Used 2013 Volvo C70

Retractable-hardtop coupes are nothing new; they’ve been part of the automotive landscape for over 80 years. But only recently have engineers created a practical model that is both affordable and safe. Once such example can be found on the 2013 Volvo C70 convertible, a sleek coupe that looks even sleeker with its top neatly hidden away. In addition to its compelling style, the C70 also touts a number of safety features you won’t find on more conventional soft-tops, including side-airbag curtains designed to protect occupants even when the windows are down. The C70 also had a usable rear seat where two adults can sit without contorting themselves into position. Try that in an Audi A5 Cabriolet or Lexus IS 250C.

From the exceptional comfort of its form-fitting bucket seats to its pleasant and predictable road manners, the 2013 Volvo C70 is every inch the car Volvo promises it to be. Although it doesn’t possess the extreme handling and acceleration of cars such as the BMW 335is convertible or Audi S5 Cabriolet, the C70 will prove more than sufficient for the vast majority of drivers. While some enthusiasts may be unimpressed with the C70’s comparatively low 227-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-5 engine, Volvo offers a modest upgrade. To help appease performance-oriented drivers, the T5 Inscription package adds a host of refinements for the same engine, yielding a 23-horsepower increase along with an additional 37 lb-ft of torque.

Exceptionally ergonomic and reasonably upscale, the 2013 Volvo C70’s cabin produces an engaging experience. Like most modern Volvos, the C70’s center stack contains prominent controls and user-friendly climate functions. Standard Sovereign Hide leather handsomely wraps the seating surfaces, while brushed-aluminum inlays highlight the C70’s athletic underpinnings. Although the C70’s rear seats offer more legroom than most 4-seat convertibles, passengers relegated to the back seat will still find it a bit constricting. Another limiting factor is the retractable hardtop’s impact on trunk space, which cuts cargo room nearly in half during open-top driving.

Despite Volvo’s Scandinavian origins, credit for the C70’s sleek exterior architecture goes to Italy’s celebrated Pininfarina design studio. In an effort to align the C70 with Volvo’s current design language, a wedge-shaped nose fronted by the brand’s trademark grille provides superbly good looks with the top up or down. Moreover, distinctive LED taillights and optional xenon headlights for both the high and low beams emphasize the C70’s contemporary design. Highlighting the C70 T5 Inscription’s supplemental horsepower is a set of 18-inch high-gloss alloy wheels, a black-painted grille with chrome accents, and a rear deck-lid spoiler.

RETRACTABLE STEEL HARDTOP
Not surprisingly, the Volvo C70’s principal draw is its reinforced retractable hardtop. Whether the forecast calls for a torrential downpour or an abundance of sunshine, the Volvo’s 2013 C70 has you covered – and uncovered, too.

ADVANCED CLIMATE CONTROL
Allergy sufferers can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to the Volvo C70’s comprehensive climate-control system. To help maintain appropriate humidity levels and prevent atmospheric pollutants from entering the cabin, the C70’s ventilation system employs a humidity sensor, cabin filter and Volvo’s renowned Interior Air Quality System.

Leading the list of standard equipment is the 3-piece retractable steel roof that opens or closes in less than 30 seconds. The standard audio system comprises eight speakers, a USB port for MP3/WMA players, HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio. Since the C70 is a Volvo, after all, it is chock-full of the latest active and passive safety systems like anti-submarining guards that help prevent passengers from sliding out of their seatbelts in the event of a collision.

Rather than overcomplicating the ordering process with a laundry list of packages and stand-alone options, the 2013 C70 can be configured in two simple trims levels: Premier Plus and Platinum. The Platinum trim includes perhaps the most desirable available feature for the C70, a premium audio system with a 12-speaker arrangement pumping out crisp Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound. The Platinum trim includes a hard drive-based navigation with a 6.5-inch pop-up display and real-time traffic updates. If you’re looking to breathe easy behind the wheel, opt for the available Interior Air Quality System that automatically shuts the external vents when the sensors detect traces of airborne impurities.

The Volvo light-pressure turbocharging is designed more for economical all-around driving than for performance, but if you feel a 10-percent horsepower increase and a handful of additional standard features are worth $4K, Volvo offers the Inscription package that adds a modest bump to horsepower and torque. Both the base T5 and T5 with Inscription package models send power to the front wheels via a relatively outdated 5-speed automatic transmission.

2.5-liter turbocharged inline-5
227 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
250 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm (optional Inscription Package)
236 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-5,000 rpm
273 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-3,000 rpm (optional Inscription Package)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/28 mpg

Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.

We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.

Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.

Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)

We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.