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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  Volvos Best Effort in Years - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Bill - February 3 - 4:12 am

  First of all, Im slightly confused by some of the reviews here. Im not even sure if some of these people own an XC90 or have even been for a test drive. That said, I have owned 5 new Volvos in 12 years and the new XC90 is leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessors. Stylish, comfortable, roomy, user friendly and full of amazing tech, its a great addition to the lineup and it truly is something special. Seeing other XC90s out on the road is a joy...those Thors Hammer LED headlights are really something! Plus, in true Volvo fashion, I feel incredibly safe behind the wheel. Well done Volvo!

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  Weird Sounds, Other Troubles-a Mistake! - 2006 Volvo S40
  By Paul Margolis - February 2 - 4:53 pm

  This is my third Volvo (740 960 and now S40) I am very disappointed with the quality and support from volvo. Pressure sensor was bad inside gas tank and fixed by dealer. The car makes very annoying Owl-like sounds, which the dealer has not fixed. Supposedly volvo is working on a computer software fix. The clock occasionally resets itself--another annoying feature. Save your money for a higher quality car. Do not expect any help from Volvo when you complain....apparantly Volvo has lost all class after having been bought by Ford.

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  Great car - 1999 Volvo S70
  By Mojovolvo - February 2 - 1:23 pm

  I really have enjoyed owning this car. In manages to be compact on the outside, yet so roomy on the inside. Its getting old now, and has 160,000 miles on it, but people still comment, "I like your NEW Volvo", and every time someone new gets in they say, "wow, this car is comfortable!" Beyond that, it never breaks, is fun to drive, returns reasonable mileage, and is incredibly practical.

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  Overall - 2003 Volvo S40
  By Spatwardhan - February 2 - 10:00 am

  Ive enjoyed the car. Except, I find little annoyances with the DSA light and Check Engine light coming on for no apparent reason and taking it into the service center to have it reset is annoying as well.

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  A remarkable car! - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Tom in Nor Cal - February 2 - 10:00 am

  Having my XC for almost 18mos now, it has been remarkably reliable and (almost) trouble free. The dealership (Volvo of Pleasanton, CA) has a fantastic sales staff and a horrible service department. I have had to actually argue with the Service Manager on 2 different occasions. I would recommend buying your Volvo in Pleasanton but having it serviced elsewhere. A previous review complained of front suspension problems, I experienced some of the same. However, it was repaired and has been fine since. The traction abilities of this car are remarkable! Its almost as though its on rails. My only complaint is its mediocre acceleration.

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  Best car I’ve ever owned - great for road trips. - 2013 Volvo XC60
  By keepeyesopen - February 2 - 5:12 am

  I traded in a 2010 Honda CRV EX-L for the 2013 Volvo XC60 T6 Platinum. Big difference! The XC60 is far more quiet, smooth and powerful. The quietness and seat comfort contributed to a very comfortable 10-hour road trip. There is plenty of power for passing and merging. The blind spot warning system works well. The navigation system responds well to voice commands, and the bluetooth integration with both Android and iPhones is excellent. The navigation system, radio and media controls on the steering wheel are easy to use after a short learning period. One unexpected finding was the seat comfort. This is hard to appreciate on a short test drive, but apparent on long trips.

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  Classy, Safe Family SUV - 2016 Volvo XC90
  By Harold - January 31 - 10:49 am

  Volvos attention to detail is everywhere. Safety features and craftsmanship are apparent throughout the vehicle. Comfort and features make it a pleasure to drive..

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  A quite perfect Volvo - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By jojo - January 31 - 2:00 am

  Have this car for 4 yrs now. Overall, its an excellent Volvo. Did great in snow and ice. Extremely safe, wonderful turbo power. Body roll is acceptable for SUV this size. This car is so easy to manuever even in tight corners that even my wife loves it. It is not a BMW X5, but it is somewhat fun to drive. It does have below average MPG over the 4yrs, it is 16/18 MPG.

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  Excellent Car - 2004 Volvo V70
  By KTTK - January 30 - 10:00 am

  I have >8K miles on it and we love the car.

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  excellent - 2005 Volvo S60
  By steve g - January 29 - 3:23 am

  I looked at Acura TL and BMW 330. This car beats them both in performance and comfort. The T5 is amazingly fast and the handling is great. The front seats are sooo comfortable. The available IPOD adapter works great with the excellent stereo system.