Skip advert
Advertisement

Volvo C70 (2008) - long-term test

After nearly 18 months on the long-term fleet, our C70 has finally gone back to Volvo.

Pros
  • ENGINE It’s smooth, powerful and frugal, plus it sounds good – important in a convertible.<BR><BR>RIDE Comfort on the road is exceptional, and is aided by a smooth automatic gearbox. <BR><BR>ROOF Folding metal roofs are brilliant. By comparison, soft-tops now feel cheap to me.
Cons
  • SERVICING A bill of £303 for a first check-up is ridiculous. The customer service at HR Owen Regent’s Park was great, but oil accounted for about £70 of this. Did they top up with champagne? <BR><BR>ROOF PROBLEMS The party piece could be its Achilles heel. Our car spent six weeks at the dealer for a major repair.
Find your Volvo C70
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Marmite – you either love it or loathe it. And our Volvo C70 divided opinion in the Auto Express office in much the same way. That’s because it did some things rather well and others quite badly indeed.

Half our team hated the car, due to its dull chassis. “The steering feels remote and the body flexes at even a hint of a corner,” explained online editor Chris Thorp.

Advertisement - Article continues below

“Volvos used to be exciting, but this car is as inert as the xenon gas in its lights,” added motoring editor Dan Strong.

Yet the factors which turned off some people appealed to others. Road tester Owen Mildenhall said: “If you want a big, comfortable, well built convertible, the C70 is a good choice. It’s better value than the BMW 3-Series, so long as you’re not after a sporty experience.”

And entertaining driving wasn’t one of acting deputy art editor Paul Slater’s requirements when he borrowed the Swede for a week-long trip to Spain. If you’re doing 2,000 miles on the motorway, a soft ride and luxurious cabin are preferable to taut suspension, pin-sharp steering and limpet-like cornering grip. “Even after a full day at the wheel, I didn’t feel tired,” he said. Paul liked the styling, too – especially the interior, which he called “contemporary minimalist brilliance”. Being a designer, Paul is well placed to comment.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Crossland X

2020 Vauxhall

Crossland X

29,761 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L

Cash £11,642
View Crossland X
A1 Sportback

2026 Audi

A1 Sportback

13,920 milesAutomaticPetrol1.0L

Cash £20,863
View A1 Sportback
Mokka

2021 Vauxhall

Mokka

42,097 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £13,408
View Mokka
3008

2020 Peugeot

3008

23,125 milesAutomaticDiesel1.5L

Cash £17,890
View 3008

Yet even though the C70 has a folding metal roof, he didn’t think it sacrificed function in the interest of form. “The Volvo was surprisingly practical,” Paul said. “I was amazed how it carried me and two mates, plus camping gear and a week’s worth of clothes, even with the top down.”

Advertisement - Article continues below

Low fuel bills from the 2.4-litre D5 engine were the icing on the cake – his trip cost him only £180 in diesel. Taking the C70 was not only far cheaper than flying, but it meant Paul and his friends’ carbon footprint was kept to a minimum.

Yet none of these factors explains why I liked the Volvo so much. What I appreciated was how it changed my driving style. My previous long-term car was a MINI Cooper S Convertible. With a supercharged engine and excellent handling, it was a hoot. But I’d treat every journey as a big race. It felt like I was an accident waiting to happen, and a few camera flashes away from a ban.

Apart from the stress of getting the roof mechanism fixed (it took six weeks!) after its sensors malfunctioned, the Volvo chilled me out. It made me a calmer driver – I even tuned the stereo to BBC Radio Four. I’m sure it helped lower my blood pressure, too. If I ever felt the red mist descending I’d pull over, lower the roof, take a few deep breaths and head off again relaxed and refreshed.

So, forget beta-blockers; the C70 should be available on the NHS to anyone with hypertension. Ours has now gone back, and I can feel my blood pressure rising again. Thankfully, Auto Express is getting another Volvo soon: a C30. This car’s quirky styling has already divided opinion in the office – and it hasn’t even arrived here yet!

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £23,990Avg. savings £2,192 off RRP*Used from £20,921
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,919 off RRP*Used from £14,800
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,672 off RRP*Used from £12,200
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,450 off RRP*Used from £11,895
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is on the way to the UK
Toyota GR Corolla - front cornering

Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is on the way to the UK

The success of the GR Yaris has persuaded Toyota that there’s room in its UK range for the high performance Corolla
News
19 Jun 2025
Citroen recall sees owners told to stop driving “immediately”
Citroen C3 Mk2 - front tracking

Citroen recall sees owners told to stop driving “immediately”

A ‘Stop-drive’ order has been issued by Citroen following a fatality that may have been caused by a faulty Takata airbag
News
20 Jun 2025
Car Deal of the Day: a potent 335bhp Volkswagen ID.7 GTX for a rock bottom price
Volkswagen ID.7 GTX - front static

Car Deal of the Day: a potent 335bhp Volkswagen ID.7 GTX for a rock bottom price

GTX Plus gives some extra punch to an already excellent electric saloon. It’s our Deal of the Day for 20 June.
News
20 Jun 2025