What does it cost?
Volvo C70 CC full 9 point review
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Performance
You can have a 2.5-litre petrol engine, but the smart money is spent on one of the diesels. The 148bhp D3 version would be our pick because it offers all the performance you need and keeps the price down. However, the slightly pricier 174bhp D4 is a little quicker and just as fuel-efficient.
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Ride & Handling
The C70 is not a new car, and you really feel that in the way it drives. The ride is jittery and uncultured whatever your speed, and bumps send shudder through the bodywork. The handling isn’t great, either. Grip is limited, there’s too much body lean and the steering feels too light and too remote.
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Refinement
Convertibles with metal roofs are usually quieter than those with a fabric hood, but the C70’s pillarless side windows still generate a fair amount of wind noise. Road noise is rather too pronounced, too. The engines aren’t refined enough, either; the five-cylinder petrol is boomy and the diesels are rather grumbly. You’re reasonably well isolated from buffeting with the roof down, though.
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Buying & Owning
The C70 is an expensive car to buy and resale values aren’t as strong as for some rivals. That means it’ll cost you even more long-term. The petrol is very thirsty, and while the diesels are much cheaper to run on a daily basis, they can’t match their best rivals for fuel efficiency.
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Quality & Reliability
The C70 comes across as a classy car, thanks to a cabin that's well built from appealing materials. Everything feels built to last, although it's not unknown for the roof to rattle when it's in place. Volvo’s reliability record is so-so at best.
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Safety & Security
As you'd expect with a Volvo, the C70 is a safe car. It has six airbags, stability control and pop-up rollover bars. That said, it doesn’t have the company’s latest safety measures, like the pedestrian airbag you find on the V40. Deadlocks are standard across the range.
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Behind The Wheel
The C70’s dashboard is covered in tiny buttons that are hard to hit, and because they all look alike, it’s impossible to pick out the right one at a glance. The infotainment system is a nightmare to use, too, because you scroll through confusing menus on a tiny screen. That said, the seats are comfortable and have plenty of adjustment, and rear visibility is pretty good.
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Space & Practicality
Folding metal roofs eat up more boot space than fabric hoods; as a coupe, the C70 has a bigger boot than its rivals from Audi and BMW, but once you lower the roof, its boot space is less than its rivals'. The C70 does a half decent job at seating four people, but the back seats should still be reserved for you more diminutive pals.
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Equipment
The entry-level SE car comes with climate control, alloy wheels, electric windows, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, Bluetooth and steering wheel-mounted stereo controls. SE Lux adds leather upholstery, a powered driver’s seat and xenon headlamps, while the range-topping Solstice version has metallic paint, sat-nav, heated seats and keyless entry.
What Volvo C70 CC owners say:
C70 used car reviews
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Our pick of the range
Volvo C70 CC 2.0 D3 SE 2dr
This may be one of the cheapest C70s, but it has decent pace and loads of standard equipment. In fact, it's our favourite version.
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