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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  Bimmer to R - and very impressed - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Leejlb - June 17 - 6:20 pm

  I traded my 540 in on a Volvo R and its hard explain my enthusiasm. Sure, a Bimmer is performance - and Volvo stands for safety - until you drive it. Total performance all the time. Going for groceries has never been a faster trip and what a sleeper. One of the faster 4 door sedans on the road and the "R" emblem seems to disappear at a red light to the unsuspecting teenie racer with the lawn mower exhaust next to you... Great car so far - hope its BMW reliable in the future... :))

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  A Little Disappointed - 2000 Volvo S80
  By LGC - June 17 - 10:00 am

  Car has been in the shop over 11 times in the year that I have had it. Little things, nothing real serious. Steering, vibrations, suspension. I will probably buy a BMW next.

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  Great looking, reliable, average car - 2008 Volvo S40
  By Ted - June 17 - 3:46 am

  Have been driving this car for over 2 years now. Love the overall look and build quality. Very different from other cars on the road. A few issues, fuel economy, loud interior, and surprisingly more than one blind spot due to the large columns (its a safety thing...I get it) The drive is also not as European as I would have expected from a car competing with the likes of BMW, Audi and dare I say it, VW. It lacks that little oomph to get it at the same level as its German competitors. It doesnt get me excited, it gets me from A to B in style and safely.

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  Hopefully Brighter Future - 2010 Volvo XC60
  By bg - June 16 - 10:26 pm

  We have this as a replacement for an RDX. The ride in that was so harsh that it was almost unbearable. This has been the polar opposite. Though the power steering pump was gone after 17 miles (!) the vehicle has a feeling of high quality. I also ran into great difficulties after having ordered a loaded-sans BLIS car, and realizing that every website known to man had incorrectly labeled power-folding mirrors as standard (I need them for my garage), which is not the case. I went to the dealer who went to the ends of the earth to try to change my order, but it couldnt be done. The dealer found another one with BLIS which we got, though it didnt have nav. I believe Volvo has changed their site

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  Ok so far - 2004 Volvo XC90
  By scarmydude - June 10 - 8:34 pm

  We purchased a used 2004 XC90 in June 2011 with 98,000 miles. We have 111,000 to date. Only issue was we had to replace timing belt at dealer suggestion, otherwise normal maintenance. So far it has been trouble free except for routine maintenance. I hope we got a good one since I plan to keep it for at least another 50,000 miles.

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  This Car is Possessed! - 1999 Volvo S80
  By wmscox - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car 2 years ago with the check engine light on and spent the past two years replacing everything trying to get it to go off and stay off. The car stays in the shop more than it stays on the road...it is a joke at my job, that my car is in the shop AGAIN!!! I can not afford to sell it, because I owe almost twice as much on it as the blue book value. It was wrecked and it cost $8,000 to fix it...my insurance company didnt want it either...Volvo should be sued for such shotty workmanship. This was my second Volvo, the first was a charm. I am very DISAPPOINTED and I tell everyone who admires how the car looks, not to buy a 1999 model.

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  volvo - 2004 Volvo S60
  By enzo - June 2 - 10:00 am

  This car is very safe, enjoyable but i just dont fell the ability to peel out- -go rip the tires or go fast. I love the car but, i would rather prefer a subaru impreza or maybe a different volvo or a bmw but, I enjoy this car a lot also.

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  2004 S60R AWD Manual - 2004 Volvo S60
  By Jackseth - June 2 - 10:00 am

  Excellent AWD handling. 6speed shifts well. Launching car from stop is tricky, as the clutch engages at the top end and is very springy. Minimal turbo lag. Lots of engine noise at high RPM. On the mountain roads, at speed, this car turns into a beast. Very fast, very agile. The upper limits of this car are beyond most drivers.

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  Wish I never bought this - 2001 Volvo S80
  By nikjer - June 1 - 2:40 pm

  Light bulbs need changing monthly. Cup holder, rear ash tray, seat belts, 18 undercarriage bolts, and center console all have fallen off. Suspension had to be repaired twice. Now have a new message that the gear selector does not work. Noise from windshield is very high. Cannot get radio fixed, static is constant on am and fm. If I hit the lock button it will improve temporarily. Front leather seats are cracking badly although I have attempted to maintain them. Although car is paid for, I think a payment on a new one would be cheaper than keeping this one. We drive our 98 Dodge Ram with 160K miles on it if we go anywhere more than 50 miles from home. It is more reliable.

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  Overall good ownership experience - 2000 Volvo S80
  By DaveF - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Generally a pleasure to own (lease) and drive. Dependable all-weather vehicle. Love the twin turbos, combined w/ an excellent manual gear selection mode. Exterior styling, as well as the quality of paint/trim, is excellent. Interior fit/finish is just o.k. Disappointed by fake wood molding & squeeky interior panels.