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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  Fun in the sun! - 2004 Volvo C70
  By Skippypac - December 9 - 2:00 am

  Amazing how little wind penetrates the passenger compartment with top down. Outside noise is not with the top up. I now understand the meaning of turbo lag. I think the car matches up very well with Mercedes CLK and BMW 328 conv, there are some vehicle integrity issues you would not expect from a luxury car, such as noise from the wheels when you turn the steering wheel all the way, a very slight rattle in the dashboard, & sometimes a squeak when window goes up. At low speeds when you first start the car up there is a slight vibration. With Volvo you dont get the bells & whistles that you do with a Jap or German car, but the bottom line is I love my C70.

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  All in the family - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By Jai25 - December 9 - 2:00 am

  This is our first Volvo although other family members have over 100,000 miles on their Volvos. Weve had the car for almost one month and so far so good. I have a long commute everyday and I like getting into this car and crusing home after 12 hours on campus. Theres a nice safe secure feeling when youre inside the car. Its also one of the most recognizable cars on the road.

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  1999 Volvo V70 - 1999 Volvo V70
  By GMRBimmerBoy - December 8 - 10:00 am

  I now have close to 90K miles on it and it is still running pretty good. However, there are a few problems that I have run into. The electrical system is a joke. I lost count of the number of times I have had to take my car to the dealer to have a headlight/tail- light/turn signal bulb replaced or rewired. If you buy this car, be ready to take it in for service on the electrical system frequently. On some cold mornings, the engine would not start for me. I have had to keep my foot on the gas at intersections (I have a manual tranny) to keep it from stalling. That usually fades away after about 5 minutes after starting the engine. Beside those bugs, an excellent car.

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  Best Car for $3,500!! - 2004 Volvo S60
  By killmitchell@gmail.com - December 8 - 6:32 am

  I found this amazing car last minute on craigslist. I had previously owned a 2003 BMW 3-series that was riddled with problems and kept my wallet pretty slim... I needed AWD/4WD because I go to school in an area where it snows a lot. I have yet to report on how the AWD is in the snow but Ive been disappointed so far with how it takes off in the rain (maybe its because of the KUMHO tires)... In terms of reliability, Ive gotten the oil changed 2 times already at my local Volvo dealership, both times, theyve said the car looked amazing and needed nothing. I may get the Transmission fluid done on my next visit because sometimes from 1st-2nd gear it flares after a long highway drive. My particular car has the sport seats but doesnt have the GPS or the Xenon headlight option... bummer. The seats feel amazing, even after sitting in the car for 7+ hours non-stop!!! The back seats seriously lack leg-room and the turning radius absolutely sucks.... Aside from those two negatives, Id totally recommend this car to anyone! Mine of course was a 2 owner car, very well taken care of at the dealership/volvo indy shop. After 11 years, this car still looks amazing and people still ask me if its brand new. Take care of it, feed it premium fuel, only use synthetic oil, and itll return the favor!!!

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  Great car - 2002 Volvo S60
  By Kerrigan - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I had been looking at cars for about 6 months. I really liked the new body style of the Volvos. I owned an Audi A- 4 and I was waiting for the lease to expire. Well, I finally bought a car (a new Infiniti I-30). After owning the car for a few months, I felt like it was too big/touring sedan for me. So, I looked at the BMW 325 and MB C240 and decided upon the Volvo S-60. It was the right size and equally priced to the BMW and MB (was a little higher).

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  ultimate sleeper - 2005 Volvo S60
  By sleeper - December 6 - 9:40 pm

  For anyone wondering what the S60R can do flat out on the super highways of germany (AUTOBAHN). Well let me tell you. When I first test drove the demo car I was sold.The dealer told me to break it in at least 3000 miles and then drive it how you want. So I did just that.After the 3 was up I was trying to race everything I could.For those who dont know on the Autobahn there is (NO) speed limit.I took it to the max.It tops out between 155- 160mph. It gets there Quick. I would run the car at 150mph for 3 hours straight (no problem). Cars I blasted. bmw 545i, boxer porsche,all audis period. Hell the only thing that pushed me out the left lane was the 2006 M5. Everything less was NO match for it.

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  Worth the Money for the Seats - 2006 Volvo V70
  By David - December 6 - 11:50 am

  My wife had decided she wanted more than a Japanese car, one that will go over 200K (like all our other cars). We looked at Outback, Camry, Accord, and Passat. Camry and Accord no longer come in wagons, and we didnt like the Subaru. Saab, BMW and Audi were overpriced. We were so impressed with the seats and the Volvo reputation for safety we bought it. Absolutely no problems, 25 MPG city, 31 MPG highway. Not too shabby for a turbo. The 5 cylinder is a little rough compared to a V6, but the car has a smooth ride.

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  Used Car for Christmas 2013 - 2002 Volvo S80
  By evaeve - December 5 - 9:45 pm

  I bought this car after my long recovery from a motorcycle accident... And I am completely satisfied four months and 5k miles later. Repairs: When I bought it, I replaced the water pump and timing belt. I have had this vehicle serviced one time to replace/fill all the fluids. I need to replace my upstream oxygen sensor (minor issue), which will cost around $130 for the part and is easily installed (or labor $40 for labor). Struts are squeaky in this model, but that isnt a required fix. Wish List: This car has a terrible audio system. I have a 12inch long Skullcandy speaker at home that performs much better than all 6 speakers in my vehicle... which is sad.

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  I like my new S80 - 2007 Volvo S80
  By Chicago Volvo Owner - December 4 - 3:46 am

  I bought the S80 because it had better styling, luxury, fuel economy and safety than the competition. Three months later, Im still very pleased. A recent 300 mile trip got me 31.3 mpg at an average 64 mph with air conditioning! Thats better than many so-called economy cars. It feels solid as a bank-vault, and definitely has that luxurious ambience.

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  Check your rims - 2006 Volvo C70
  By Jeff - December 3 - 8:23 pm

  We love the C70 but it has been in the shop a number of times due to the tops sensor going off while driving in the rain and when someone is walking behind the car as I back out of a parking space. Basically I have to reset the top by opening and closing it. Not a fun experience in the rain. Another ongoing issue is both right rims seemed to have gone oval for no reason. One rim was even cracked on the interior. The dealership and Volvo USA say they are not responsible. The top rattles, water gets in at the car wash. The battery died which unlocks the car and rolls down the windows. Its a safety feature.