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 been fun.. - 1998 Volvo S70
  By Bo - July 6 - 10:36 pm

  I brought mine at 85k miles. There have been a few bumps in maintance. On multiple trips to Canada, the T5 drove like a champ, surprising power, good fuel economy. But the gliches, the speed sensors (no abs, no odometer, no speedo)evap system replacement. Brakes that sound like a bus. Not too cheap to own if your are not handy. But it is fun to drive. Okay in driving about town, but a hoot on the highway. Currently at 130k, and holding on.

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  most reliable - 2006 Volvo S40
  By Tiler - July 6 - 11:06 am

  I have over 270k on my Volvo and it runs like new. Basically maintenance free all I had to do was an oil change. This car has a broken steering wheel it just kind of falls in your lap but thats fine considering how hard I drive it. This car has had no problems with anything. My only concern is when will Volvo start to profit off there car commercials. Make Volvo top of reliability. my last car was a 940 and it just ran forever. I think it died after 516K yeah 516K how many Toyota are like that? buy this car and youll love every thing about it. like the safety, reliability, and ride. Volvo has a lot to be remembered for.

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  Excellent car for the money! - 2004 Volvo S40
  By Ken Y. - July 6 - 5:03 am

  I purchased my 2004 S40 on 9/2003 with a $4000 rebate and free maintenance for 3 yrs. The 170hp turbo has plenty of power and the 5-speed automatic is great. This is one of the best cars I have ever owned. I currently have 33k miles on it. This car has features like auto climate control and heated seats that are usually only found on larger vehicles. They put synthetic oil in from the factory so you only have to go back for an oil change every 7,500 miles. This car is also very fun to drive and it handles the road like a champ.

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  Looks Good, Guzzles Gas - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By joeboxer - July 1 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the XC90 since 4/1/03 and have gotten the most heinous gas mileage -- 10/11mpg City and 15/16 Hwy. The interior is very noisy but the excellent stereo mitigates it. Ive had the car back to the dealer three times in three months with various problems.The interior is mediocre/bland/sparse and back seat room tight. Lots of other little annoyances prove that looks arent everything.

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  bigger and better - 2011 Volvo V50
  By v50 - June 30 - 7:47 pm

  I have an 04 V40 with 70K miles and have had exactly 1 mechanical (one of the tumblers on the ignition lock failed). The V40 was a Mitsubishi joint venture and that car feels more Japanese than the V50. The V50 is bigger, heavier, roomier, safer, more powerful and gets about the same mpgs. Both cars have an elegant simplicity to them. The V50 is understated and easy to live with. If I drive slow I average 25 mpg with a mix of highway and around town. If you need power its there. The 5 cylinder turbo has been in production for years and should be reliable. 5 years 60K mile bumper to bumper warranty and free maintenance is unmatched. Like all Volvos = many safety features.

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  Very solid car - 1999 Volvo S70
  By Zach - June 30 - 5:13 pm

  This is my first volvo. We purchased in PA and live in MN, so we had a great introduction to its quality on the ride home. Mechanically - this car is a very solid purchase. It performs extremely well, the suspension is very fun, and the brakes are great. You can really tell that it is very high quality car. Its not without the quirks you usually find in European cars and it is more expensive to maintain. Service lights come on fairly often, but you soon learn that life has not stopped if check engine comes on. Its just how the car works. It eventually goes off (and theres plenty of info online from other volvo owners).

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  Expensive Repairs - 2005 Volvo V50
  By Dominicvail - June 25 - 8:16 am

  We thought we loved the car but it has been one repair after another. The kicker was that at 2 years old and with 25,000 the clutch burned out. This repair was not covered by Volvo for warrantee. My wife and I have always driven manual cars and this is the first clutch issue ever. It was $2,500 to fix. We will get rid of the car due to the dissatisfaction we have had with this experience. We have owned three other Volvos (V-70R AWD and XC-70 AWD) but this one has soured us. Say good bye to this one.

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  Nice Styling and Good Value - 2005 Volvo S40
  By Scott - June 21 - 3:23 pm

  I purchased the 2.4i with the sport package in south Florida and found it loads of fun to drive. Handles very well in the curves and the 2.4 litre engine is peppy enough for everyday traffic. I since moved to upstate NY and it does great on the country roads, but snows are a MUST as the traction control constantly slips in winter. I now have 90k miles on it and have had a couple of major problems, at 55k miles the radiator blew. Thank goodness for the extended warranty, or could have been $1500! Interior design is stylish, but cheep materials. Trim clips continually break (in trunk too) and stupid expensive to replace.

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  Bad Tranny Was The Last Straw - 1999 Volvo S80
  By WSV - June 19 - 1:33 pm

  After buying the car used from a Volvo dealership, I had traction control module and transmission service urgent warnings within about two months. The car must have been rode hard in a prior life and had some serious electronic/mechanic issues. TCM was replaced after losing control and ending up in a ditch. Followed up by a near-fatal loss of power due to a faulty Electronic Throttle Module on an expressway surrounded by semis going 75mph (dealer replaced on recall). Last straw was another bout of Transmission Service Urgent warnings that the dealer claimed meant needing a new transmission at less than 80K miles. Knock on wood, my 2005 S80 T6 has been problem free for 8 months cross-country.

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  Volvo s40 - 2002 Volvo S40
  By Lynn - June 18 - 9:30 am

  This is a fun car to drive. The gas mileage is decent. While a 4 dr sedan, there really is no leg room to speak of for adult passengers sitting in the back seat. I have cloth seats, and have had them cleaned twice in 2 years; even a water stain leaves a mark. Next time its leather for me. Overall, a nice car for 1 or 2 adults.