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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  Never Again - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Jim - August 21 - 6:56 am

  I purchased what I thought would be a "safe" car and a few nights ago the car basically told me to flee for my life; the message light read "Brake Failure - pull to stop and seek service". Since Ive owned it it has leaked fuel in puddles, lost its turn signals, airbag failure, headlight failure . . . everything that goes wrong with this car seems to threaten my safety. This is our 4th Volvo and weve witnessed the steady decline of what was once a safe, reliable car. Never again!

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  Freds review - 2003 Volvo S40
  By Fred Miller - August 20 - 2:00 am

  Of the 9 new cars Ive owned in the past 50 years, the S-40 is my all-time favorite--even better than the two 240s I owned for 15 years overall. Volvo--its for Life, really it is!!

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  not really a good value for the dough - 2003 Volvo S60
  By karen frietsch - August 19 - 3:26 am

  very expensive. mediocre fit and finish. sport model will cost you in tires no matter how careful. noisy. uncomfortable drivers seating even with power adjustment. cramped. lots of plastic.blind spots.unimpressive for the money. dealership price gouging. running lights will also cost you in bulbs and they are a challenge to change.stereo is ok, not great.cant believe there is no homefinder garage door opening system. exterior dents easily. overall, i wouldnt recommend this car for the price. you can do better, for sure.

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  What a piece of crap - 2007 Volvo S60
  By bclass - August 18 - 4:51 am

  Bought it used at 53,000mi radiator crapped after 3 weeks. Power locks and power seats are dying. Failed inspection due to axel rod. Check engine light came on at 58,000. Than the coolant level dropped to zero and had to shut car off to prevent engine damage. Now trying to trade it on anything Japanese.

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  Lemon: very poor - 2005 Volvo V50
  By Volvo_trouble - August 17 - 2:40 am

  Check Engine light: related to fuel pressure. Fuel tank does not accept gas more than a gallon at a time Cruise control: Does not work properly. Car speeds up and slows down suddenly with jerks. Fault in module. Overall very disappointed

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  2007, The Best Year for XC70 - 2007 Volvo XC70
  By Dave - August 16 - 9:18 am

  My current 2007 XC70 is my second; the first was 2004. All prior model year problems (e.g. transmission) seem to have been fixed on the 2005-2007 model years and 07 was the last year before Ford made Volvo cost reduce the vehicle and substitute the problematic Mitsubishi OEM T6 engine for Volvos bulletproof 2.5T. I now have over 160K miles on this car and my only significant repairs have been (a) timing belt and water pump at 103K as specified, (b) lower control arms at 120k, (c) brake disks at 130k, steering wheel position sensor "clock spring" just done at 148k and other front suspension bits around 160K. Just about to complete a tune up with new plugs and coil packs. Seats still look practically new. The chassis is tight and free of rattles. Even the original struts still doing well, although Ive thought about replacing them to tighten up the ride quality a bit. All in all, a very solid and well built vehicle - very comfortable, big storage in back, and tight if not razor sharp European style handling. I particularly admire the 2.5T engine. Torque peak at 1,900 rpm is right at 55mph where you need it for passing. Light boost turbo maintains power at altitude, yet runs nicely on US regular 87 octane gas - unlike Mercedes, Audi, etc. Good sound system, comfortable seats, intuitive controls, great visibility, sure handling, and higher ride height that makes for easier in/out for us older guys plus eliminates annoying scrapes in front while parking (and you dont plow snow with the front bumper unless its well over six inches. My only niggle with this vehicle is road noise which can be an issue with most aggressive tread patterns. Ive finally settled in happily with Pirellis P7 AS plus, Tireracks number one rated Grand Touring tire, which is as quiet as they come with crisp handling and commendable grip in all conditions. Ive considered a newer xc70, but found that about one in 25 of the six cyl motors experiences excessive oil burn, leading to ring & piston replacement (no cyl wall scoring) or total engine replacement. Volvo dealers might tell you that Volvo offers a 4yr/48K mile extended powertrain warranty if you buy a used unit from a dealer; otherwise, good luck. One curious problem on my 07 that I eventually fixed was when the engine would sputter and eventually and stall when the indicator still reads 1/4 tank - like it was out of fuel. Turned out to be a false high output from the fuel rail pressure sensor. Easy fix anyone with a screwdriver and a rag can do, since the sensor is located on top of the engine. Another age related repair was to replace the upstream oxygen sensor at 170K. Initial code indicated catalytic converter ($$$$), but after running through several consecutive tanks of no ethanol fuel plus Techron additive, the oxygen sensor code came up and that seems to have been the root cause. PS: Easy way to reset the check engine light is to disconnect the battery briefly. Now running on premium unleaded on a long highway trip to finish burning out deposits in the Cat. Finally, if you read the owner blogs Dealers are often referred to as "the Stealership". Ive found them capable but very expensive. Could be worse if you have a Mercedes or Audi.

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  1999 Volvo S80 - 1999 Volvo S80
  By JCM2 - August 15 - 10:00 am

  For a first-year model, this car is outstanding. Less quirks, and all that you would expect from a top-of-the-line Volvo

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  s40 - 2001 Volvo S40
  By Aijaz - August 15 - 10:00 am

  The s40 is a good car. The acceleration is quick, the ride smooth and the front seats so comfortable. My only problem was a window that didnt work for a month. the dealer said he would fix it although he never got back in touch like he said he would.

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  So far so good - 2015 Volvo XC60
  By Luke Skywooker - August 15 - 4:35 am

  looked at everything in the $35K price range, saw this Volvo Used with 14K miles for $35,300. Beat out Edge and Murano, way less than Audi or X3. Drives very smooth, amazing seats, great acceleration. Didnt like Volvos newer 4cyl engines, too raspy and sounded like they were working way too hard. Went for the 6 cyl. So far very glad. WE are averaging 24 MPG combined for the 30 days.

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  An understated driving experience! - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Dooney - August 12 - 7:06 pm

  I traded my 2001 Saab Viggen (awesome car, but costly repairs) on the T5 Automatic. While I dont feel the THRUST of the turbo Viggen, my Volvo S40 is more luxery and still packs a lot of power. I hear the 6speed manual is much faster - oh well. My experience so far is, this is a great car. I commute 30 miles daily, and the premium sound system (12-speakers) makes my ride very enjoyable. My wife and I bought this car because of Volvos safety track record, and we want to start a family soon. This car is sporty enough for people in their late 20s, and sophisticated in a grown up kind of way at the same time. Other cars we considered were the 2006 VW Jetta (too big), Audi A4 (too much).