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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  The best car I have ever owned! - 2005 Volvo XC70
  By camnate - March 13 - 9:27 pm

  Ok so I baught this vehicle from my brother with 75k, he bought the vehicle with 51k and he had all scheduled maintenance done. I have kept up with the majore ones. I have no idea about the previous owner. This car has never left me stranded and rides like a dream! my wife loves it! 130k miles and still runs/rides perfect. There are the occasional minor fixes that will set you back a few hundred but really. as the car gets older even an extra $1200 year minor fixes is well worth it.. you can drive it for 20 years! The engine is iron clad (2.5 5cy) and it still drives like its on glass. tires are a pain, and MPG could be better but treat it right and will pay dividends!

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  Safe but Sorry - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By John - March 13 - 9:50 am

  Weve had Volvos in the past and this one has been a real disappointment. Requested an extended warranty after multiple problems and Volvo did honor our request. You feel safe driving it but the rattles and excessive tire wear are just a few of the issues. This was a model year but we took the risk becasue of our luck in the past with Volvo.

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  1996 Volvo 850 - 1996 Volvo 850
  By volvoforyou - March 13 - 4:20 am

  Have a 1996 850 which I bought used with 56000 miles in 2003. Since that time I have replaced shock towers, both front axles, both 02 sensors (twice!) numerous light bulbs, check engine light cycles on and off at will. A/C cuts in and out. Now the radiator just went! I do like this classic car and have read many good reviews on this site; however I guess i got a bad one. I also had a 1998 S70 which I didnt have much luck with either. Sorry Volvo I have had enough.

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  Unbeatable Value - 2005 Volvo S40
  By AZDriver - March 11 - 8:20 pm

  I just got one of the last 2004.5s at a discount of nearly $6,000. I got the 2.4i fully loaded, with nearly every option for $23,400. Ive been researching cars now for the last 6 months and have test driven numerous competitors such as the new Subaru Legacy, Mazda 3S, Audi A4, and Acura RSX. The S40i drives better than all of them...not quite as fast as the Audi or Acura, but a smoother more comfortable drive. It blows the Subaru and Mazda out of the water although the Subie was much nicer than the Mazda. Great dealership experience. This is my 3rd Volvo and I keep buying them for a reason...they are truly great cars. I just hope their quality doesnt decrease now that theyre Ford.

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  Major Safety Issue - 2017 Volvo XC90
  By Phil - March 10 - 3:04 pm

  On 7 different occasions, my new XC90 automatically and aggressively braked the car while I was driving on a highway because the City Safety collision avoidance system sensed that I was about to get into a head-on collision but there was never a car or object in front of me. The collision avoidance system is defective and brakes the car for no reason. Every time it happened I was driving on a highway and its a miracle that I didnt get rear ended. Volvo was completely unhelpful in figuring out what was wrong. My car was in the service department for 60 out of the first 100 days that I owned it. Volvo kept telling me that they couldnt recreate the problem so there was nothing they could do. The service department at Volvo of White Plains was beyond unhelpful. They were flat out rude and dismissive of my concerns. After several months of this problem, I went on the NHTSA website and found that several other people have reported the same problem. I then had to file the vehicle as a lemon under my state lemon laws. Volvo eventually repurchased the vehicle. This was the worst experience that Ive ever had with a manufacturer. They never once took me seriously even though the car had a major safety problem and several other people have had the same complaint. I bought this car because I thought Volvo made the safest cars. I made a big mistake. Think twice before you buy this car.

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  Head Turning Convertible - 2009 Volvo C70
  By Gilbert Rivera - March 10 - 12:20 pm

  As a life-long Honda lover this is my first Volvo. The fit and quality sold me on the vehicle. Love the top fold- down, and the trunk space for a convertible. Best feature: DynAudio stereo, great sound and bass. The car turns heads with the top is down. Got 24K miles on the car and no problems. Two gripes: 1. Pirelli tires a (18 in. wheels) dont last beyond 30K miles (cost $300 a pop). 2. Navigation system stinks. An address has to be manually entered. No voice activated features (like my Honda). For a premium brand this is a surprise.

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  avoid the 2003 XC90 - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By steveswife1 - March 10 - 7:50 am

  Weve had tons of service problems. Volvo keeps telling us it is because the vehicle is the first year for the model. The vehicle absolutely cannot hold an alignment (we get it realigned every 3-6K miles) and burns thru tires rapidly (every 10-12K miles). Every time we have something fixed, a new problem emerges within 500 miles of driving. Lots of stuff (rear shocks, bearings, brake pads) have had to be replaced prematurely, and there have been many minor problems (stench from HVAC, radio malfunctions, etc.) on top of more serious concerns.

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  Im Eagely Letting Go of My Dream - 2000 Volvo S40
  By fox - March 10 - 2:00 am

  I bought my S40 in 2001. I had always wanted a volvo and I figured that I should go ahead an get one. the brakes pads had to be replaced about a month after purchase. The lightbulbs go out to many times to count. there are some stranges squeaking noises coming from it. All in all I like my zippy car but my children cannot take the unrealisticly small backseat and the horrible interior designing and planning for buttons and cup holders not to mention the fact that it has created a lot of negative equity. I am looking for a way out.

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  Im Eagely Letting Go of My Dream - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Fox - March 10 - 2:00 am

  I bought my S40 in 2001. I had always wanted a volvo and I figured that I should go ahead an get one. the brakes pads had to be replaced about a month after purchase. The lightbulbs go out to many times to count. there are some stranges squeaking noises coming from it. All in all I like my zippy car but my children cannot take the unrealisticly small backseat and the horrible interior designing and planning for buttons and cup holders not to mention the fact that it has created a lot of negative equity. I am looking for a way out.

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  Best car of the world - 2003 Volvo XC90
  By Frederick - March 10 - 2:00 am

  I just cant say more then now, its a beautiful car, seriously!!!