When most people talk about Volvo cars, they almost always refer to their reliability and safety. For style and good looks, people would turn to the German automakers instead of the Swedes, which is why it comes as a surprise to know that Volvo was one of the first carmakers to offer a convertible with a folding hard top. The C70 was that convertible, and it has long been one of Volvo’s most stylish models.
The Volvo C70 was first introduced as a coupe in 1997, when the Swedish automaker decided to concentrate on the looks of its cars for a change. From 1999 onward, it was sold as a soft-top convertible, and the hard-top version was introduced in 2006. Since then, the C70 has remained virtually unchanged. Now in its seventh year of production as a hardtop, the 2013 Volvo C70 is still a compelling choice for a good-looking, laid-back convertible.
New For 2013
The standard automatic windshield wipers and headlight washers are new in the current year. The $3,900 Inscription Package—with an additional 23 horsepower and 37 lb-ft of torque—has a rear spoiler. Full synthetic motor oil increases service intervals to 10,000 miles or 12 months.
Exterior
The 2013 Volvo C70 pretty much has the same exterior design it had during its introduction in 2006. Normally, this would mean that the convertible is terribly outdated, but the car has such a clean design that it still makes for a head-turner today.
The last exterior changes the C70 underwent was in 2011, when its front was updated to something similar to that of the XC60 crossover and S60 sedan. The nose was redesigned to become more wedge-shaped, and the air intake was increased for better engine efficiency.
The rear taillight was also changed for a more contemporary look. The 2013 Volvo C70 comes with 17-inch wheels as standard, although 18-inch wheels are available, along with optional adaptive xenon high-intensity discharge headlights.
Interior & Cargo
The sleek and minimalist design of the 2013 Volvo C70 is one of the best in terms of form. The cabin has Volvo’s signature thin center stack panel that merges seamlessly with the dash and center console. The materials used are of great quality, including the leather upholstery, standard aluminum trim, and the optional wood trim.
The optional Platinum package comes with a 14-speaker surround-sound audio system which is one of the best available for a convertible. The front seats are spacious, firm, and comfortable.
Despite all the positives, the interior of the 2013 Volvo C70 is not without its problems. The climate controls of the C70 are intuitive, but the audio controls are downright confusing. The optional navigation system also has an unresponsive and unintuitive control interface. Moreover, the rear seats lack legroom, even though other convertibles like the BMW 3 Series, A5, and Infiniti G have it worse.
The foldable hard top design also amount to a compromise on cargo space. Nevertheless, Volvo manages to squeeze around 6 cubic feet of space with the top retracted and 12.8 cubic feet with the top up. It may not seem much, but it is relatively better than the competition. The 2013 Volvo C70 has a trunk-mounted Load Assist button as well, which lifts the roof assembly a little to make it easier to access the trunk space.
Safety
The 2013 Volvo C70 is available with anti-lock disc brakes, front seat mounted side airbags, electronic stability and traction control, front seat curtain airbags, active front head restraints, and an automatically deployable rollover bar. The car has a stopping distance of 133 feet from 60 mph, which is 10 feet more than the average for its class.
Driving Experience
A turbocharged, 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine delivers 227 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque to the 2013 Volvo C70. An optional Inscription package adds a more powerful version of the engine under the hood, delivering 250 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The car comes with a front wheel drive and a five-speed automatic transmission as standard.
With these specifications, the 2013 Volvo C70 can reach the 60 mph mark from standstill in around 7.8 seconds, which is slow for its class, but good enough for most customers. Fuel economy is average at 19/28 mpg city/highway.
The 2013 Volvo C70 is not a powerhouse. Those who want a powerful supercar convertible should probably look at the Dodge Viper or consider a BMW or Mercedes-Benz. However, this does not mean that the C70 performs poorly. It does perfect well in any situation, whether it is cruising on the highway or moving through city traffic.
The 2013 Volvo C70 also lacks any sport car-like handling. Its steering lacks responsiveness, and the suspension is designed more for comfort than stability. As a result, there is a good amount of body roll and brake dive when the car is pushed tightly around a corner.
The turbocharged engine is powerful in its own right, but it fails to keep up with the engines under the hood of competing convertibles like the Infiniti G37 and BMW 335i. Nevertheless, it does offer a cool and composed ride that can appeal to a lot of customers. The suspension absorbs the roughness of the road and delivers a smooth and civilized ride.
When the top is up, the cabin of the 2013 Volvo C70 is very quiet, adding to the composed atmosphere in the car. The situation is not that different with the top down either, since the breeze is nicely controlled and not too overpowering.
Key Competitors For The 2013 Volvo C70
Infiniti G37
Lexus IS C
Volkswagen Eos