2006 Volvo C70 Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

This four-passenger convertible joins Volvo's lineup as a mid-2006 model-year addition. C70 has a power-retracting metal hardtop with heated glass rear window. It shares a basic platform and wheelbase with Volvo's compact S40 sedans and V50 wagons. C70 also borrows its 218-hp turbocharged 5-cyl engine from the S40/V50. A 6-speed manual transmission is standard; a 5-speed automatic is optional. All C70s have standard ABS, traction/antiskid control, front side airbags, and separate side airbags for front-seat occupants. Also standard are rollover bars designed to deploy from the rear headrests if sensors detect an impending tip. Leather upholstery and a navigation system are optional. This evaluation is based on preview test drives.

2006 Volvo C70 Road Test

Pros	Cons

Instruments/controls	Rear-seat entry/exit

Front-seat comfort	Rear-seat room

Acceleration

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Acceleration

T5 w/18-in. whls., man.	T5, auto.	Class Average
6	6	8.2

Always peppy, though most responsive above 3000 rpm. Mostly free of turbo lag-induced low-rpm sluggishness. Silken manual shifter/clutch action. Alert automatic transmission shifts smoothly.

Fuel Economy

T5 w/18-in. whls., man.	T5, auto.	Class Average
5	5	4.2

No opportunity yet to measure. Volvo recommends premium-grade fuel.

Ride Quality

T5 w/18-in. whls., man.	T5, auto.	Class Average
5	6	4.3

Final evaluation awaits full road test. A commendable blend of comfort, sport. Body structure fairly rigid; exhibits minimal top-down cowl shake. Ride quality diminishes with optional 18-inch tires, which transmit some harshness over sharp bumps and potholes.

Steering/Handling/Braking

T5 w/18-in. whls., man.	T5, auto.	Class Average
7	7	8.5

Nimble moves, minimal body lean in corners, though handling not quite as precise as top European rivals. Steering accurate, nicely weighted, has good balance of road feel, isolation. Brakes strong, easy to modulate.

Quietness

T5 w/18-in. whls., man.	T5, auto.	Class Average
5	6	4.1

Hardtop seals out exterior noise better than any ragtop, but occasionally creaks, groans mildly when up. Road roar noticed with 18-inch tires, but is not overbearing. Engine near silent at cruise; rapid acceleration triggers buzzy growl, turbo whistle.

Controls

T5 w/18-in. whls., man.	T5, auto.	Class Average
7	7	6.3

Gauges unobstructed, clearly marked. Radio controls easy to access, though climate buttons a bit low, can be blocked by manual shift lever. Retractable top powers up or down in about 30 sec. High quality cabin materials. No opportunity to test with navigation system.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

T5 w/18-in. whls., man.	T5, auto.	Class Average
7	7	5.7

Ample room. Comfortable, supportive seats. Broad range of seat and steering wheel adjustments make it easy to tailor comfortable driving position. Large rear window contributes to better-than-average top-up visibility.

Room/Comfort (rear)

T5 w/18-in. whls., man.	T5, auto.	Class Average
3	3	.7

Head room tight for 6-footers. Leg room never generous, quickly becomes cramped as front seats move more than halfway back.

Cargo Room

T5 w/18-in. whls., man.	T5, auto.	Class Average
2	2	2

Retracted hardtop eats up half of trunk space, but golf-bag-sized item still fits with top down. Two cupholders front and rear, but they only accommodate 12-oz cans. Lockable interior storage compartments a handy feature when top is down, but small-items stowage space only so-so.

Value within Class

T5 w/18-in. whls., man.	T5, auto.	Class Average
5	5	4.5

The C70 is a pleasing mix of comfort, sport, top-down fun, and hardtop security. Engine smoothness and handling precision are a step down from BMW and Audi rivals, but C70 pricing is competitive, and the retractable hardtop offers all-weather versatility with little compromise.

Total Score

T5 w/18-in. whls., man.	T5, auto.	Class Average
52	54	48.5

Scores for all Premium Sporty/performance Cars

Low Score		37
Average Score		48
High Score		58

2006 Volvo C70 Prices & Equipment

Model Prices

Prices Updated: 05/26/2006

Trim Name	Retail Price	Dealer Invoice	Destination Charge

T5 2-door convertible	$38,710	$36,340	$695

Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.

NA = price note available, NC = no charge.

Rebates and Incentives

There are no rebates or incentives at this time.

Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.

Standard Equipment

Powertrain

2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine, 6-speed manual transmission, traction control.

Safety

Dual front airbags, front side airbags, automatic roll bars, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, brake assist, antiskid system, daytime running lights.

