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2007 Volvo C70 Full Review
Date Published: 6/06/08
Also in the 2007 Volvo C70 Review:
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2007 Volvo C70 Review
This four-seat convertible has a power-retracting metal top with heated glass rear window. The C70 is based on Volvo's S40/V50 compact-car platform and uses a 218-hp turbocharged 5-cyl engine. Transmission choices are a 6-speed manual or optional 5-speed automatic. C70 comes in a single T5 trim level and includes ABS, traction/antiskid system, front side airbags, and separate front side airbags designed for head protection. Also standard are rollover bars designed to deploy from the rear headrests if sensors detect an impending tip. Among options are leather upholstery, heated front seats, navigation system, rear obstacle detection, and bi-xenon headlamps.
Competition
Consumer Guide® Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Offering more power and style than typical Sporty/Performance vehicles, Premium Sporty/Performance Cars usually cost much more and have more comfort and convenience equipment. Two-passenger convertibles and four-seat coupes rule the roost in this class.

Our Best Buys are the BMW Z4 and Chevrolet Corvette. Our Recommended picks are the Jaguar XK Series and Porsche Boxster, and Porsche Cayman.

New or significantly redesigned models include the Jaguar XK Series and Volkswagen Eos.
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2007 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 8.1

Loafs until turbo begins boosting around 3000 rpm, strong thereafter, with very satisfying passing power. Test manual-transmission C70 did 8.0 sec 0-60 mph. Some unwanted wheelspin and torque steer--pulling to the side--tough to avoid in rapid starts. Automatic transmission smooth, alert. Manual action a bit rubbery, but shifts smooth, clean.
Fuel Economy

T5 w/18-in. whls., man. T5, auto. Class Average
5 5 4.6

Manual-transmission test C70s averaged 15.6-22.0 mpg, depending on city/highway driving mix. Automatic-transmission tester averaged 21.6 mpg. Volvo recommends premium-grade fuel for C70.
Ride Quality

T5 w/18-in. whls., man. T5, auto. Class Average
5 6 4.5

Firm but comfortable with base 17-inch tires, abetted by fairly rigid structure with modest top-down cowl shake. Some testers say ride deteriorates too much with 18-inch tires, with jolting over sharp bumps and pavement breaks.
Steering/Handling/Braking

T5 w/18-in. whls., man. T5, auto. Class Average
7 7 8.6

Not sports-car nimble, but corners with front-drive assurance, modest body lean, tolerable noseplow. Extra grip of 18-inch tires seems offset by compromised control in bumpy corners. Fine straight-line tracking. Some testers find steering nicely weighted, others judge it a bit light and not that quick. Brakes strong, easy to modulate.
Quietness

T5 w/18-in. whls., man. T5, auto. Class Average
5 6 4.5

Top-up wind noise modest if not as subdued as true hardtop. Occasional, top-up creaking plagued one test C70. Little top-down wind buffeting. Road roar always audible with 18-inch tires, but isn't overbearing. Engine quiet enough at cruise, but fairly loud at full throttle.
Controls

T5 w/18-in. whls., man. T5, auto. Class Average
6 6 6.7

Gauges large, legible, but LCD climate and audio displays lack contrast, wash out in certain light conditions. Stereo panel handy, but climate controls below can be blocked by manual shift lever--and accidentally changed by some testers while shifting. No opportunity yet to test with navigation system.
Details

T5 w/18-in. whls., man. T5, auto. Class Average
7 7 7.6

High-quality cabin materials and assembly. Retractable top powers up or down in about 30 sec.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

T5 w/18-in. whls., man. T5, auto. Class Average
7 7 5.9

Adult-size room on comfortable, supportive seats. Many seat and steering-wheel adjustments make it easy to find comfortable driving stance. Airy roof styling furnishes better-than-average top-up visibility.
Room/Comfort (rear)

T5 w/18-in. whls., man. T5, auto. Class Average
2 2 .6

Rear seat a token gesture. It's shaped for two only, and scant leg room even with front seats forward makes it very tight for most adults and many teens. Entry/exit is for contortionists.
Cargo Room

T5 w/18-in. whls., man. T5, auto. Class Average
2 2 2.2

Lowering top cuts ample trunk space in half, though a couple golf bags or medium suitcases still fit. Lockable interior bins enhance top-down security, but small-item storage only so-so; door map pockets barely hold standard gas-station maps.
Value within Class

T5 w/18-in. whls., man. T5, auto. Class Average
5 5 5.4

It's a step below most like-priced convertibles for all-around performance, but the C70 is a pleasant, stylish, well-built blend of top-down fun and fixed-roof security. A comfortable ride and decent trunk space add to its appeal.
Total Score

T5 w/18-in. whls., man. T5, auto. Class Average
57 59 58.7
Scores for all Premium Sporty/performance Cars

Low Score
43
Average Score
58
High Score
63
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2007 Volvo C70 Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 11/14/2006
Trim Name Retail Price Dealer Invoice Destination Charge
T5 2-door convertible $39,090 $36,780 $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
T5
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, tire-pressure monitor, 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 upholstery, 8-way power front seats w/lumbar adjustment, 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 radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer, digital-media player connection, digital clock, tachometer, trip computer, outside-temperature indicator, variable-intermittent wipers, automatic day/night rearview mirror, 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
$1,625
$1,397
Leather upholstery, universal garage door opener, compass.
Climate Pkg.
T5
$1,025
$881
ordered w/bi-xenon headlights
$762
$655
Heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, headlight washers.
Powertrain
5-speed automatic transmission w/manual-shift capability
T5
$1,250
$1,250
Safety
Rear-obstacle-detection system
T5
$400
$344
Comfort and Convenience Features
Navigation system
T5
$2,120
$1,823
Upgraded sound system
T5
$1,550
$1,333
Satellite radio
T5
$295
$253
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.
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2007 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 21/29
5-speed automatic 20/29
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
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Also in the 2007 Volvo C70 Review:
5. 
Volvo C70 Photos

6. 
Volvo C70 Full Review

7. 
All Volvo C70s

8. 
All Volvos


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