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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  Do not buy this car. - 2007 Volvo S40
  By rukewlguy - April 26 - 5:40 am

  I have purchased a Volvo s40 sedan White. I am a casual commuter who does not abuse my car at all. I do full recommended service from Volvo, which costs around $200 - $500 per recommended service. Within 1 year, my car had following problem: 1. Sudden electrical malfunction 2. Sudden deterioration of ride 3. Engine started to make noises and rpm was going up and down by itself 4. Finally, car did not start when it was 11 month old and had about 15,000k on it. These guys never respond to your complaints. So upset with this car and company. Do not buy this car!

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  Two Strikes You Are Out - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Two Strikes Your Out - April 10 - 4:53 pm

  After 8 months and 11 service calls Volvo replaced my first S60R Lemon. The second S60R I received this year. I am sorry to say this car was also a lemon. The wheel bearings went out, rear tail lights went out, it burned 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles, the chassis started to loosen up after 6000 miles. I just got rid of the car and took a financial hit, but I was tired of driving a loaner more than the actual car. DO NOT BUY THIS VEHICLE (unless you want to know your service people very well)

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  Resale Vaule Terrible - Do not buy - 2015 Volvo V60
  By Mike - February 27 - 3:10 pm

  I bought this car about 115 months ago thinking it would be great for a new family. I went to bring my newborn home and the rear-facing car seat did not fit, when I say it did not fit I mean the front passenger seat had roughly 3inches of legroom making the seat unusable. After finding the car would not fit out needs I went to trade in the car and visited 7 dealers and the car had depreciated higher than 50%. The sticker on my car was 42,534 and the trading in came in at 20k after just 15months. If you are looking at this car plan on keeping it for a long time or you will be throwing money away.

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  Be Careful - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By zuomo - February 15 - 6:26 pm

  I guess you can say that Im retracting my original rating of 8.5. Since I posted it my XC-90 has been on the lift more than on the road. At 9k miles it needs a new transmission. Volvo is paying for it but after the dealer took apart the original one, only to find Volvo corp shipped the wrong replacment transmission. The vehicle also makes some annoying noises at hwy speed that they cannot seem to fix. I feel like a sucker. Never again! by the way they will NOT pro-rate powertrain warranty the additional 9k miles. Why did I even ask???

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  Run Away, Run Away! - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By MickeyNY - January 7 - 5:33 am

  I shouldnt have been so quick on the purchase of this over-rated, over- priced baby SUV. The exterior lines of the vehicle are great, but the interior space, terrible design for the defroster (which left my interior windows frozen on several mornings and at one point didnt even work! Its a design flaw, Im told). My old s80 was just wonderful and carried me everywhere in quiet, effortless style. I had absolutely no problems with it. This thing is a loud, poorly put- together "luxury" vehicle that gets me 13 miles to the gallon in the city (better on HWY, of course). There is nothing wrong, Im told, but I still hate it and will be trading it back in this summer for another s80. Run Away!

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  Do NOT buy a Volvo - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By Never again - January 5 - 9:23 pm

  My T6 is in the shop for a replacement transmission, now in order to get any warranty they say they must replace the DEFECTIVE radiator. The cost started out at an estimate of $4800 soon it will be over $7000? All of this at just over 100K miles. One should expect at least 150K miles from a car costing nearly $50K new. VOLVO has no Heart no soul and is not built well at all.

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  Never again - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Some kind of Luck - December 17 - 2:00 am

  I wish this didnt turn such a bad experience for me. Ever since I got the car, its been one problem to another. My mechanic was tired of seeing me. First it was the motor for the window, then timing belt, after that, the headlights and the engine lights, then the sensor, then the passengers mirror and the drivers mirror. I hate this car. I used to crave having a volvo. I learn my lesson. The worst of it all, its difficult to find used parts. Everything cost an arm and a leg. The money I spent on it went double for repairs. I will advised every one that I know not to buy this car. if I cannot enjoy something for at least a year, then whats the point?

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  do not buy this car . beware it is deadly dangerous. - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By goodbye - December 17 - 12:05 am

  i own an 850@450,000 km. needed 2nd car, found a 2004 XC70@65,000 from Volvo dealership. thinking this is going to be great.

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  Poor Quality - 2005 Volvo XC90
  By John Connor - November 12 - 1:16 am

  Car is anything but advertised quiet luxury. Noisy blowers, airconditioner makes noise like 1960 aftermarket models. Interior design weak. Drivers seat restricted due to design of drive center. One of the poorest quality cars/trucks I have ever owned.

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  Worst Car I Ever Owned - 2003 Volvo S40
  By strack - October 19 - 7:20 pm

  This care has had problem ever since day one. The braking system was replaced, the a/c system replaced (and starting to act up again), splash guard fell down and there was no damage (screws just fell out). Fuel economy gets worse and worse. When the car was new, got 29 MPG on highway, now 25 MPG on highway. Maintenance costs are very high from Volvo for routine maint.