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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  A good car with some things to know - 2001 Volvo S60
  By Erik - February 24 - 7:50 pm

  I love this car. The suspension is not sporty and the seats are like home theater recliners, so I get a nice comfortable ride. At 64" 230 I fit easily in the front seats. The fuel economy is also surprisingly strong, I get about 27 MPG. So what are the drawbacks? The electrical system hasnt cost me any large dollar figure, but I always seem to have to replace bulbs. And when replacing a front head lamp, be careful, the housing is brittle and easily broken. Also, adults cant fit very easily in the back seat. Im glad I bought it, but I will look for something with a little more engine kick and a more spacious back seat in my next ride.

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  safe - 1997 Volvo 960
  By Cheshiresmile - February 23 - 5:16 am

  This is my third Volvo. I buy them for safety. It may be my last though. I am tired of mystery bits of plastic falling off constantly. Ive replaced the sunroof twice and the roof still leaks. The cup holders are useless. The leather on the doors is pulling off. The brakes need replacing 1-2 times a year. the drivers visor wont stay up and there is no way to repair it without replacement. It is a comfortable ride and I love the look of the interior. The turning radius is impressive for a car this big and heavy.

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  Still glad I did buy it. - 2003 Volvo S60
  By pj650 - February 21 - 11:30 pm

  I still love getting in and driving my car. The interior looks 10 fold better with the woodgrain package which I have. I solved the radio display by getting the windows a mild tint. The rattle I heard was coming from the spare not tight enough. All is well now.

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  Stylish Annoyance - 2001 Volvo C70
  By sixtto - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive when the top is down. Otherwise back seat is useless and annoying to put anything in due to annoyingly slow motorized seats. Visibility out rear view mirror with top up is annoyingly non-existent. Mechanical problems have been annoying but fixed at no charge --recurring front end turning issue that goes away briefly only to annoyingly return. OPening window or door in rain gets car wet.

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  Bad Headlights - 2000 Volvo S40
  By bad headlights - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Doesnt set my hair on fire. Headlights burn out at least once per year. If the Turbo isnt spooled up, the car is VERY sluggish.

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  Why get anything else? - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By fslee - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Never wanted to get into SUVs becauase of fuel efficiency. BUt saw 18/24 and jumped! Must get 5-cyl trim for all the reasons listed by others. Better room than BMW, much better styling than Benz, best fuel efficiency overall. Shockingly good sound system.

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  S40 Review - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Simon Brown - February 15 - 4:13 am

  The new S40 is in a class all on its own. Take my advice and definitely go for the T5 AWD, as the 2.4i is very unpowered, (a problem the T5 will never have). The AWD option on a car of this type is outstanding, and is extremely useful. The new S40 is tons of fun to drive, especially if you like a firm and sporty type of suspension.

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  Affordable Luxury Sedan - 2000 Volvo S80
  By sedan man - February 12 - 1:43 pm

  This is solid, well built safe sedan. The acceleration is strong and a great ride on the highway if youre going north and south. The handling is okay. Semi-frustrating trunk lock/unlock feature. The interior features are great, comfortable seats, lots of leg room for taller people. Havent had any problems with the car after 12K miles. Aside from the lock/unlock features all in all, for the money, a very good buy.

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  Great Workout! - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By rg - February 8 - 10:00 am

  The steering is too tight in this SUV. My arms ache everytime I drive this car. My dad drove my XC90 one day, he asked if it had power steering!!! Hard to park this car, makes a very big turn - hard to make a tight swing.

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  Great car, lousy tire options and MPG - 2005 Volvo XC70
  By gbs - February 7 - 2:30 am

  I bought my XC70 as a certified used car. I had previously owned an Audi A6 wagon, which was a tank. The Audi drove better at highway speeds, had a vastly superior stereo. But I have to say, I love the Volvos style, excellent front seats, storage capability. What I dont like: Perelli tires which need to be replaced every 30K miles or so. havent found a suitable replacement that tire cos will actually put on the car due to safety ratings and sizing issues. And since I do mostly city driving, the mpg is lousy. Overall, glad it was pre- certified. Have saved much $$$ having the dealer take car of stuff. Id recommend the XC70.