“Volvo’s latest C70
  is the Scandinavian
  riposte to Germany’s
  Audi A4 Cabriolet
  and BMW 3 Series
  Convertible. The
  question is, where
  will the smart money
  go now? Will it stick
  with the swashbuckling
  Germans, or will it be
  lured by the handsome
  Nordic newcomer?”

"IS THAT REALLY a Volvo?" By the end of a week's testing, we were pretty much used to hearing that question, albeit framed in a variety of sound-bites. But then you can't blame people for admiring something, or for expressing that admiration. After all, the most important decision in most people's choice of car is strongly biased towards form rather than function.

And yes, the latest C70 coupé-convertible is most definitely a Volvo. All the traditional Volvo ingredients are present and correct only they now come wrapped in a very sleek coupé-styled package — which brings us back to that darned question.

Pitched right at the heart of the prestige four-seat cabriolet segment against the Audi A4 Cabriolet and BMW 3 Series Convertible, the brand spanking new C70 boasts something neither of its key rivals has — a fully-automatic three piece folding metal hard-top. With the roof up, the Volvo looks like a regular — and elegant — two-door fixed-head coupé. Press the 'down' button on the centre console and it gracefully folds itself away out of sight in the boot in less time than it takes to say "Yes — this really is a Volvo!" Okay, so you might beat it — in real time it takes 30 seconds in either direction.

The two strongest clues that it's related to other Volvos are its front grille and the pronounced rear haunches with distinctive 'cut-out' rear light units and a squared-off tail. It's certainly a successful shape, no doubt thanks to the fact that Volvo designed it as a proper coupé first before deciding to go down the more complicated but more sensible hard-roofed cabrio road. The coupé-esque roof makes a particularly graceful foil to the muscular body upon which it sits.

Hardly a month passes, or so it seems, without another manufacturer jumping on the CC bandwagon — a trend started by Mercedes-Benz's two-seater SLK, although today most examples are four-seaters. And it's nice to see that Volvo has got the whole roof thing right. Not only is it eminently practical, but some of the other CCs currently on sale have ended up with rather dumpy tails as a consequence of storing
a retractable metal hard-top. Not so the C70, whose roof consists of three interlinked sections: a lengthy top roof section split into two and a rear screen. The three sections stack on top of each other like cards, before dropping out of sight automatically to be stored in the boot and covered by a neat rear deck.

The long roof section is the reason why the C70 can function as a full four-seater. Most other CCs are really just 2+2s, hence their relatively short roofs. Top up, the C70 feels reassuringly all-of-a-piece. And despite the size of the hard-top, it still feels rigid with the top down.

Three powerplants are available, all transverse five-cylinder 20-valve units. The 2.4i is a 2.4 normally-aspirated petrol engine offering 168bhp. Next up the pecking order in the bhp stakes, and available by the time you read this, is a 2.4-litre turbodiesel that's good for 178bhp but provides a meaty 259lb ft as opposed to the 170lb ft of the entry-model's petrol engine. Topping the range — as tested here — is the 2.5-litre turbocharged T5 engine that delivers a potent 217bhp and 236lb ft of torque between 1,500 and 4,800rpm. For the record, in modified form this unit powers Ford's accomplished Focus ST. A five-speed Geartronic automatic transmission can be specified over the standard 6-speed manual 'box on both petrol engines, but it is the only transmission choice for the diesel.

Top speeds with these engines are 137mph (2.4i), 140mph (D5)
and 150mph (T5) with 0-62mph times of 9.1 (2.4i manual), 9.5
(D5 Geartronic) and 7.6 seconds (T5 manual).

More Volvo genes are evident inside the typically Scandinavian cabin and you can't quibble with the fit and finish — it's all that you'd reasonably expect of a £30,000 motor car. Volvo now builds some of the smartest interiors, as perfectly demonstrated by the C70. The interior is elegant and controls are near-intuitive, logically laid-out and easily identified. Giving the impression of having been hewn from a solid ingot of satin chrome, Volvo's shapely new trademark 'floating' centre console is an eye-catching feature, and it's supported by well-considered satin chrome detailing to the door handles and gear knob.

Both the driver and the front seat passenger enjoy decent space and
a good range of seat adjustment. Along with a reputation for safety, Volvo has long been known for its good seats and the C70's front seats confirm this, being comfortably soft and supportive on the longest journeys.

An accommodating reach and height adjustable steering wheel and well-placed pedals ensure the driver enjoys a first-rate driving position. The multi-function steering wheel is nicely covered in perforated leather and the stereo and cruise control buttons are large and easy
to use. Visibility with the top down is, of course, excellent. But even with the coupé-style roof in place it remains very good even to the sides and rear — courtesy of a full-width glass rear screen, which also enhances the car's structural integrity with the roof up.

A thoughtful touch is the provision of a single button to raise or auto-matically lower all four side windows together. Other neat ideas are
the door mirror joystick adjuster that prevents accidental adjustment, the soft mesh pockets attached to the very front of the driver and passenger seats and drive-away automatic central locking.

