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:

• 

  A Mind Blowing Wagon - 2000 Volvo V70
  By Brad - November 29 - 9:00 pm

  I bought this car used with 89,000 miles on the clock. This car has TOTALLY BLOWN ME AWAY! Probably the best handling wagon Ive driven. Gets the same gas mileage as my old 4 cylinder Honda Accord. EXCEPTIONAL power (0-60 under 9 seconds) for a 2.5 litre, non turbo car with automatic. Better yet, it has been TOTALLY reliable in my 30,000 miles of ownership (YES, I drive a LOT :)) My only REAL complaint is the front cupholder that appears to be a toy out of a McDonalds Happy Meal. Also, I will probably go with a Turbo next time around since I do a fair amount of high altitude mountain driving. Although very peppy in normal driving, the engine DOES get short of breath past 4500 ft altitude.

• 

  Terrific Wagon - A Swedish Sleeper - 2015 Volvo V60
  By Mike Simmons - November 29 - 8:52 pm

  If youre dying for longer glances at the Starbucks drive-thru -- get your BMW or Audi wagon with great haste. Or line up for your favorite pseudo-sporty crossover. But if youre dying for an immensely likeable and practical wagon, the V60 really checks all the boxes. Seriously folks... the V60 is a Volvo at heart (incredible seats, up-to-date and seamless safety features) with enough spunk and sport to make things interesting. I went with the FWD version, and am consistently getting mid 20s gas mileage around town, and mid 30s on the highway. Huge plus -- the 4-cylinder turbo is a VAST improvement over the 5-cylinder turbo I had on my older S60. Lag is minimal, and the whoosh is maximal. The ride is Euro firm yet comfortable -- and until I export the car (and my career) to some village in the Swiss Alps, the handling has plenty of bite for everyday driving. Other positives -- the Sensus system is pretty intuitive, and if you are carting around younger children (roughly 4 to 8 years old) do yourself a HUGE favor and find a V60 with the integrated booster seats. Incredible option -- almost worth the price of admission for any parent. No matter how capable the V60 is -- my hunch is that it will get lost in the compact wagon and SUV shuffle. No screaming BMW badge... no butch plastic on the outside to make you think youre ready to scale Everest. But consider it your gain. I got a pretty aggressive deal from my local dealer since these arent exactly flying off the showroom floor. And while the rear seat is plenty roomy for kids and teens -- I dont think a 6-footer would want to hang out in the backseat for an extended trip.

• 

  Perfect truck at the right price - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By Costin Harnoncourt - November 28 - 12:36 pm

  We got this truck because it looks great, is very comfortable, rates very high in safety and best of all we got $10K of the sticker price. The seats are amazing, room for 7 and lots of trunk space. Great stereo system and power everything. The only problem is poor gas mileage

• 

  217,000 and going strong - 2004 Volvo S60
  By birddogphil - November 28 - 12:25 pm

  I have driven this car for business for the last 8 years.This is my second Volvo in recent years and I consider this S60 to be as close to the perfect car for me as I will ever get.With the 2.4 engine,I think the performance is good but obviously not stellar.Reliability,comfort,style,MPG are however all stellar.Keep a few extra bulbs on hand,change the oil and do regular maintenance and do what I am planning to do-keep driving this car for 300,000 miles and then decide if I should look for a new ride.

• 

  Wake Up People! - 1999 Volvo S80
  By love2golf - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive read through so many of the comments here an I really have something to say! First of all, the S80 T6 is just unbeatable for the price. It tears apart everything in it class, not to mention.... out runs them all too. So many people here complaining and whining about problems. GET YOUR SOFTWARE UPGRADED! Its free from Volvo... what more do you want. It fixes every know issue with this car. Without a multiplex system, which this car has, it wouldnt be possible. After the upgrade it will be more reliable for life over any car out there. Do some research people instead of whining so much. You have an amazing vehicle. I love mine!

• 

  What a car!!!! - 2000 Volvo S80
  By Nicolena - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Love it, Love it, Love It!

• 

  S70 T5 - 1999 Volvo S70
  By parksie - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Great family car, extremely comfortably and safe! Fun to drive!

• 

  Great SUV - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By RBURD - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Quiet, performance, spacious, great to drive, power, excellent options, all wrapped in a volvo saftey net! I would tell anyone wanting an SUV that drives like a car, handles exceptionally and is quiet to buy this one. We have owned 3 other SUVs and this is the best yet. Go for the T6! It is a big difference.

• 

  2003 Volvo Cross Country - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By mlalvar - November 28 - 2:06 am

  We bought this vehicle mostly because of Volvos safety ratings. Little did we know it would also be so much fun to drive and such a smooth ride. We are expecting our first child in a few weeks and wouldnt dream of having her ride in anything other than a Volvo. The gas mileage has been superb and the customer service from Volvo is top notch.

• 

  Over 100,000 Miles - 2000 Volvo C70
  By C70 Lover - November 27 - 1:03 pm

  I bought this car used in 2002 with 24000 miles. At the end of 2004 I have 120,000 miles. The only problem I have had with this car is the the electronic throttle has gone bad twice. Other than that I still love this car. I dont really have any complaints other than the electronic throttle.