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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  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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  I was wrong. - 2001 Volvo S40
  By irunthis19 - August 12 - 3:38 pm

  So here I looked at all these reviews before buying the car, I thought "Man I wonder if these people are right.." But got the car anyway. Its a day later, and already I have to replace all fluids, flush everything, buy a new water pump, and replace the timing belt. The car has been perfectly kept before me, and only has 90,000 miles on it. Yet, I still find myself burning a hole in my pocket. Do Not Get This Car - Or youll make the same mistake I did.

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  Way Overpriced - 2008 Volvo XC90
  By sdd - July 27 - 3:20 am

  We bought the XC90 after owning a Suburban to get a smaller vehicle, a "luxury" SUV, and for the safety features. The safety features are there, but this SUV is not a sturdy vehicle for active families. The middle console has come out, the doors do not automatically lock/unlock, it rattles, the seats in the back rows are difficult to lay down-just to name a few of our complaints. For the money, we regret we did not purchase the Lexus or the Land Cruiser.

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  Would never ever recommend or purchase again! - 2006 Volvo XC90
  By lassiterlisa - July 23 - 5:43 pm

  Purchased a used 2006 Volvo XC90 AWD V8 a year ago, had 77K miles on it, but was in excellent condition and we thought very safe for our family. We didnt know it had a transmission that COULD NOT be repaired ONLY REPLACED. The Volvo dealership informed us that this particular transmission was not repairable. Unfortunately our warranty company wouldnt ok the replacement so we had to transfer the car to a transmission repair facility to try and rebuild it. They were able to get all the parts needed but 1 and Volvo wouldnt sell the 1 part that would fix our car. SO we had to purchase a USED transmission for $5,700.00 (new would have been $7,500).

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  So much money for THIS???? - 2000 Volvo V70
  By sunprairie - July 23 - 10:00 am

  We have friends who get a new Cross Country Wagon every 2 years and swear by them, but we got a lemon. Ours had a bad fuel pump and injection system, among other things, and it took several return visits to 3 diff. dealerships, two complete breakdowns, and finally negotiations with Volvo directly to figure out the problem, and who will pay for the repair when it was just outside of the warranty. Twice the car just stopped working while driving. It shakes at high speeds and my 1996 Honda Accord had a smoother ride. I didnt buy a $40,000 car so my family and I could be stranded twice. Servicing the car is costly even with no problems.

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  Unreliable - Never again - 2001 Volvo C70
  By Va - July 19 - 2:16 am

  This is the most unreliable auto I have ever owned in over 30 years. Interior switches and plastic parts fail or fall apart, electronics fail, wind noise is pronounced, the power steering has leaked, the electreonic key will not hold a code - countless trips to the dealer, bulbs constantly burn out, the upholstery peels. Nice looking but pure, unmitigated junk.

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  Bad News - 2000 Volvo S40
  By U.S. Marine - July 17 - 10:00 am

  Purchased car in 1999, the 1st year model was offered. The car performed well the first 1 1/2 yrs of ownership although we needed 1st of 3 brake jobs at 8,000 mi. In 2001 the car turned into a lemon overnight. Head lamps failed premature. Brake pump failed which was followed up with recall 3 yrs later. The front/rear end started to crack and pop when making turns. As a result the dealership replaced front strut towers and found that eng. mounts were broken. Poping noise in the rear was caused by missing bushings in rear suspension. Dealership said bushings were left out at the factory. The check eng. light has been on more often than not. Im tired of replac

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  Pirelli tires - 2004 Volvo C70
  By Lori Perron - July 17 - 10:00 am

  I have had bad experiences with the low profile tires on this car. I had to replace 2 front ones at 8,000 miles and at 12,000 mile had another blowout and had to replace one front again. This vehicle also does not take bumps or ride smooth.

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  Light bulb of the month club - 1999 Volvo S70
  By JIM - July 10 - 2:46 am

  Blows lights all the time; constantly replacing. Master cylinder replaced at 61k!!! T5 eats tires (3 sets in 70k, z rated tires are very soft). Also on 3rd battery (1 covered by firestone warranty). Power seats do not always operate. However, sound system is very good. Uses 93 octane gasoline.