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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  Best traveling vehicle I have ever owned - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Rita Bordlemay - March 28 - 9:00 am

  I travel up to 30,000 driving miles per year and thousands more in the air. I always try to drive when it is available since owning the XC-90. It is the most comfortable car I have driven for trips. It took about two weeks to adjust the seat, but after the trial & errors of the adjustments, I never move the seat again. I love my car.

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  S60 2.5T Hasnt Failed yet!! - 2007 Volvo S60
  By Richie T - March 27 - 11:48 pm

  Lower MPG than 04 V70 2.5t wagon....though it improved a bit with new tires. Had it about 2 years and its very comfortable in the front seats. Just doesnt drive as smoothly as the older wagon.

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  Great Little Car! - 2006 Volvo S40
  By New Volvo Owner - March 27 - 5:03 am

  This is my first "new" car purchase and I am completely happy with my choice. It was a toss up between The Volvo S40 and the Audi A4 and the Volvo won out because I ended up saving about $4,000 over the Audi. Some would say that you cant compare the two, but I feel that I got the better deal. I love my new car and wouldnt trade it for the Audi for any reason. The handling is responsive and pick up in the T5 model is great!

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  very nice car - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By mountaindriver - March 25 - 10:00 am

  7500 miles so far and only a few minor annoyances which dealer fixed. Love the free Volvo service loaner. No major problems at all. For a heavy car and only the 2.5T motor, this car does great in the mountains. I frequently leave other cars behind on sharp curves and hills. Average MPG is a respectable 20. Milage has improved over time from just over 16. Engine needs time to break-in. Ride and cornering is oustanding. Sex appeal is very high. I bought mine on their Overseas delivery program and cant wait to buy another Volvo.

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  Excellent family vehicle - 2008 Volvo XC70
  By George Fox - March 25 - 7:46 am

  Excellent safety features. Handles well. Wife feels very good about safety and handling with the children. Good storage space in rear. Auto rear door an excellent feature. Even though the gas mileage is marginal I believe the overall car features offset that and make it an excellent family vehicle.

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  Great but for one big thing.... - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By SWS - March 24 - 2:00 am

  There is a bunch to like about the XC70. Great interior, comfort, safety, fit & finish & so on. The one piece that absolutely doesnt fit is the engine. The 5 cylinder is noisy and rough , simply inappropriate in a car that typically stickers out around $38K. Drop the drive train from my Acura TL-S into the Volvo and you have a home run. Why is Volvo married to that #$%&# 5 banger?

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  nice,safe and solid - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By kdb - March 24 - 2:00 am

  We have had the Volov xc90 for over one year, we love it! We purchased it because we wanted a safe family vehicle. We purchased it over the Lexus and BMW, because we wanted more room for cargo. The interior is very flexible for family needs. It was the only SUV at the time that had design feature for safety (air bags, crumple zones etc) for the third row where the children would likely be. We felt that at the time it had the best safety features.

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  MY VOLVO SUV - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Barbra Ann - March 24 - 2:00 am

  IN THE PAST YEAR I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE,SECURITY OF SAFETY FOR MYSELF AND PASSENGERS THAT I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED IN ALL MY YEARS DRIVING. THE VOLVO STANDS UP AND BEYOND ALL MY EXPECTATIONS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE ONE!

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  More Than Fair Value - 2008 Volvo S40
  By Happy Pittsburgher - March 23 - 6:00 pm

  I narrowed onto this model as the best dollar value to replace one of our cars. While it does not have neck snaping acceleration, it is far from underpowered and it will snap your neck while cornering. Mileage on secondary roads is great, city is real good and highway if fantastic. Little negatives: no inside trunk relase or on the key fob and the doors do not automatically unlock when the key is removed.

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  End of Lease Review - 2002 Volvo V40
  By Graham - March 22 - 3:50 pm

  There were 3 areas of disappointment I had with this vehicle: 1)excessive brake pad wear, 2)poor quality original tires, and 3)expensive maintenance costs. The interior quality was good, almost excellent. When the car was new, it felt like a struggle to get it up to 65-75 mph, but now that it has over 50k miles, it flies! So the power and acceleration improve with age! Too bad I am returning it.Volvo has got to do something to compensate owners for the poor brake pad wear, they wont admit that there is a problem.The OEM Continental tires would not stay inflated properly.Also had 2 flats.Upgrade to Michelins required tires rated to 150 mph! Expensive. Why Volvo?!