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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  2006 S60R - 2006 Volvo S60
  By TA1GMB - April 3 - 3:30 pm

  Have had several Volvos over the years and the S60R is by far the most fun to drive. Awesome power combined with control. Best car in its class for the money. If Volvo could only catch-up on interior design and make Navi a standard option, this car would be untouchable.

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  Safe, luxurious and sporty - 2010 Volvo XC70
  By cnagappa - April 3 - 10:00 am

  Traded in my 02 Land Rover Freelander for the "Premium" Volvo XC70. Here in Canada the 2010 XC70 is sold in three basic trims: Base, Premium and T6. The Premium version includes the full climate package, BLIS, Bluetooth, HomeLink, leather upholstery, safety lock, power tailgate, motorized passenger seat, front seat and other premium features. It does not include the T6 or adaptive suspension. Weve had our XC 2010 for 6 months and so far it has performed admirably. Compare to the old Land Rover, this vehicle handles admirably. My only grouse is that the 3.2 sounds gruff and unrefined when climbing hills, otherwise its pretty smooth.

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  Excellent midsize - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By frank - April 2 - 1:33 pm

  The child locks is an on and off buttom which is a pain with an older and younger kids, need individual door locks. Interior kinda cramped on long trips. huge Key. Need hatch opening button on key.

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  You get what you pay for...cheap car - 2006 Volvo V70
  By JP - April 1 - 10:00 pm

  Very comfortable seats, ride is rough and inside cabin rattles. Its always in the shop. The car has been in the shop since ownership for a totaling of almost two months. The customer service at the headquarter is terrible and unsupportive. They do not follow- up on complaints. The most I have received from them is a pen and a survey on their services. I have a love-hate relationship with this car. Only if they have meticulously put the pieces together, this would be one of the best cars I have driven. Would I own another Volvo? NO on the company, NO on the dealer, NO on the car, YES on the seats.

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  Car to Avoid - 1998 Volvo S70
  By Jack - April 1 - 9:43 pm

  This Volvo is definitely not one of the better products Volvo has made. My car is always in the shop and has multiple electrical and computer problems (there are 7 computers in it, none of them very reliable). The engine is fairly reliable. Domestic and Japanese cars have better records. I paid about $30,000 for this car and have put in about $25,000 in repairs. So basically, my car has become a $55,000 car over 9 years. I probably should have tried another brand, but with past experience of Volvos reputation of safety and reliability, I thought this would be good. It was a mistake. Avoid this car if you can. Or buy it cheap since it doesnt really hold value anyway.

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  Mine has been great - 1998 Volvo S70
  By LikemyVolvo - April 1 - 8:33 pm

  I bought mine with a stick shift, brand new, and except for routine maintenance and one battery replacement in 7 years (with a car which is parked outside at an airport parking lot for a week at a time), have had NO problems. I get it serviced regularly. The seats are wonderful - 6 hour drives are now a breeze when they used to kill me in my Accord, and it handles great! I would buy another one!

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  The best balanced X-Country and comfort - 2005 Volvo XC70
  By Alex - March 30 - 3:10 pm

  Supurb and comfort, fun to drive are the outstanding feeling about this safest car in the world. Having SUV feeling with a little bit hard driving in the off-raod fields, its quite easy and comfort on high-way and even at a jammed urban environment on the other hand. Perfect balance of comfort and fun to drive is the superiority of this car which is never realized by other manufacturers such as BMW, Merceds and Japanese averagers.

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  First Volvo Purchase - 2004 Volvo S60
  By TEB - March 30 - 2:00 am

  Excellent vehicle so far. A couple of vibrations that need attention, but fun to drive. Build quality/comfort is exceptional. Dealer experience was superior! Interior choice of materials and leather were good. Car feels luxurious and sporty at the same time. Sport package w/ driving lights and premium package was a good choice.

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  * pry it from my cold dead fingers * - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By pan - March 30 - 2:00 am

  i was looking for an suv that would comfortably convey my growing family safely, drive like a luxury sedan, remain a design statement, and last reliably for a minimum of 10 years. there is no other suv on the market besides the xc90 that matches what i was looking for, a year ago or now. 7500 miles in 8 months, no issues. i promise to repost when i cross the 250000 mile mark.

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  2007 XC90 AWD V8 - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By DENNIS - March 29 - 7:40 pm

  First XC90 was 2003 T6. Gas hog and poor performance. Traded it in on a 2006 V8 AWD, used, dealer special. Traded that in for a 2007 V8 AWD, new, because I wanted a Nav system and I love the new Titanium Metallic Grey color with black interior. 2007 best of the lot and a Wednesday car built. Powerful,smooth, comfortable, great sound system, excellent visabiltiy, fun to drive and solid as a tank. 6200 miles and no problems. Truly a world class vehicle. Looked at a Mercedes M, BMWx5, MDX and Volvo was the best of the group. Most power and most cargo room. You can spend a lot more money and you cant buy a much better vehicle.