Volvo C70

The Essentials

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Drive
Best as a comfortable cruiser: it's quiet roof up or down. Watch out for wheelspin from the most powerful engines
Inside
Beautifully comfortable, with sensibly organised controls
Safety
Everything you need to keep you safe on the road, and deadlocks to deter crooks
Reliability
Build feels top quality and we'd expect few problems. If roof squeaks, seals may need lubricating
Space
Four adults will fit without grumbling. Luggage room is generous until you drop the roof
Standard and extras
Climate and cruise control, alloy wheels and electric windows are standard. Top trims have electrically controlled leather seats

What's it like to drive?
For quick getaways opt for the 2.5-litre petrol, if you're watching the budget go for a diesel; the 2.0 is cheapest to run but the 2.5 has more oomph. Avoid the 18-inch wheels - the more powerful engines will deliver a dramatic wheelspin if you're not careful. Otherwise it's a tranquil experience with the Volvo C70's roof up or down, and folding it away takes around 25 seconds.
What's it like inside?
Volvo has mastered the art of comfortable seats, and the cabin layout is simple and stylish. Some of the smaller buttons can be a little fiddly, but there's useful storage and an MP3 socket behind the floating centre console. Two adults can fit into the rear seats comfortably, and ISOFIX child-seat fixings are fitted. The boot is very roomy until you lower the roof. All C70s come with climate control, alloy wheels, cruise control and steering wheel-mounted stereo controls. Safety is top-notch with six airbags, stability control and pop-up rollover bars as standard.
How reliable is it?
The C70 comes across as a classy car, thanks to a cabin that's well built from appealing materials. Everything feels built to last, although it's not unknown for the roof to rattle when it's in place.
Should I buy one?
The Volvo C70 is a rare sight on the road, so exclusivity should help keep resale values almost as strong as those of the Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series convertibles. The diesel models will be more economical to run.