The two rear seats are by design individual, separated by the full-length centre console that runs from the dash all the way between both sets of seats to rear bulkhead. While this makes for cosy accommodation, it does mean that taller (six-footer) rear passengers short of leg room can't stretch their legs out sideways. That said, we found most of our journeys were riding four-up, all adults, and were conducted in comfort. Kids will fight to sit in the back — no, we don't know why either! Entry and exit to the rear seats is not a problem, especially as the electric front seats fold and power forward or power back to their previous position. Volvo has gone for good quality leather that's as nice to the touch as it is to sit on.

Cabin storage is well-considered and neat touches include several cubbies linked to the central locking system, thereby ensuring security should you need to leave the car with the top down. We particularly like the roll-top lidded siamesed cupholders that double as small storage bins and which are built into the central console — one behind the gear lever and one between the front and rear seats. There are also two useful deep storage pockets concealed by the recessed rear outer armrests.

At 404 litres, boot space is pretty good for a four-seater coupé, and it's all the better for having a wide opening bootlid. At its maximum, there is 24 inches of height. Roof raised, there's enough room for two golf bags. However, metal folding roofs steal more space than fabric. With the hard-top in place the C70's boot is both wide and surprisingly spacious but it's virtually halved (down to 200 litres) when the top is lowered.

To get anything in or out with the roof stowed you have to press
a yellow button that raises the stacked metal 'roof sandwich' by 8 inches. This is fine for smaller items but you'll still need to fully raise the top to remove larger objects. A partition in the boot prevents the folded roof fouling on luggage but this is easily expanded to maximise load space when using the car in coupé mode. The handy ski hatch offers a bit more practicality, enhanced by a forward folding front passenger seat. Don't bother looking for the spare wheel if you get
a puncture — there isn't one, but you do get a 'mobility kit' for an instant roadside repair.

Okay, we've ascertained that the new C70 has definitely got the looks and the quality to cut it as a £30K four-seater drop-top. But does it have the under-bonnet muscle and handling dynamics to match?

Two-hundred-and-seventeen brake horse power is a decent sized serving of poke. Full-boost standing starts generate a cheeky chirp from the low-profile Michelins and just a wake-up tug at the helm.
But not anywhere near enough to spoil your line. With a punchy 236lb ft of torque on tap, C70 drivers enjoy a flexible power band that will take them smoothly all the way to the red-line without any hint of peakiness.

Be warned, though, that acceleration can feel more leisurely than
your actual road speed. Firstly, because the C70 weighs in at a stocky 1,711kg and secondly, because its smooth powertrain majors on delivering deceptively swift rather than storming performance. As it happens, this is a very good thing. What we need more of in the world today is torque. And the C70 knows it's good to torque.

That could sound like a cop-out. It's not. However, given that its three principal rivals are the Audi A4 Cabriolet, BMW 3 Series Convertible and Saab's 9-3 Cabriolet, you won't be surprised to find that the C70's on-road dynamics will indulge you if you must go play with the Germans. The steering is light but sharp and responsive enough to make the C70 good fun through the bends. There's also ample traction and high levels of grip from the T5's supple suspension.

The standard six-speed gearbox is a pleasure to use. Crisp, precise up and down changes ensure getting the most out of the T5 is a reward-ing business, aided and abetted by a well-weighted clutch. Brakes are powerful and reassuringly responsive and deliver-drama-free stopping at speed. Overall, the handling dynamics are safe, predictable and completely user-friendly, making the T5 an easy drive. Better still, it cruises quietly and smoothly at motorway speeds. Petrol consumption worked out to be as easygoing as the T5's nature. We recorded an overall combined figure of 26.1mpg, with 31.3mpg on longer, steady-speed runs.

Whichever role it's performing, the C70 is very civilised. As a roof-up coupé, it's impressively quiet, especially at cruising speeds. As a roof-down convertible it keeps you well insulated from any wind buffeting — whether you're in the front or the back — to the degree that the driver and front passenger can converse without raising their voices. Even better, the air conditioning can blast out decent cold air even with the roof down. The C70's high-performance sound system is not only very good, but it automatically adjusts the sound balance to suit topless or fixed-head motoring.

And you do get quite a lot of kit for your cash. Standard items include leather upholstery, 17-inch 7 double-spoke polished alloy wheels wearing 215/50 Pirelli P7s, electronic climate control, driver's inform-ation centre, cruise control, four electric windows, tinted glass, power adjustable and heated door mirrors, auto-dimming rear view mirror, powered driver's seat with memory, height-adjustable front seats with lumbar support, auto wipers and a decent 'high-performance' 6CD/ radio with eight speakers.

Being a Volvo, the C70 is also comprehensively equipped with the latest safety technology including dual-stage front airbags and door-mounted curtain airbags that inflate upwards — a world-first — and remain inflated for longer in case of a roll-over. In addition, there's ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution and Electronic Brake Assistance plus stability and traction control systems, pop up roll-over hoops behind the rear seats and anti-whiplash front head restraints.

A handsome car, the C70 can hold its well-engineered folding metal head — sorry, roof — up high in the company of the German competition. For some, its only fault will be that it lacks a Teutonic badge to impress the neighbours — but then, well, that's their loss.
For anyone else with £30K to spend on a sporty coupé, it could be
the ideal car for the UK's varied and unpredictable weather.

Volvo C70 T5 SE | £30,725 Maximum speed: 150mph | 0-62mph: 7.6 seconds Overall test MPG: 26.1mpg | Power: 217bhp | Torque: 236lb ft Visit Volvo's website