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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  V70 T5- Not a Bad Car - 2001 Volvo V70
  By TEF - November 23 - 10:00 am

  Bought new in 2001 through Volvos Diplomat Sales as special order with cloth interior (vice leather) and 5- Speed MANUAL transmission. Car has been very reliable and aside from usual wear items such as pads and rotors, have not spent more than $1K over last 10 years for repairs that included replacement of a pollution device plus new timing and serpentine belts. Perhaps having the manual transmission thats made the difference, but has been dependable and decent on gas. Would not buy another Volvo because Ford pretty much destroyed the company. Current Volvos are just too expensive for what one gets. Current models offer old technology.

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  Like it, but frustrating - 2008 Volvo C70
  By Rick - November 22 - 8:36 am

  Did a lot of research on convertibles before I bought this one. In general, I think it is a very functional and stylish car. Good driving position and room for the kids. I have had to take it to the dealer 4 times to get rid of the intermittent annoying rattle in the center front of roof and between the front and back right windows. Seems to be a very difficult thing to diagnose and fix.. Hopefully we are getting to the end of the issue. Once resolved, I will love the car.

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  Just a great car - 2003 Volvo XC70
  By Jim - November 19 - 11:53 am

  Its just a great comfortable and reliable car.I have put 150,000 miles on this car and it has never let me down. Amazing room for three kids and large dog which I bought a Walmart gate to keep him contained in the back.The very best car in snow, Ive had jeeps and all others and nothing compares to the xc.

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  Love my S40! - 2001 Volvo S40
  By woodsprite53 - November 18 - 4:01 pm

  Wow - saw all these bad reviews.Too bad. Bought my 2001 S40 used in January 09 - just under $5,000. I love this car. Turbo...broooommmm. Mechanical, nothing outside of regular maintenance or wear and tear...even very little there. Only "problem" is the fan blower for the climate control does not work on "2" setting so you either go with very low at 1 or with 3...no problem. Had to replace her battery last week...okay it is a 10 year old car. Replaced the timing belt at the interval recommended in the maintainance manual. In about 2 years I will be looking at a "new" used car...it will be a 2006 or newer Volvo S60 or 80. S40 has been great but she has small interior. Love this car.

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  Not so Happy - 2002 Volvo S40
  By kurt ericsson - November 17 - 10:00 am

  I have replaced brakes at 12,000 miles, and was told by volvo this is normal. Light bulbs are constantly out amd head and tail lights are also constantly going out. Many idiot lights coming on on the dash board. Great car to drive, but very quirky, and has been to the dealer for service on a monthly basis. I would not recommend.

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  Poor navigation in great car - 2018 Volvo S90
  By Hector Espinosa - November 16 - 7:21 am

  I own a xc60 r design 2010, the guidance software has not been upgraded since 2012, I gave it one more try w this fabulous s90 all the extras, the navigation is not much better, I hope they will keep it updated, maybe in a city that does not update roads but not a week goes by it does not take me the wrong or long way at least once or simply cant find address. Terrible, good high tech car poor navigation.

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  Volvo Buying Back My 2016 XC90 Plug-in Hybrid - 2017 Volvo XC90
  By Lynn - November 14 - 8:18 pm

  My first indication of problems to come was the check engine light was on when I purchased the car. It took two days to resolve originally and then it recurred several more times, which required a visit to Volvo each time. I have a love/hate relationship with this vehicle. I love, love, love the interior design and features. There is great mood lighting, an excellent sound system, comfortable seats, classy styling, touch screen, AUTO PILOT (the best thing ever in Southern California traffic - Ill never buy a car without this feature again), parallel parking assist, second row seat adjustment for larger/smaller passenger leg room and much more. Twice my car auto braked and likely saved me from accident, so thank you Volvo, but many other times as I am driving in a residential street it dings loudly with an orange bar code. It falsely alerts me and sometimes even breaks slightly, that I am going to hit a parked car that I am no where near. It scares me each time it does this. My moon roof poured water in the second row of my car when I took it to the Costco car wash. This fix (replacing the moonroof and making adjustments) took about a week. I have had multiple issues with temperature control systems, both requiring extended visits (about a week each time) at the service shop, while they ordered parts and made repairs. My seat belts, seats or whatever squeaks as I am driving down the road. Its like nails on a chalkboard. Ive been in several times for this and now I just give him. My quiet Volvo riding experiencing now has me twitching at the sounds. I have continuous issues pumping gas (they made a repair for a check engine light on a fuel related issue, just not this issue) where the pump clicks off and I cannot tell if my tank is full. Im scared to keep pumping as gas will spill out, so I stop and fill up at another gas station or another occasion. Volvo offered to buy my car back and it has been a very smooth process, so much so, that I will be purchasing a 2018 XC90 Plug-in Hybrid. I am hoping they have worked out some of the glitches. Fingers-crossed... Update, 1/8/18!!! I have been in my new 2018 Volvo XC90 Plug-in Hybrid Inscription for several months and I reached 3,400 miles before my check engine light came on. What a huge disappointment! As luck would have it, my thermostat needs replacing (a 3-5 day repair estimate). This is EXACTLY the same issue as on my 2016 XC90 Plug-in Hybrid. You can’t make this stuff up! Buyer beware of the mechanic/computer problems on this car. They are real! My service advisor told me that they haven’t seen this issue on other 2018 models yet (I am one of the first buyers in my location of this model year).

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  Fun while it lasted - 2003 Volvo V70
  By Dave from DTown - November 9 - 12:53 pm

  I have absolutely loved driving this car. Very comfortable and so solid on the road. However at 101,000 miles the transmission must be completely replaced at a cost almost equal to the entire trade in value. At 7 years old, with this mileage, I no longer have a warranty, and will probably donate the car to charity. I love the car but think that maintenance costs have been excessive over the four years I have owned it. I probably wont buy another Volvo, but if I do I will get rid of it before the warranty runs out.

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  disappointed - 2001 Volvo S60
  By Paul - November 7 - 8:53 pm

  This is a great looking car that has a number of design flaws and reliability issues. The turning radius is way too large, the low profile tires fail at an alarming rate as do various bulbs. The warning lights for the bulb failures override all other info until fixed whereas the low gas indicator is invisible. The radio/sound controls are counter- intuitive. There are a number of rattles that I cannot find/fix. Most annoying is that the dealership, Dalzell Volvo, Dedham Mass. They either defend the design or lie about the problems. Dealer: "Low profile tire flats, never heard of it." Tire store: "Low profile tires are definitely more prone to road hazard damage."

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  Great Looks, But thats all folks - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Not Pleased - November 5 - 2:00 am

  I have loved Volvos all my life. I have an 83 DL that is still kicking with 240000 miles. My 98 V70 R AWD is another story. It rides like a logging truck, yet all is fine.It has a jerk in the trans that will drive you insane. It has been in the shop a total of 32 days since Feb of this year. I love the color, the engine performance (lots of power), the comforts and safety - but this is not a car I will keep. I drive the 83 more and enjoy it a hell of alot more!