Long-time Volvo fans will find the C70's cabin familiar territory. The curvaceous yet somehow still blocky
dashboard and center console, controls, fittings and materials are just what they will expect.
For newcomers, getting settled in is a matter of using the myriad of adjustments available for seats and
steering wheel. Once the right fore/aft and up/down moves are made, driver and front-seat passenger will be
comfortable in snug, supportive seats, and will have plenty of glass around them for unimpeded visibility.
Leg- and headroom are abundant.
The back seat is a different matter. Getting in requires some squirming, after which adults will find space
rather limited. If said grownups slouch enough to avoid having their heads contact the roof liner, they'll
be short of legroom. In any case, the back seats are suitable only for short trips.
With two aboard, however, the C70 interior is first-rate. The instrument cluster has black numerals on
gray-faced gauges; this changes to white on black when backlit at night. A trip computer is also provided.
Knobs and switches feel substantial; they are large, laid out well, and easy to use. That's especially true
of the radio and vent system controls.
Having an audio system speaker sticking out of the top of the dashboard looks odd but it, along with nine
other speakers, is driven by a 400-watt amplifier and delivers unusually good sound reproduction. A
three-disc CD changer is part of the package, which also includes AM and FM radio plus a cassette player.
This in-dash three-disc changer seems like the perfect compromise between having a six-disc changer
inconveniently located in the trunk and a CD player in the dash that holds only one disc.
Unlike many earlier coupes, the C70 has plenty of luggage space, accessed by a large trunk lid that opens
right down to bumper level. The 13 cubic-foot compartment is squared off and fully lined.
The C70 takes some getting used to for drivers who haven't had a lot of seat time in sporty versions of the
S70 sedan and V70 wagon. The 2.3-liter five-cylinder engine sounds strange and vibrates at idle or under
acceleration. Some whistle from the turbocharger is apparent at low speeds.
After a momentary initial lull, the C70 accelerates from a stop with alacrity, gathering speed quickly once
past its 2700-rpm torque peak. The lull and the rapid acceleration are both a result of the turbocharger. From
there, the sky--and your driver's license--seem like the only limits; the coupe cruises happily at any speed
the driver chooses. Despite this predilection for performance, the test car returned a commendable 21.5 mpg
average, better than we expected given our rather heavy-footed use.
A five-speed manual transmission is standard. We think it's the best choice because it makes the best use of
the power available. However, a four-speed automatic transmission is an option.
Penalties of the C70's suspension settings will be evident long before the benefits. Around town, the steering
is unusually heavy, and the ride is harsh and jiggly unless the pavement below is flawless. Matters don't improve
much as speed increases; most drivers and passengers will find the rough, jiggly ride and noise from engine
and tires rather tiring in short order.
This can be easily cured by ordering a C70 with the softer suspension settings. Ride quality is sure to be more
acceptable for everyday use. We'd also recommend sticking with the standard wheel/tire package, as ultra
low-profile tires contribute to ride harshness. Unless you prize sheer cornering speed above all other factors,
a C70 set up as the test car was will be more frustrating than fun.
The exception to this is when you're on the kind of roads sports car enthusiasts seek out. The C70 takes corners
with agility, responds instantly to driver commands, and is fun to drive fast. Hard acceleration results in a
tug at the steering wheel as engine torque fights with the tires, but otherwise the C70 gets high marks for its
high-speed behavior. The brakes are superb as well.