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10 Best Used Cars Under $8,000

2010 Volvo C70

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Overview

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2010 Volvo C70 Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

The days of the canvas convertible top are fast coming to a close, and cars like the 2010 Volvo C70 are the primary reason. Although Ford pioneered the idea of a retractable hardtop back in the 1950s, only recently has the technology been perfected. While convertibles such as the Lexus SC 430 and Volkswagen Eos demonstrate the hard-top concept, Volvo has figured out a way to build in added safety features such as reinforced roof rails, pop-up roll bars and door-mounted side-curtain airbags. Unlike many convertibles, the C70 can seat four adults in relative comfort and, while not cheap, it is well within the price range of the average premium convertible buyer.

You'll Like This Car If...

Like to stand out from the luxury car crowd while demonstrating your canny practicality at the same time? The 2010 Volvo C70 coupe-convertible fills that bill very nicely.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you desire leading-edge performance from your European sportster, you might find the C70's performance a tad on the tame side.

What's New for 2010

Changes for 2010 are limited to the reshuffling of some of option packages, the addition of two-position fixed front head restraints and new 18-inch "Sirona" diamond cut wheels.

Driving the C70

Driving Impressions The Volvo C70 is every inch a Volvo and that extends from the exceptional comfort of its seats to its satisfying on-road manners. While no one will find the C70...

offers the precise handling and exhilarating performance of some of its top competitors, it does a more-than-creditable job of finding the right balance between ride and handling for most luxury coupe-convertible drivers. Though acceleration is more than adequate, frankly we wished the 2.5-liter five-cylinder T5 engine with light-pressure turbocharging produced more than its advertised 227 horsepower. Torque is adequate at 236 pound-feet in what is a flat "curve" from 1,500 to 5,000 rpm, but a little more horsepower would turn the C70 from a satisfying ride to a thrilling one.

Favorite Features

Retractable Steel Hardtop
You have to love the fact that the C70 can be a quiet, cozy closed coupe in a rain shower and a wide-open convertible in the sun at the touch of a button.

Dynaudio Sound System
Green Day or Sinatra, music has rarely sounded as pure and clear as through the C70's audiophile-worthy system.

2010 Volvo C70 Details

Interior

The highly-praised Scandinavian design ethic gets a thorough workout in the no-nonsense interior of the C70. The super-thin central area of the dashboard is a serious "wow." It evokes thoughts of high-end audio equipment. Volvos have long been known for their fantastic seat comfort, and the C70 upholds that reputation, although rear-seat passengers might be a tad disappointed by their available legroom if tall passengers are in front. Handsome leather-covered seats are optional, but more intriguing are seats with the specially-developed Vulcaflex synthetic upholstery that has a skin-like feel. The car's many inboard storage areas are linked to the central locking system, which allows convenient locking even when the top is down.

Exterior

Volvo execs cut out a big challenge for the design team, asking for a vehicle that looks great with top up and top down, can accommodate four adult passengers and has better-than-average cargo space. Somehow the Volvo design team, aided by the experts at Italy's Pininfarina, achieved all those objectives. Even though the car has a very short nose, it still looks aggressive, while at the same time clearly demonstrating its Volvo family heritage. The car was designed as a coupe first but, according to Volvo designer Fedde Talsma, "the convertible's lines fell cleanly into place." The 12.8-cubic foot trunk capacity is excellent for a car in this class, and it even offers six cubic feet of cargo space with the top retracted.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

Leading the list of standard equipment is the three-piece retractable steel roof that is actuated by a computer-controlled electric motor and hydraulic pump. To activate the top the vehicle must be stationary, but it does open and close in 30 seconds. As you would guess, the C70 is chockfull of active and passive safety systems. On the active safety front, the car offers anti-lock brakes (ABS) and Volvo's Dynamic Stability and Traction Control System (DSTC). The standard transmission is a six-speed manual – somewhat unusual for a luxury coupe but in keeping with its sporty nature.

Optional Equipment

Perhaps the major item on the Volvo C70's option list is the Multimedia Package, which includes a 14-speaker arrangement with a high-end 5 x 130-watt digital amplifier that facilitates Dolby Pro Logic II Surround Sound; the package also includes HDD navigation with Real Time Traffic updates. Other available options include leather seating surfaces, Homelink remote garage door opener, five-speed Geartronic automatic transmission, heated front seats, headlamp washers, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, rain-sensing windshield wiper system, Blind Spot Information System, 18-inch "Midir" alloy wheels, Bi-xenon headlamps, Keyless Drive and rear park assist.

Under the Hood

The Volvo light-pressure turbocharging is designed more for economical all-around driving than for performance, so forgive us if we craved a little more horsepower and torque from the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. The big plus is its laudable fuel economy.

2.5-liter in-line 5 light-pressure turbo
227 horsepower @ 5000 rpm
236 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1500 to 5000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/28 (manual), 19/28 (automatic)

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2010 Volvo C70 Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

4.6

Out of 5

Based on 53 Ratings for the 2006 - 2012 Volvo C70 models.

Review this car

Value

4.5/5

Quality

4.5/5
Reliability

4.7/5

Performance

4.5/5
Comfort

4.6/5

Styling

4.8/5

nice with top down , a real hassle otherwise

By tk (VA) on Tuesday, February 07, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 90,000

5 3.0

overall rating 3 of 5rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 3/5
Value: 1/5
Reliability: 4/5
Quality: 2/5
Performance: 2/5
Styling: 5/5
Comfort: 1/5

Pros: "nice tol look at and ride with top down"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"I went through 3 sets ( 12 tires ) in 90k miles . What is worse , I cracked 7 rims on various city potholes. If you let the window down a crack you get soaked if it is raining outside. The dealer was a horse behind trying to explain the fact that the 'performance tires' mean they last only 15 -20 k miles. The design /alloy was changed in 2007 /08 to allow for more rubber. Interior cramped, cup holders suck . Trunk space is reasonable , even with top down but no spare tire. I had more tire/rim problems in 90k miles and 4 year with this car than in app 700k miles /20 yrs /5 previous cars ( mb e320/acura vigor/subaru/ mob/ford escort)"

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Best vehicle and value I've ever owned

By Argentcedar (WA) on Friday, January 06, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 68,000

5 5.0

overall rating 5 of 5rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Reliability: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Performance: 5/5
Styling: 5/5
Comfort: 5/5

Pros: "comfortable, looks great even after 68000 miles"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Just can't find anything major to complain about. Competent dealer, too, if not cheap. I get around 26 -27 mpg in mixed driving - lots of hills, stop and go. Got 33 mpg on a long level high speed drive across Arizona."

4 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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