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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  Its a Nice car But - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Omajacks - November 23 - 7:40 pm

  I Purchased my S60R in Jan 05. I bought it for the safety, Comfort and Looks. However I have had a few Problems with it like the breaks (when they really get wet they let you and anybody with in 1 city block know it from the screaching it makes, Volvo has looked at multiple times and has yet to fix it.), Turning radius (if I had test driven this car better like in a parking lot I wouldnt have bought it it turns like a semi.) and the front bumper (Dont touch any parking bumpers with both your front tires, Ive done it twice and both times when backing out it has pulled off my bumper and stretched out the bottom of my bumper. ie. a 900 dollar replacement job). Other then that not bad.

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  "Like a Rock" - 2000 Volvo S70
  By William Wellman - November 23 - 1:40 pm

  My lawyer daughter talked me into my first Volvo for safety resons and Im glad she did but for other reasons! Non-turbo has plenty of power for all highway situations. Gas economy is 23MPG. Im happy with this at 150,000 on the odometer. Will go to 250 with this "baby". Very reliable in severe weather, especially snow. Would highly recomend as a used car buy!

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  Volvo S-80 Nice Looking but a Letdown - 2003 Volvo S80
  By dannyroche - November 17 - 2:00 am

  Problems (2) transmission services link bushing replacement and one front strut changed before 50K warrenty expired!!! second strut at 60K door lock ($220) at 70K heated mirror ($200) at 73K Care is nice to drive and nice looking. Car has great safety features. Good performance with the T-6, a tad too much torque due to FWD. Too Bad Volvo has not figured out that there is one thing ahead of safety. THE CAR MUST BE RELIABLE......

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  Early Failures - 2000 Volvo S40
  By Dave - October 27 - 9:10 pm

  I bought a Volve for safety and reliability. Safety I got, reliability was poor. Changed out both front strut assys at 60K miles, turbocharger leaked costing over $800 to repair before 80K miles. It is parked in my garage now because there is a front suspension problem. I am going to get rid of it and never buy a Volvo again. The check engine light comes on more often than not without a defineable cause. Shift handle now fails to lock in park position.

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  Radio Problems - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By Ron - October 25 - 1:33 am

  My XC-90 has had very unusual problems, so the dealer informs me. One month out of warranty, the rear bearings needed to be replaced. The headlight covers are pitted and dis colored. The wheel nuts had to be replaced twice. The first time for rust the second time for wear???? The very last repair and most upsetting was for a new infotainment module. The problem began when the radio began looking like a disco. The lights began flashing and periodically the radio would shut off and the display would go blank. I can live without the radio, but when this problem corrupted the Air bag system to the point it might not work, I had to have it fixed at a cost of$1350.00 Volvo would do nothing

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  How does it rank with previous 760 - 1998 Volvo S70
  By C. E. Pattereson - October 17 - 10:00 am

  I like the car. It seems to perform well. It has a tight body, and the motor runs well.

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  What a tease.Great when it runs! - 1999 Volvo S80
  By jomaja - October 14 - 10:00 am

  This is by far the best sedan for performance I have ever owned. The ride (when its running) and power is like no other. I get to enjoy it about every other week.I have also never owned a car that spent so much time at the local repair shop and the dealership. I have owned it for 2 months and its been out of use for 3 weeks of that time. I have owned 9 Volvos and this should be my last. Very sad to see such a great car maker go down the tubes. I was thinking about a new one ( being under warranty) but I have seen that they are not much better,They still have not worked the bugs out.

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  A Drivers Fun Vehicle - 2008 Volvo C30
  By greenweenie - October 10 - 9:20 pm

  This vehicle was acquired in Jan 08. The worst winter in recent times for Michigan soon made it painfully obvious that the high performance Pirelli Rosso tires are not proper for locales that receive any measureable amount of snow. These tires immediately become road slicks and the vehicle will go nowhere. On dry or wet pavement, they are outstanding. Potholes are deadly for any tire, but for these Pirellis, it is certain immediate bankruptcy!

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  Good and TBD - 2006 Volvo S60
  By Cristian - October 10 - 5:40 pm

  Love driving this car! I bought one with Geartronic and all options except nav. My other car is a 99 Boxster and it is going to spend a lot of time in the garage now. The bad is the temp sensor went out the first weekend I had the car. Remains to be seen if reliability will dull my enthusiasm for the car I enjoyed test driving more than the A4 3.2 Quattro and 330xi.

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  Very Surprised - 2004 Volvo S60
  By listen105 - October 8 - 10:00 am

  Audi A4, Saab linear and aero, and BMW 325i models were the cars I was test driving as a potential second car (have 4x4 for winter conditions and needed cargo space). I drove 04 S60 turbo on a lark, and was completely not expecting the speed (have an old Volvo wagon turbo also -should not have been TOO surprised I guess) at such quiet acceleration. It was a complete surprise to drive - for under 30K US dollars, a true bargain.