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:

• 

  Great car but lacks detail - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By refugee2k - January 8 - 10:00 am

  runs great. very happy but not very family oriented. in the process of trading it in for mini-van. passenger cant get back to the rear seat between isle.

• 

  4 Years - 100,000 miles - 2000 Volvo V70
  By danegirl - January 7 - 7:07 am

  Bought this car used 10/2006 - 82k on it. Now Im up to 181,775. Other than faulty trunk latch had no real issues until 2009. Had to replace driveshaft ($750 DIY). Other than eating up tires it really was a good car until no one caught the leak in the transfer case ($1,700 bad mechanic/$780 dealership fixed). ABS went bad but as eariler - Victor Rocha is a GOD! ($125). If you can do some of the work yourself I highly recommend it. The complicated stuff - make sure you KNOW that the mechanic who is working on it can actually fix it properly or just suck it up and go to a dealership. In So. Mich. go with Sesi Volvo. One final word of advices - if you hear a noise DO NOT IGNORE IT!

• 

  I do have a choice - 2000 Volvo S40
  By J Hall - January 4 - 2:00 am

  When I purchased the car it was shared that I would only pay for oil changes and everything elso was covered. Not true as I have come to learn as I open my check book one more time! I have had a number of rattles, that have never been fixed, and I need to book my service appointments weeks in advance as the dealer has no loaners, it was even suggested once that since I worked near my dealer I arrange for a coworker to pick me up, something I did not appreciate.

• 

  Volvo.............NOT! - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Eyedoc - January 4 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned this car for over a year and had to replace the brake pads twice. Ive just about experienced every negative comment that is written in the reviews: from replacement of bulbs, wind noise, rattles, brakes, engine lights, etc. It is a great car in many ways, but the reliability is horrible. Although the S40 is cheaper than most of the foreign cars on the market when compared to BMW, Audi, MB etc..the cost of repairs and regular maintenance can be astronomical once the warranty expires. I would definetly not suggest this vehicle to anyone.

• 

  Money Pit - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Chery Pie - January 2 - 3:13 pm

  I have had a V70 for about 5 years. It has been one thing or another. The last straw was the transmission that had to be replaced. I cant wait to unload it and get what...another damn Volvo? Think twice about a Volvo.

• 

  unreliable - 1998 Volvo V70
  By wolfpack770 - January 2 - 10:00 am

  My parents actually own this car. After owning 4 acuras, went to the volvo wagon because acura/honda didnt make a wagon. Big mistake -so many problems passin TN emissions (multiple times) mechanic said the best fix for this car was to find someone to drive it off a cliff. Car is in the shop about once every 1-2 months, this should not happen on a car that costs 33K new. We have even talked to Volvo rep for our area, they were unsympathetic. On the plus side, car is great on the highway and very safe, decent gas mileage, but on the whole we will never buy a volvo again.

• 

  Honda better look out - 2008 Volvo C30
  By Volvo C30PO - January 2 - 4:43 am

  Hello, The C30 is a marvelous little car. Those who currently own a Honda Civic and are interested in moving to the Accord would do good to test drive a C30. I have always preferred smaller cars and traded in my 1997 Civic EX Coupe with 197k on the odometer. Unfortunately Honda hasnt made any youth oriented (and purchased by youth) cars in over 10 years. Instead of waiting for the CRZ I purchased C30 instead. The build quality is far superior to the Honda Civic. You feel very safe as soon as you shut the door. The engine has great torque. You can drive around town in 4th gear from 15-50 mph without a problem. If the price is too high buy a used one and you will not regret it!

• 

  New Volvo - 2007 Volvo XC90
  By Lisa - December 29 - 4:50 am

  This is my first Volvo purchase and so far so good. I love the exterior aesthetics and the interior leather seats are quite comfortable. Its a very easy SUV to drive !

• 

  32,000 miles - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Bodie - December 22 - 6:46 am

  Over 2 years ownership now-premium and sport packages. Pros: very comfortable seats, doesnt look like everything else on the road, reliability, decent performance. cons: turning radius is terrible (my 2005 tacoma double cab is easier to park than the volvo) glove compartment rattles on bumps, road noise. Overall I cant complain, my wife likes her ride, and have had no mechanical issues yet. I enjoy the sport shift when I drive it. I still would have chosen the Acura TL if it were my choice. We also tested the BMW 325, infiniti G35, Mercedes 230 and Acura TL.

• 

  Good Car - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Smuggus - December 20 - 6:10 am

  This car has been awesome. I bought it and did some work too it (400 dollars) and it lasted me a 4k round trip with no problems. I do know about all of the claims to infamy on here, like the battery not starting on the third day, you needed to reset the computer. The rough idle is either motor mounts (problem on all volvos) or ignition coils. The cup holder had to be put there because there was nowhere else to put it, if it was under the arm rest then the arm rest couldnt come down all the way. So there you have it, it is a good car and if you take care of it and know how to take care of the Swedish/Japanese beauty she will take care of you.