Driving Impressions

The Volvo C70 seems to be made for high-speed cruising. The car is very smooth and steady at freeway-plus speeds. And with the steel top, there's no ragtop racket at high speed. The C70 doesn't accelerate that quickly, but its top speed is a mind-boggling 149 mph, and electronically limited at that. The C70 uses front-wheel drive and Volvo's well-proven 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine, rated at 227 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 236 pound-feet of torque from 1,500 to 5,000 rpm. The flat torque curve puts the power to the front wheels evenly and makes the car highly responsive. Volvo estimates zero to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds with the six-speed manual gearbox and 7.4 seconds with the five-speed automatic. That's not the performance of a hot rod, but it is certainly more than respectable. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated City/Highway 18/27 mpg with the manual transmission, 18/26 mpg with the automatic. We found the six-speed manual best complements the C70's sports car feel, as well as allowing snappier acceleration and slightly better highway economy. It's a very good gearbox, smooth and tight, and we've praised it in other Volvo models. On the other hand, we also found the five-speed automatic to be a fine, crisp transmission. And for those who want a little extra control at times, the automatic features a satisfying and obedient manual-shift mode. The brakes work very well. We found them to be resistant to fade on a winding road that overheated the brakes on some lesser cars. The C70 doesn't feel heavy when you flick it around in the curves. The rack-and-pinion steering is power-assisted and electro-hydraulic, and provides a solid feel. We wouldn't call it light or nimble, but turning the C70 doesn't require a lot of effort. It simply gives good feedback through the healthy leather-wrapped steering wheel. Solid as a Swede. The same could be said of the ride. The chassis is stiff, a key to crisp handling and a smooth ride. The current C70 doesn't shake like many convertibles do.

Final Word

The Volvo C70 is gorgeous. It's fun and convenient, and its safety is unbeatable. The engine, transmission and suspension are proven to be smooth and reliable, and the price for this four-seat hardtop convertible is a bargain. NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Sam Moses filed this report from Maui.