2011 Volvo C70 T5, in Flamenco Red Metallic
Thumbs Up: Exterior styling, front seats and Dynaudio sound system are world class.
Thumbs Down: Nav system not up to contemporary standards.
Buy This Car If: You’re a Volvo fan in the market for a luxury convertible.
At first glance, the Volvo C70 T5 is one sexy car. Nothing about the car’s exterior says, “boxy but good”, the conservative design norm that sold Volvo automobiles for years. In fact, the C70 looks far more German than it does Swedish, and the 18” five spoke wheels only add to the car’s sporty appearance. Inside, you’re treated to Volvo’s sinfully comfortable leather seats and the superb Dynaudio stereo system. In fact, buyers may find themselves wandering out to the garage, just to sit behind the wheel and crank up the tunes. Put a twisty road graphic on the inside of the garage door, and the Volvo C70 may be all you need to get through a harsh Minnesota winter.
The C70 looks great from any angle.
That’s not to say that the C70 is a perfect car; like aquavit, your appreciation of the C70 is likely to be cultural and based entirely on your expectations. If you get behind the wheel expecting a sports car, you may be disappointed. The turbocharged motor puts out enough horsepower to chirp the front wheels when you mash the gas pedal, but not enough to provide the kind of thrust associated with a sports car. Likewise, the steering is tuned for comfort and not for feedback, which makes the C70 a better companion for highway cruising than for back road apex strafing. The all season Pirelli P6 radials supplied on the C70 don’t help with grip in corners, but they’re quiet and comfortable for soaking up the interstate miles.
The C70 looks as good top up as it does top down.
But none of that matters to Volvo buyers, who’ve made the C70 a sales success since its introduction in 2006. If you expect a high performance sports car, the C70 won’t be to your liking. On the other hand, if you expect Volvo safety, comfort and innovation in a retractible hard top convertible, the C70 is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Steel roof in place, the Volvo C70 is a stunning coupe that stands on it’s own design-wise. Unlike many cloth roofed convertibles, the C70 doesn’t look ungainly with the top up. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the C70 is the only convertible I’ve ever driven that looks as good top up as it does top down. Volvo worked with Pininfarina on the exterior design, and the end result looks good from any angle and in any weather.