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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  2001 S60 T5 - 2002 Volvo S60
  By joepags - May 3 - 10:00 am

  This is my 1st Volvo. Went into the decision wanting German, but the value of the S60 in my mind was far greater than the BMW 5 series. Hated the IS300, liked the TL Type S but couldnt see paying $30+ for Japanese, and couldnt afford an A6 2.7T. The A6 was far and away my favorite, but $45K is a downpayment on a house, not a car!

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  AMAZZZZIIINNNGGGGG - 2011 Volvo XC60
  By cheoto - April 30 - 1:49 am

  Awesome, nic looking excelllent performance n dry, wet and snow weather. extremelly stable, 5 years no payments in service a lot of space, great seats and extemelly safe. FUNNNNNN to drive .....absolutly nothing to complain and to much to enjoy. Quality volvo, nice interior totaly different that other cars and i like it. Nice music system, phone connecion, and Ipod connection.... Just i am enjoing this car a lot. Even that i try to be green, with my second car being a Prius, i can not resist to drive the Xc60 instead of the prius. I known the dark side, but is an excellent car.

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  Performance wagon? - 2002 Volvo V40
  By Volvoowner - April 26 - 10:00 am

  Very happy with this car. Bought it right before a long road trip with my with. Plenty of room in the folding rear area for two weeks worth of camping gear. Highway ride was very smooth, and engine provided plenty of power for entrance ramps and passing. Cabin is very quiet, similar to much more expensive luxury cars. Leather seats are very supportive, but could use a little extra bolstering. The (upgraded) sound system is awesome!! Averaged better than 32 miles to the gallon over 1200 highway miles. Overall, fun car to drive, great safety features, comfortable and practical.

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  Nice vehicle - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By mom - April 24 - 1:20 am

  It has been a great car. We bought one that was fully loaded. Only complaint is that we dont live near a dealer so have to travel for service. We have really felt safe in this car. We had to have break pads replaced too. We think because the car is heavy (for safety) and we live where there are lots of hills.

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  im happy - 2004 Volvo S60
  By stray dog - April 23 - 10:00 am

  I really like this car! Prevously I had an 01 acura TL. THe performance of this car is awsome, the interoir is really nice, the look is great and there are not many on the roads, so whoever owns an awd s60 R will have a special car. The only thing that could be good or bad for the car, is that they are going to make them next year.

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  Driving for Fun - 2008 Volvo C30
  By Kathy - April 23 - 4:40 am

  I purchased my Volvo three months ago and find myself driving around town and listening to music, not going anywhere. I love the ride and the feel and the super good looks. So many people have commented on it! I get 26 mpg around town with an automatic. I am shorter than average and thought I needed to sit high to see well, but the C30 is positively panoramic. I feel great about my choice.

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  Looks good, feels great, but... - 2011 Volvo XC70
  By an0nym0us - April 21 - 8:22 am

  Comparing to 2002 V70XC I traded in for it, its a mixed bag. Interior feels much more luxurious and refined; also appears somewhat roomier. Exterior design mostly improved on the previous generation, except for those silvery things around fog lights. Actually on mine - painted Electric Silver - they look OK, but on darker cars theyre outright out of place. The engine - 3.2 inline 6 - is nominally more powerful than the T5 on previous generation, but feels not as peppy as the older one. Gas mileage is not as good, too. The transmission feels more smooth-shifting and refined. The suspension is tuned more towards ride comfort rather than spirited driving style.

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  Best convertible I have had - 2008 Volvo C70
  By Joel C. Hart - April 20 - 1:43 am

  Bought the car on the overseas purchase program. Saved 8% and got a free vacation. Volvo people in Sweden are great and we drove 900 miles while there. Six speed manual is a dream. Side warning system is great for blind spots. Plenty of pep with manual transmission good road stability and quiet with hard- top up. Dynasound a must for CDs and Ipod. Some understeer but mostly a good solid ride. 29MPG in Sweden but gas is 95 octane and $8.25 a gallon. Does well on mid grade in USA mileage on cruise control at 70MPH is 28MPG. City is about 26MPG. Very comfortable and smoth. My wife loves the car. We traded a 2004 BMW 325CI and I like this car better. So far so good. No mechanical problems

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  Very nice vehicle - 2005 Volvo S80
  By karl Ripple - April 19 - 3:10 pm

  This car is replacing a 2002 S-60 2.4. It out classes the S-60 in all categories except handling through turns.

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  cool - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By Yash Parulekar - April 17 - 7:13 am

  My first new car; love every minute of driving it. awesome looks, great comfort and a driving pleasure. Low noise, awesome seats, great driver position (nice and high). We love the two-piece rear gate as we have a dog who hops onto it as well as stays in on warmer days with the lower gate closed. main reason for buying was safety and looks. looked at BMW (X3 too small; X5 too expensive), Acura (tacky), Infiniti (weird), merc (unreliable?).