Our opinion
We like
Quality, comfort, refinement, improved dynamics, safety, security, tight roof, plenty of features
Room for improvement
Non-turbo LE a little sluggish, understeer when pushed hard, not cheap
By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS 08/12/2006
SHORT of changing the names of its cars to something evoking, say, sultry Swedish movie stars, Volvo may never – in the collective minds of the public – be able to lose its staid image.
And even that might backfire. Would you be seen inside a Volvo Garbo?
The latest in a long line of automotive salvos aimed at boosting the brand’s cardigan image is the C70. Which, let’s face it, is a risky move.
Anybody familiar with the previous version may shake almost as much as that unfortunate car’s wobbly windscreen and – in unruly T5 guise – quaking steering column.
Pretty it may have been, but pretty dire is how it felt to drive.
Happily, C70 Version 2.0 is as complete a reboot as can be.
Now built off Ford’s brilliant C1 platform that also underpins the Focus, Mazda3 and Volvo S40/V50 twins, the C70 does not feel like its got way too much power coursing through the front wheels.
You can now corner accurately, quickly and confidently, without the car losing its composure like the old car would. Only when booting it hard does the Volvo start to descend into sloppy understeer.
Actually, ‘quickly’ is a relative term here, because in the non-turbo LE model, the C70 is certainly no rocket. While it sounds like there is plenty of power at your disposal, the Volvo’s elephantine weight issue saps any real spark from the 125kW 2.4-litre five-pot unit.
Better to save up the extra $10,000 for the 160kW T5 version, which also scores you a six-speed manual gearbox instead of the LE’s five-speeder, along with Xenon headlights, 18-inch wheels and a louder audio system.
A turbo also pumps up the velocity, instilling the sort of performance you might expect from an $80K convertible. The thing here to remember is that this low-blow T5 – while certainly sprightlier from standstill – delivers its best when you need extra overtaking oomph.
Over a long-distance country jaunt punctuated by a mountainous winding road, we averaged between 10.5 and 12.5L/100km, while the more leisurely LE dipped below 9L/100km.
In fact, leisurely and laid-back are pretty much what the C70’s hardtop convertible driving experience is like.
Easy to operate (it takes about 30 seconds to retract), the roof lifts the lid on a beautifully made, stylishly presented and ergonomically flawless cabin – that hitherto felt as sound and snug as a bug in a rug – into a calm and comfortable open-top cruiser.
No oversized tumble-dryer hair-dos for the C70’s quartet of well placed, nicely spaced occupants. Volvo’s claims that this is the world’s first proper four-seater coupe-convertible does ring true – as long as you are not really above average height and back-seat bound.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the convertible process is how normal and unobtrusively solid the whole car feels. Barrelling down the road alfresco at speed, the C70 seems at least as civilised as your real estate agent’s BMW 330Ci.
Moving to the boot, you will find a fairly disappointing 130-litre luggage area with the roof in situ (down 30 litres on overseas C70s due to our temporary spare wheel fitment), rising to 330 litres when the 30-second roof mechanism creates the ‘coupe’ aspect of this split personality Swede.
The last Volvo C70 – sold here in separate Convertible and Coupe guises from 1998 to 2004 – could turn heads, but then turned stomachs with its inability to act like a high-priced brand builder should.
Today’s version – also lovely to look at – is almost the complete antithesis – well sorted, impressive to sit inside, nice to drive and super solid and safe to behold.
If the 2007 C70 were to be renamed after a Swedish superstar, then it would probably have to be the Volvo Frida – the talented all-singing all-rounder of the group.
