to the dealership it came with a clean report. Good Gas milage. Not as fast off the line as the T6 but on the highway it can get up and go.

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  Not A Family Car - 2003 Volvo S60
  By Renaek - April 17 - 10:00 am

  This car is great for just 2 people. If you have children do not buy this car. I have a 7 month old daughter. When we put her car seat in the car I have to have the passanger seat almost all the way forward. This makes it hard for my husband to go with me in the car since his knees are hitting the dash. I am looking at getting rid of it and I have only had it for 3 months

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  Quiet Rocket - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Ron - April 15 - 10:53 pm

  I first saw the 2004 Volvo S40 T5 at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January 2003 and I instantly fell in love with it. Having three cars already, I planned to buy a new one at the end of 2004 and I did. I was also considering the Audi A4, Mazda RX8, Mini Cooper, BMW 3-Series and the Volvo S40 T5. The A4 did not have enough mid-range torque. The RX8 guzzled too much gasoline. My neighbor already has two BMWs andthe Mini was going for more than list price! So I got the Volvo. This cars Acceleration is impressive as you quietly leave the loud pocket rockets the kids drive in the dust. Its pick-up is calm and smooth, if you lose on a standing start to a souped up car, youll appear as if you werent trying to race anyway. Its handling is responsive with the modified suspension & not choppy at all.

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  LIKE MY V70 204 - 2005 Volvo V70
  By dan - April 14 - 5:23 pm

  My V70 is actually a nonturbo automatic. My mileage is 30 highyway and 20 city. This is an excellent car. When you first start it up, it revs to 2,000 rpm and within a few seconds drops to around 700 +/-. Dealer said should be that way. Had a 98 V70 XC before and only had minor stuff. I traded down this time to V70 becasue of price and looks. Bought it for safety, best seats in the market place, heated seats,dual air controls, and highly rated reliabiltiy in consumer reports. Holds the road nicely. BTW, my wife has hit in the back by a big pick up. Smased truck front and radiator, it had to be towed. No injury to my wife, drove it home. No glass breakage, bumpers & shock system did job.

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  Why buy an SUV? - 2002 Volvo V70
  By kiddie car pool dad - April 14 - 1:43 pm

  Had to get a 7-seat vehicle for the school car pool, but wife hasnt yet figured out that I didnt get a T5 just for the nice seats. Bought used with 50K miles two weeks ago. This car has great power, but dont punch the accellerator unless you really mean it. Has every safety feature available on any new car and a superb stereo. The gas tank is ridiculously big; driven from Memphis to DC (around 850 miles) on less than two tanks of gas. Lots of thoughtful features on mine: integrated second row child boosters; built-in second row tray table with cup holders; built-in cargo compartment divider; clever rear-facing third row seats that my kids adore; electronic child-proof door locks.

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  Had many, this is the best - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By ga - April 13 - 10:30 pm

  I have driven an audi, honda, hummer, ford, land rover, nissan and this is by far the best suv. basic inside but great quality. leather is awesome. booster built in for my toddler and enough room for my baby car seat next door. so safe and quiet ride. head rests are great, can actually lean your head on them when you drive. will buy another one in a few years. not a single problem. the leg room is the only downfall if you have car seats behind you, you lose some front leg room but it is fine, just on long trips sometimes i want to stretch more but that is it! awesome!

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  Lemon - 2000 Volvo S40
  By unhappy mom - April 11 - 10:00 am

  I have had all the problems that have been listed in these reviews, some repeatedly. This is the worst car I have ever owned. Plus, the dealership has not been willing to work with us. The power assist brake system failed while driving, and luckily I was able to stop the vehicle. The airbag light was on at the time this occurred, and the dealership informed me that the airbags would not have deployed had there been an accident. The brakes continue to give us problems.

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  not sure - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By jo-lin - April 11 - 10:00 am

  Had the vehicle a month and a few things puzzle me. With three rows of seating, my family is cramped. Also, the automatic transmission fells sloppy. Aside from these, has a nice car-like feel.

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  Great Little Car - 2002 Volvo S40
  By Cristin - April 9 - 1:13 pm

  We have owned about a thousand Volvos but this one is by far my favorite. I work in a parking lot with very tight parking and where people are always getting into fender-benders. This car is easy to park and easy to drive. Its fun and gets good mpg. With the leather interior it is very comfortable for long drives.