With the 2012 Volvo C-70, the Swedish manufacturer promises you two cars in one. It’s an all-grown-up, four-passenger coupe with quietly elegant styling, but it's also an open-air driving delight with a more social option: unlike roadsters and other sporty offerings, the Volvo C-70 comfortably seats four, offering a friendlier way to cruise.
Surprisingly affordable (the starting MSRP is $39,900), the front-wheel drive 2012 Volvo C-70 is powered by a turbocharged inline 5-cylinder engine which produces 227 horsepower and 236 pounds-feet of torque. It has a five-speed automatic transmission, which may disappoint hard-core shift-it-yourselfers. It nets a solid 28 mpg on the highway in spite of the extra weight associated with a hard-top convertible.
For the 2012 Volvo C-70, there are two new trim levels, Premier Plus and Platinum. With Premier plus you get keyless start, rear park-assist, an integrated garage door opener, and a compass to go along with the auto-dimming rearview mirror. The Platinum package adds navigation, stereo and Bluetooth with steaming audio. You can also select other options which include heated front seats, a humidity sensor and an air quality system which collects allergens. (We don’t think this feature works with the top down.)
The 2012 Volvo C-70 features 17-inch wheels standard, but also offers an18-inch option. Also available are rain-sensing windshield wipers, and headlight washers for the adaptive Xenon-high-intensity-discharge headlights.
Inside the cabin, the C-70 sports a handsome leather interior. Dual-zone climate control, a premium sound system with auxiliary USB jack, and a portable trip computer are all standard but a navigation system featuring real-time traffic data is also available.
Because it’s a Volvo, you can count on the 2012 C-70 to be at the pinnacle of safety engineering. Standard equipment on the C-70 is four-wheel-disk antilock brakes, an electronic stability system and traction control as well as active head restraints in the front. Additionally, side impact and side curtain airbags designed to remain deployed in the event of a roll-over are standard equipment.
The C-70 is the perfect car for those of us who want a high-end convertible without giving up performance and safety in the bargain. It’s also nice to be able to count on four-season comfort.
