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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  XC90 -The Best - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By Tony Swift - June 21 - 3:46 pm

  I love the comfort and the road handling. The third row seating for the kids is great.

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  Wheres the fun - 2001 Volvo C70
  By rc jim - June 21 - 3:30 am

  We bought the volvo for fun. The honeymoon wore off real quick. This has to be the noiseiest car i have ever ridden in. I have the same issues as other reviewers, bad cup holders, cant see out the back window, non moving sun shade, gas cap light (check engine). Enough bad it is a great looking car and the lifting and lowering of the top turns heads.

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  Volvo --- Hands Down - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By icanmold - June 20 - 4:23 am

  The first Volvo Ive ever purchased and the first car Ive been enthusiastic about in a long time. Ok, so Im a stereo lover, and this car has the best stock sound system Ive ever heard. The leather is meticulously sewn, the carpet is soft, the appointments are not over-done (as in the Tribeca), and the dash design is second to none. Oh, did I mention the third row seating and the fact that 5 of the 6 seats fold completely flat? Tribeca and Highlander arent even in the same hemisphere as the Volvo XC90. The Swedes get it plain and simple. One more thing...Volvo XC90 has lower depreciation than ANY CAR IN ITS CLASS.

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  Awesome - 2012 Volvo S60
  By skippy1977 - June 20 - 12:17 am

  I only have 200 miles on it so far, but it is a tone of fun to drive. Great acceleration (I have the 5 cyl engine not the 6, but it is still very fast and has better mgp). It has a quite ride, and lots of gadgets even without the technology package or the DVD navigation system.

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  Failures - 2004 Volvo S80
  By William S. Devey - June 19 - 11:20 pm

  This is my second Volvo in 14 years. This model has not been as reliable as my previous 850. Failures to date: tumblers falling out of ignition; passenger mirror simply falling off the car; both trunk support struts broken; ventilation malfunctioning (can be repaired for $1,200 per Volvo dealer); windshield washer not functioning properly (repaired once).

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  Love It!! - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By t_hokies - June 19 - 8:56 pm

  I laughed at my husband when we bought our first Volvo 3 years ago because we are both country people and this just didnt fit in with the Fords and Dodges the we had prevously owned but now we wont buy anything else. We just recently bought the XC90 and so many of the features sold this SUV to us even after looking at several others on the market. The reliability along with the luxury is hard to find anywhere else. We see ourselves taking a Volvo with us wherever we move. The power behind it is so much better then what I could expect, handles wonderfully on an almost vertical rise.

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  bang for buck - 2004 Volvo S40
  By jennifers favorite - June 16 - 2:00 am

  rides good very good fuel economy getting an average around 29 or 30 mpg on a 35 mile trip to work daily on road with cruise control set on 79mph we got 35 to36 mpg from ga to ind

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  excellentvolvo - 2001 Volvo S60
  By gash - June 16 - 2:00 am

  extremely comfortable, reliable, and fun to drive. dont forget safety features!

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  Luxury and Practical - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Tanya - June 13 - 11:03 am

  Love my volvo, i get great compliments on the looks at the same time i packed it to the rim and used it to move into my new home. It comfortable and fun, from dressing up for a nice dinner to heading out to the beach with your surfboard on the roof rack, I LOVE IT!!

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  One tough car - 2001 Volvo V70
  By Speef - June 13 - 6:36 am

  Ive owned many Volvos, this 2001 is a T5. Its been as tough as nails. Ive repeatedly towed my 4k lbs boat, its been driven hard and it never gave up on me. Its got 135k miles on the clock and going strong.