Comfort and Convenience Features

Air conditioning w/dual-zone automatic climate controls, power steering, tilt/telescope leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, cruise control, cloth/leather upholstery, 8-way power front seats, memory system (driver seat, mirrors), center console, cupholders, trunk pass-through, aluminum interior trim, heated power mirrors w/turn signals, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/weatherband w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, digital clock, tachometer, trip computer, outside-temperature indicator, variable-intermittent wipers, illuminated visor mirrors, map lights, power-retractable hardtop, rear defogger, automatic-off headlights, floormats.

Appearance and Miscellaneous

Theft-deterrent system, front and rear fog lights, 235/45VR17 tires, alloy wheels.

Optional Equipment

Major Packages	Retail Price	Invoice Price
Premium Pkg.
T5	$1,395	$1,199
Leather upholstery, universal garage door opener, automatic day/night rearview mirror, compass.

Climate Pkg.
T5	$675	$580
ordered w/bi-xenon headlights	$412	$354
Heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, headlight washers.

Powertrain
5-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability
T5	$1,250	$1,250


Comfort and Convenience Features
Navigation system
T5	$2,120	$1,823
Includes remote control.

Upgraded sound system
T5	$1,550	$1,333


Appearance and Miscellaneous
Bi-xenon headlights
T5	$700	$602
Includes headlight washers.

Special paint
T5	$475	$408


Premium paint
T5	$625	$537


Bright alloy wheels
T5	$995	$855
Includes 235/40ZR18 tires.

2006 Volvo C70 Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	Volvo C70 2-door convertible

Wheelbase, in.	103.9

Overall Length, in.	180.4

Overall Width, in.	71.7

Overall Height, in.	55.1

Curb Weight, lbs.	3772

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	12.8

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	15.9

Seating Capacity	4

Front Head Room, in.	38.2

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.3

Rear Head Room, in.	36.4

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	33.9

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Engines

	Turbocharged dohc I5

Size, liters/cu. in.	2.5 /154

Horsepower @ rpm.	218 @ 5000

Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm.	236 @ 1500

Availability	Standard

EPA City / highway mpg

6-speed manual	20/29

5-speed automatic	21/29

Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Safety Features

Antilock Brakes

Traction Control

Antiskid System

Front Side Airbags

Curtain Side Airbags

Rear Side Airbags

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test

Volvo C70 2-door convertible

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Manufacturer's Warranty

Class	Years/Miles	Comments

Powertrain	None/--	--

Bumper-to-bumper	4/50,000	--

Corrosion	12/unlimited	--

Free roadside assistance	4/unlimited	--

Free scheduled maintenance	None/	--

Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.

Built in: Sweden

Drivewheels: front-wheel drive

Tester's Comments

(what's this?)

Vehicle Evaluated: 2006 Volvo C70
Trim Level: T5
Arrival Date: 10/02/2006
Engine: Turbocharged dohc I5
Bodystyle: 2-door convertible
Transmission: 6-speed manual
4WD/AWD: No
Base Price: $38,710
Price as Tested: $40,400
Mileage at Beginning of Test: 5088
Mileage at End of Test: 5585
Total Measured Miles:
Total Fuel Used: 23.321 gals.

Major Options: 18-inch alloy wheels

Consumer Guide® Fuel Economy: 21.31 mpg (what's this?)

Problems During Test: None

From The Back Seat
Kirk Bell The C70 invites comparisons to the G6 convertible and VW Eos. Of the three, the C70 has the best ride, the best looks, and the most trunk space, but also the highest sticker. The Eos wins this three-way battle for its sporty demeanor, spunky engines, and more reasonable prices. G6 is good looking, but bland to drive.

Rick Cotta The C70 is an impressive car, but not an especially impressive value. Our $40,000 tester would have been about $42K with automatic transmission and heated seats, both of which were included in our $36,000 Eoswhich seemed the equal of the C70 in most areas, and beat it for useful cargo room. Only VW's questionable reliability would have me looking at the Volvo instead.

Tom Appel In one year three hardtop convertibles with useful rear seats arrived on the scene. The Pontiac G6 brings up the bottom price-wise, but suffers from copious body quake and only "so-so" performance. The Volvo tops the price range, and is generally sportier and more refined than the G6. But in the middle VW's Eos really shines. With a rigid structure, a huge sunroof(!), and prices that realistically start in the mid $30k range, the VW looks like the winner in this crowd.

< 2006 Volvo C70 Photos

Also in the 2006 Volvo C70 Review:

Volvo C70

Volvo C70 Road Test

Volvo C70 Prices & Equipment

Volvo C70 Specs & Safety

Volvo C70 Photos

Volvo C70 Full Review

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