Volvo C70 Coupé Convertible (06 on) - Review

The C70 will accommodate four adults without any complaint - roof up or down - which isn't always the case in convertibles this size. A wind deflector can be chosen to reduce buffeting when two people are in the car, but with it fitted, the rear seats can't be used. Roof-up, the C70 feels like a coupe, although headroom in the rear is compromised thanks to its tapering roofline. Automatic climate control is standard, and the seats are supremely comfortable - a Volvo tradition. There's also very little in they way of wind or tyre noise with the roof up.

While the boot offers up to 404 litres of space with the roof up, it shrinks to 200 litres with the roof down - less than a typical small car - but at least the folded roof has an electric mechanism to improve access to the luggage area after being folded. A button inside the boot raises the folded roof by 10cm to allow easier loading and unloading. The cabin has a few storage areas and cup holders, and the door pockets are much better than in the Volvo S40 and V50.

The understated and sophisticated image of the C70 continues in the cabin with a design that was a distinctly Swedish feel. It includes the floating central console that is feature on most Volvo models along with some very easy to use controls. The stereo is especially user-friendly. It can look a little drab in dark colours, but there's a range of lighter colours available including a modern wood finish. Quality is excellent and everything has a precise and robust feel to it, while the superb seats are great for long journeys, although they do lack support at the sides. Visibility is good, although extra care is needed when reversing with the roof up. Rear parking sensors are optional across the range.