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 to drive, with a few design quirks - 2005 Volvo S60
  By PJ - July 28 - 7:40 pm

  I purchased this as a certified preowned, and have loved it ever since. While there definitely is some turbo lag and torque steer when you punch it, its still pretty darn quick. Just make sure you hold the steering wheel tightly when you floor it. The seats are so comfortable in the front, but the back seats need more leg room for my two kids. I love the simplicity of all the Volvo controls, but some need changing. The heated seats should turn off automatically when you turn off the car. Also, the door lock button only has one button for both lock and unlock. It should have one for each. Finally, the key fob has a slight delay, and my kids are always a bit too quick on the doors.

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  2nd Upate on V70T5 - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Hieatt - July 26 - 6:16 pm

  It has been 2 years since my last update. Purchased my T5 out of my lease 2 years ago - car is now 5 years old with 62K miles. Thank god I purchased the VIP warranty. Took it in for the $700 60K service (!) and mentioned a knocking sound from the suspension and also a bad oil leak. They found knocking was result of broken sway bar connectors and a broken engine mount (over $700 in repairs), and the oil leak was from the engine block itself, and may require replacement of the whole engine!!! They have had car for over a week. This was after replacing a seal on the turbo return ($150 repair) on the previous service. VIP warranty good for 2 more years or 100K miles - will sell before then.

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  Is it worth the money? - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By Cindy - July 19 - 8:06 pm

  I also own this vehicle because of its safety reputation. And of course my childrens safety is priceless. However, Ive also driven the Honda Pilot and with its amenities, reliability, and 3rd row airbags, can the volvo really be worth over $10K more? If I could do it over I would have bought a Honda Pilot.

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  Disappointed - 1996 Volvo 850
  By PGHowner - July 16 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car with intentions of being able to pass on to my child a safe/reliable used vehicle that would last several years. I have had various problems with it since purchasing it - having brakes repaired most often (1-2 times a year). I will never buy a Volvo again - my next car will be a Nissan, Toyota or Volkwagen.

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  Smooth cruiser - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By carnut - July 12 - 4:33 pm

  This is our 6th Volvo. Smooth and comfortable on the highway. We keep up with the maintenance and have the transmission fluid flushed annually. Best mileage was 23.4 mpg on the highway with premium 93. Most filling stations add 10% ethanol now which has lowered our fuel economy averages.

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  Too Much Fun for Short Trips - 2004 Volvo S60
  By T5A-S60R - July 11 - 2:00 am

  The S60R is clearly the best undercover performance car Ive ever driven. I traded my Volvo T5 for it just after it was released in April 2003. Its power is exhilerating and it has a lot of "pedal" in gears 3 through 6.

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  Be Careful - 2005 Volvo S60
  By The Eggman - July 9 - 5:13 pm

  I have a love/hate relationship with my R. I love the power, the styling, and the interior (especially the atacama leather). However, the turning radius is horrible. Can rarely complete a U-Turn without making it a 3-point turn. Also, if you live in snow country, THIS IS NOT THE CAR FOR YOU. While it performs OK in the snow, the low profile tires and wheels are no match for potholes. I have already blown 3 tires and bent 2 rims. Its no fun driving if you have to be totally stressed looking for potential (yet covered) potholes. Im trading mine in.

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  Let down! - 2006 Volvo S40
  By a.j. - July 5 - 8:43 pm

  This car is a gas hog! I sometimes have to fill my tank up 3 times a week. It is super slow since I didnt get the turbo. The first few months of driving the car the a/c broke and the software in the car had a glitch. The locks and the windows on my driver side would not work I had to crawl thru the passanger side. My a/c works now but it only gives you cool air not cold, so its really bad on a really hot summer day. The plastic linning in my door is pooping up, so everythime I try to get in the car I trip on the popping up plastic. I would not recomend this car to anyone, yeah its a good looking car but the quality is terrible. Very let down! I wish I never got this car, its a lemon!

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  OK, but Not Like the Good Old Days - 2003 Volvo V70
  By VolvoGrl - July 5 - 6:13 pm

  I bought the V70 after owning a 240 wagon. The V70 is OK, but its not like the old days. The car is comfortable and gas mileage is great for something this size. I am, however, disappointed in Volvos apparent decline in quality. Ive had to return to the dealer about 5 times in the first two and a half years to replace shoddy parts, including the steering wheel which just sort of crumbled and the power steering reservoir which cracked. Brakes went at 40k. After owning only Volvos in my adult life, will I buy another? Sadly, no. I think Volvo now delivers American quality with a European price tag.

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  Very Happy - 1999 Volvo V70
  By justme1000 - July 4 - 3:33 pm

  One thing I have come to learn about these Volvos is that either they are very very good or very very bad. I did about 4 months worth of research and highly recommend doing a carfax report on interested vehicles. It seems that they either are notorious for electrical problems or trouble free other than routine mainteneance. I absolutely love my XC and I currently get 21MPG in the City and 27 on the HWY which really surprised me and more than makes up for having to use premimum gasoline. Do your homework and you will not be disappointed.