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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  Proud to Drive my Volvo - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By vmcdevitt - July 15 - 1:03 pm

  Bought my car new and have been very proud of it, and have really enjoyed driving it. Will be passing it along to my 16 year old son and am confident it will be a safe and reliable car for him. Its the first car Ive owned past 2 years (were on year 6, mile 90K+) by choice. I havent found anything else Id rather own.

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  Great car! - 2012 Volvo S60
  By jtski33 - July 15 - 9:06 am

  I just bought this car yesterday and drove it 700 miles to my home. It drives great! A lot of power yet still fuel efficient. I averaged >30 mpg on the highway during my first trip. The handling is tight and responsive. The front seats are incredibly comfortable and supportive. The lumbar support is great. Even after sitting in the car for >10 hours I had no back pain or fatigue. I got a great deal on a 2 year old lease turn in. I was between buying a BMW 3 series and Volvo S60. The BMW wons hands down for performance. I bought the Volvo because I loved the styling, it drove very well and was packed full of features for 10K less than the comparable BMW. Great value.

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  Discreet Fun - 2006 Volvo S60
  By FastCar - July 13 - 6:33 pm

  I looked at BMW, Audi, and MB, and by far the best power/quality/features combination for the money was the S60R. The car performs at its best with quality 93 octane gasoline. By quality I mean from Shell, Exxon, Chevron, etc., not Texaco, Citgo, etc. Any low quality gas or under 93 octane and you will have a non turbo S60 2.5L. Also, it is important to have the foot on the entire accelerator pedal for best results. City driving and hard acceleration now and then, yields 21-22 mpg. Almost nobody knows what is under the hood, so it is fun to see other drivers trying to race you from light to light and being left behind every single time.

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  Excelent for the money. FWD - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By Cheoto - July 13 - 2:23 am

  I have this car for a month and cannot be better, excellent quality inside and outside. Nice ride and easy to drive and the security features are amazing, better than q5 and X3 (far away)

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  Great Car - 2002 Volvo S60
  By bkrueger - July 12 - 4:26 pm

  Volvo is a great automobile company. If you are considering an A4, C-Class, IS300, 3-Series, it is another great alternative. Good performance, turbo is a lot of fun on the highway. Gas mileage is usually aroung 25 city 30- 33 highway (Depends how you drive). Interior is small in the back but i dont care because im the driver and it is awesome in the front. Interior is also very nicely appointed. Sound system rocks. Good car all around i have an ECU upgrade so that makes the car even more fun to drive.

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  fun to drive - 2005 Volvo S60
  By Dave Carraghan - July 12 - 2:56 pm

  the s60 is an extremely comfortable car to travel in...very responsive...handles and brakes well...it is designed with the driver in mind...

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  T8 Excellence is best Hybrid SUV - 2017 Volvo XC90
  By Dave D - July 10 - 6:41 pm

  Bought a 2017 XC90 Excellence and really like the cabin divider that keeps interior quieter and stops wind from blowing into passenger space when hatch is open. German Shepherd fits nicely in either rear bucket seat with thigh extender out. Seats are extremely comfortable and include awesome massaging. Auto park and brake set or release is great feature. Safety technologies all included and really like active lane keeping as well as adaptive cruise. More than enough room in back for shopping and luggage even with having an Fpace spare space saver tire in case of flat laying on cargo floor (nearly exact diameter vs Volvo’s spare is 4” smaller). About 31 mpg in 6300 miles which is incredible for a 5300 lb SUV with 400 hp. Charges in two hours at 240V so do it several times a day. Remote climate start is perfect for dog on hot days. A lost car glitch on nav map was easily fixed by resetting Sensus system per screen option. Air suspension lowers car automatically. The list of great features goes on and on. Highly recommended plus Volvo included maintenance for 30000 miles or 3 years. An incredible vehicle and highly recommended!

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  Awesome! - 2004 Volvo V70
  By shrooman - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. Very very fast, excellent handling and exceptional braking power. The interior is beautifull..I got the Ti Grey and Nordkap enterior. Great dash and nightime lighting. For 42 k you get great nav system, 320watt stereo, all wheel drive, 300hp and a wagon with a great stick shift!!!! What more do you want?? I do wish it had a slightly tighter turning radius though.

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  Wolf in sheeps attire - 2004 Volvo V70
  By granitehead - July 10 - 10:00 am

  Have had this vehicle for 4wks at this point and have been very pleased. The car performs well (6sp MT, those with the geartronic auto have poorer performance). The handling is great, with a clear change with the suspension settings. The car corners very nicely, and is smooth at high speed. The interior is great...functional and full of comforts. The integrated child seats are a must for those bringing the kids along for the ride. This is a wolf in sheeps attire.

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  Best SUV on the road - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By St Louis Volvo - July 10 - 10:00 am

  The 2004 Volvo XC90 gets better and better. They way it handle in any weather conditions cannot be beat. Its solid and rides very comfortable without any "truck feeling". I highly recommend it.