2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
In summer there is nothing better than a convertible. But how long has summer been in Germany? An open car has to cut a fine figure, both open and closed - like Volvo's C70.
By Sebastian Viehmann
When you think of the most beautiful convertibles of all time, many cars come to mind - Mercedes SL, Alfa Spider, Chevrolet Corvette. When you think of open Swedes, one thinks of the brittle charm of the early Saab convertibles, and many of them don't even have Volvo on the plan. Last year, almost 2,000 Volvo C70s were registered - a little more than Saab and overall not bad for a convertible, but far from models like the BMW 3 Series Convertible (almost 10,000 new registrations) or the VW Eos (14,005).
Solid all round
Hardly any sun worshiper seems as solid as the C70. The body with its high hip swing wraps around the passengers like a tank. The coupe look with the roof closed is so successful that some motorists look in disbelief when suddenly the three-part roof of the Swede opens. The only disturbing element in the silhouette is the black antenna on the right rear fender. The torsion-resistant body barely lets you hear a creak, either open or closed, and the noise insulation is excellent. In the C70 you feel safe in both summer and winter.
To complement the C70 D5 (180 hp), Volvo has added a 136 hp diesel to its range. The two-liter machine does not always have it easy with the 1.7 tons of Swedish steel. The 320 Newton meters of torque are available from 2000 tours. If you want things to move quickly, you need more switches. It takes 11 seconds for the speedometer needle to scratch the 100 - two more than the D5 with 180 hp, which, in addition to more displacement, has above all more torque. Volvo specifies the average consumption of the 2.0 D at 6.1 liters, which is somewhat optimistic - you can reach this value at a leisurely pace on the motorway, otherwise between 7 and 8 liters are due.
At just 52 liters, the fuel tank is 10 liters smaller than other C70 models, which is not exactly useful for the range. It is shifted with a manual six-speed gearbox. Alternatively, a 6-speed dual clutch transmission is available.
Born cruiser
Since the somewhat sedate Volvo is a born cruiser anyway, 136 hp are enough for dignified outdoor fun. The only question is, for which convertible driver - who generally cover only a few kilometers - a diesel is still worthwhile given the fuel prices.
There is little joy in looking at the price list. For less than 34,840 euros (2.4-liter petrol engine with 140 hp), no roof will open at Volvo. The 2.0 D costs 36,000 euros with the basic Kinetic equipment. For comparison: A Chrysler Sebring does not achieve the solid feeling of the Volvo, but the American is available with a 140 hp diesel under the hood for 29,990 euros. The Saab 9-3 Cabrio is available with 150 hp diesel from 36,300 euros. For an Alfa Spider 2.4 JTDM (200 PS) you have to put 39,550 euros on the table - there is more power, but less space and no folding roof. The same applies to the Audi TT Roadster 2.0 TDI (170 PS), which is on the list at 35,900 euros.
The standard equipment of the Volvo includes electric windows, automatic air conditioning, cruise control, leather applications and a CD radio - that's all you really need for leisurely cruising fun. The safety package with ESP, front-end, is exemplary. Side, head and shoulder airbags, the whiplash protection WHIPS and the rollover protection system ROPS. The Momentum equipment (38,230 euros) mainly contains more visual trim and a parking aid, the top version Summum has bi-xenon headlights, electric seats and leather upholstery, among other things, for an impressive 40,590 euros.
You can safely do without the navigation system, which costs 1970 euros and which cannot keep up with many mobile high-end navigation systems in terms of functionality and map display and can only be operated quite bulky with both remote control and steering wheel buttons.
