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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  I love this car - my 3rd Volvo - 2006 Volvo S40
  By me - June 12 - 12:33 pm

  I love this car - Many improvements over my last S40 - Beautiful car!! The only problem is that the electric drivers seat doesnt go back far enough (and Im 52"). I miss my Turbo -- what was I thinking!? The car is gorgeous - the only design defects are that I hit the wipers everytime I go near the key, the front window buttons are too far up (I keep putting the back windows down instead), bad blind spots & I hate leather but need a sunroof - this is a difficult package. I would give up some of that trunk room to have more room in the back seat. The cup holders are awful - they should be covered & bigger. Great car despite design defect Get lots of compliments! Needs an alarm for sunroof!

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  V40 - 2004 Volvo V40
  By fjpost - June 11 - 10:00 am

  Its really a great car, though it is a bit tight. The new model promises to be bigger. Its a wonderful drive and basically, bought off lease, the same price as a Honda Accord or new Civic. It has more style and zoom however, and a really excellent warrantly (100,000).

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  I love my car - 2004 Volvo S60
  By dewey - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I love my new volvo. It has alot of power and the interior is so comfortable. I love all the safety features on this car.

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  Best ever - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Pegster - June 11 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car...fun to drive, fun to own! I have gotten all kinds of compliments on its styling and handling.

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  far better than a minivan - 2001 Volvo V70
  By murraycat - June 11 - 10:00 am

  We replaced a GM minivan of dubious quality with this. The turbo makes it feel more like a performance sedan. Roomy back seat and lots of cargo space. The free 6 yr/100k mi Volvo Certified Used Car warranty is terrific. The dealer recently replaces some working lightbulbs with new ones, for free (apperently lightbulbs have been an issue.) We plan to drive this car til it wears out, then go back for another.

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  I love this car, but... - 2004 Volvo XC70
  By strausz34 - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I love this car, but the fact is that it has broken down completely twice within two years. The first time, the entire engine block had to be replaced (under warranty, of course) - the second time it was a fan somewhere in the cooling system that causes serious overheating. Now that I got this out of the way - the car is generally excellent. Ride, acceleration, fuel consumption all great. vast amounts of luggage accommodated.

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  Never Again - 2004 Volvo S80
  By Robert Linscott - June 11 - 10:00 am

  S80 2.9 - 2000: This car has been a total headache for our family. The car is always falling apart. Electrical night mare, from lights to locks to sensors. Hub bearings X 5, sunroof falling apart, hub bolts falling out twice while on vacation, broken coils spring, faulty fan motor for radiator, oil flame seal bad, and a bad motor mount. So much for the flagship of Volvo. The S80s market value is poor and still is rated as less than average for the 2004. No wonder the BMW and Mercedes lines are so popular. My first volvo and definitely my last -never, never again. Waltrip Volvo in Nashville area loves to see me, and my checkbook on a regular basis.

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  Head lights - 1999 Volvo S80
  By Concern Volvo lover - June 11 - 1:10 am

  I purchased my vehicle used, and thought I was getting a good deal. Im a volvo lover from the 70s, and I swear by volvos for their dependability etc. However this year of volvo has many bugs to be worked out. For example my headlights would not go out when I turned my car off. I called the dealer, and it took an expensive of well over $600 dollars to correct the problem. Thats not including having to buy a new light switch at a cost of $200.00. I had to replace my gear shift twice because it would break when ever I parked my car on an incline, and tried to shift from park to drive. I will always stick with volvo, but not that year. It seem as though the Volvo creators took a nap.

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  Good S40 - 2005 Volvo S40
  By HSIA OFENG YANG - June 10 - 11:01 am

  It is a 2005 Volvo S40. Still feel pretty good driving it. Still has the feel of an old luxury car.

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  One of the finest Ive ever driven - 2002 Volvo S60
  By srfrdrew - June 10 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I test drove Audi, Lexus, Mercedes and BMW... the Volvo S60 was the most comfortable, sporty and fun to drive car. We love it!!