Huge Volvo Lease Specials This Month!

Volvo built its reputation with safe, dependable family car with innovative safety advances and boxy styling. Volvo has also added fuel-sipping powertrains — with the promise of fully electric models in the near future — to its brand’s DNA. And stolid looks have gone by the wayside in favor of a subtle yet widely acclaimed design language.

In an era where even the largest carmakers often seek out partners who’ll share their research and development costs, Volvo has invested in creating components — from suspension systems to engines to dashboard layouts — that it can use across its lineup. Volvo was formerly part of Ford and, at that time, shared many parts with Ford vehicles. It’s now owned by Chinese carmaker Geely, but Volvo continues to work out of Sweden with near autonomy from its new parent company. It also has a new subsidiary called Polestar, which focuses on electric performance cars.

Volvo names its vehicles based on an alphanumeric code for the vehicle’s type and size: S for sedans, V for wagons, and XC for crossovers, and 40 for subcompact, 60 for compact, and 90 for mid-size to large. So for example, you’d know that the XC40 is a subcompact crossover while the V90 is a big station wagon.

Nearly all of today’s Volvos use a version of the same 2.0-liter gasoline engine. The T4 designation refers to that engine in base naturally aspirated form, T5 is a turbocharged version of the engine, T6 is supercharged as well as turbocharged, and T8 adds a plug-in hybrid electric battery for further boost along with fuel savings. Currently the T4 is limited to the little XC40, but the other engine variants are available on nearly all Volvos. (Volvo has also pledged to add some measure of electrification to all future Volvo models, ranging from gas-reducing “mild hybrids” to all-electric vehicles.) With any engine, buyers can choose among trim levels that range from the base Momentum to the sporty R-Design to the luxe Inscription.