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2008 Volvo C70
2008 Volvo C70 Review
Top-Down Management
The svelte C70 hardtop convertible offers the best of both worlds and gets a minor power boost with other subtle enhancements for 2008.
Rather than selling separate closed- and open-top versions of one car, The Volvo C70 splits the difference by offering a single model that comes with a power-operated three-piece retractable hard top. This is similar to the retractable roofs found on other current models like the BMW 3 Series Convertible, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Mercedes-Benz SLK and Volkswagen Eos. At the push of a button, the Volvo C70’s roof folds into three pieces and stows in the rear of the vehicle in about 30 seconds. When raised, the hard top is better at blocking noise and the elements than traditional convertible soft tops.
The Volvo C70 comes only in T5 trim, which means it features a peppy 2.5-liter turbocharged inline five-cylinder engine also used on other Volvos. It’s a little less speedy here, however, given the added weight of the C70's complex top mechanism. A smooth-shifting six-speed manual transmission is standard and a five-speed automatic with Geartronic manual-shift capability is optional.
A rigid body structure along with electric power steering and a fully independent suspension imbues the Volvo C70 with nimble handling and a refined ride. Volvo’s Dynamic Stability and Traction Control system is standard and improves stability on slippery surfaces and in extreme handling situations. Seventeen-inch wheels and tires are standard, while 18-inch rims and rubber are optional.
Legendary Italian design studio Pininfarina collaborated on the design of the Volvo C70. According to company officials, creating "harmonious lines" wasn’t easy. Designers started with the shape of a sport coupe and then made adjustments to incorporate the retractable hard top.
Unlike most convertibles with back seats too small for adults, the Volvo C70 is a true four-seater (though leg room is at a premium when the front seats are all the way back). Front seats fold and slide out of the way to allow easier access into the back. The car’s interior borrows elements from the S40 and V50, including their unique, thin center console that appears to float between the dash and shift lever.
Upholding its position as an innovator in automotive safety, Volvo has incorporated technology into the C70 that has never been seen before in convertibles. One example is the standard door-mounted head-curtain airbags. These types of airbags are usually mounted in the roof and deploy downward. But because the C70’s roof can disappear, Volvo mounted the head-curtain airbags in the door and made them deploy upward. In addition, the airbags are stiffer than usual, so they can remain upright longer to better protect occupants' heads. They also deflate at a slower rate to provide additional protection during a rollover.
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While the Volvo C70’s trunk space is compromised when the roof is retracted (6.0 cubic feet versus 12.8 cubic feet with the top up), a divider separates the “top up” and “top down” storage areas so that appropriately placed cargo doesn't have to be moved before the top is stowed.
A trunk-mounted button raises the entire roof mechanism by nearly eight inches to make cargo loading or unloading easier with the top down. A locking panel in the center of the back seat can open to accommodate long objects, like skis, with the top up. Furthermore, a “private locking” function blocks access to the Volvo C70’s interior storage compartments when you leave the keys with a parking lot attendant.
Optional equipment on the Volvo C70 includes heated front seats, rain-sensing windshield wipers, headlamp washers, a navigation system, high-intensity-discharge headlamps and a premium Dynaudio surround sound audio system. Also offered is Volvo’s Blind Spot Information System, which monitors both sides of the car via small video cameras and flashes a light on the dashboard when a vehicle is in the driver's blind spot.
You want a convertible that seats four adults, and/or you live in colder climates where the benefits of the folding steel roof would be appreciated; you're thinking about getting a coupe, but would appreciate the ability to drop the top.
You want a sportier and/or flashier convertible; you hate bad hair days and exposure to the elements, in which case you should stick with a fixed-roof coupe.
Most adults will fit comfortably in the front seats; taller riders will find the back seat lacking in leg room and headroom when the top is up. Volvo front-seat headrests tend to protrude forward (a design meant to mitigate whiplash injuries) so much that shorter occupants may find them uncomfortable.
Audi A4 Cabriolet; BMW 3 Series Convertible; Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet; Saab 9-3 Convertible; Volkswagen Eos
Volvo’s first sports car, the P1800 ES, was unveiled in 1960 and produced through 1973, though it was only sold in the U.S. during its final years of production. It was sleek and stylish and remains a popular collector’s car today. It gained worldwide fame as the vehicle of choice for the Simon Templar character in the 1960s TV series called "The Saint," which starred Roger Moore of James Bond fame.
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