Volvo C70

The Volvo C70 is priced slighty out of its league. It isn’t much better than the cheaper mass-brand CCs.

• Comfort

  Up front you get Volvo's usual excellent seats and ergonomics, but in the back it's cramped and, roof down, very windy. The ride is turbulent, too - not harsh, but permanently unsettled.

  

• Performance

  The petrol bidding is opened by a five-cylinder 2.4 which is more than adequate if you specify manual. The 2.5T is terrific for wafting briskly. The 2.0 diesel is fine, too, and not at much of a disadvantage compared with the D5.

  

• Cool

  This is a nicely turned-out CC and no-one will laugh at you. Be grateful for that.

  

• Quality

  We love the generic Volvo interior, with its cool graphics and minimalist surfaces made from good-quality materials. The hood mechanism is frighteningly complex but has worked nicely in our samples.

  

• Handling

  Treated gently the C70 handles OK, but if you push it the steering loses its self-centring and the body shimmies mar the precision.

  

• Practicality

  It's a four-seater. But the boot is awful when the roof's down - it takes ages to whirr the roof upward to get at the contents.

  

• Running costs

  Stick to a moderate engine and it's surprisingly cheap to keep a C70 going.