2011 Volvo C70 Convertible Features And Invoice Pricing Review

With its attractive design, luxurious cabin, retractable convertible hardtop, and smooth and quiet drive, the 2011 Volvo C70 has a lot of appeal.

And due to its sleek new headlights, LED taillamps and revised front and rear-end designs, the 2011 model has taken the traditional C70's good looks to downright head-turning.

Also new for the 2011 model year is an instrument panel that features C70-specific gauges and graphics, as opposed to those shared with other Volvo models. This is a further enhancement to an interior already considered to be one of the C70's strongest suits.

Another positive for the new C70 is its pricing advantage. No, it's not intended or engineered to have road manners like the BMW 3 Series or Infiniti G37, but it's a worthy drop top that's considerably less expensive. And it has superior power and interior styling compared to the similarly priced Lexus IS 250.

Trims, Standard Features And Options:

The 2011 Volvo C70 is a 4-passenger luxury convertible offered in a single trim, the T5, referring to its five-cylinder turbo engine. Standard features include a power-retractable hardtop, leather upholstery, full power accessories, 17 inch alloy wheels, dual 8-way power front seats, driver memory functions, front and rear foglights, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated exterior mirrors, Bluetooth and an 8-speaker CD/MP3 sound system with auxiliary audio/USB jacks and HD and satellite radio.

Available stand-alone optional features include a portable navigation system, a blind-spot monitor, interior wood accents and a wind blocker. Other options are also available in several option packages.

The Multimedia package adds a 14-speaker Dynaudio surround-sound system and a hard-drive-based navigation system. The Convenience package features keyless entry, keyless ignition and rear parking sensors. The Climate package offers heated front seats, an interior air quality sensor, rain-sensing wipers and headlamp washers, while the Dynamic package adds 18 inch alloy wheels, a sport steering wheel with aluminum inlays and adaptive xenon headlamps.

Engines, Powertrain And Gas Mileage:

Powering the front-wheel-drive C70 is a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine that produces a robust 227 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. It's paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift control.

The EPA-estimated gas mileage for the 2011 Volvo C70 is a respectable 19 mpg city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Safety:

Standard safety features on the C70 include antilock disc brakes (ABS) with brake assist, stability control, automatic roll bars, front-seat side airbags, front seat side curtain airbags and whiplash-reducing front head restraints

The 2011 C70 had not been given government crash tests at the time of this writing. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it its highest rating of "Good" for frontal-offset and side impact protection.

2011 Volvo C70 T5 Convertible driver dashboard

Interior:

The C70's interior is attractive, classy, luxuriously appointed and solidly constructed with high quality materials. Most instruments and displays are user-friendly and the optional Dynaudio audio system is one of the best open-air systems available.

The seating is exceptionally comfortable and supportive and the front seats have a button on each backrest that slides the seats forward for easier rear-seat access. For a convertible, the rear legroom is better than most, but only adequate, allowing for reasonable comfort for children and small adults. Its trunk capacity is also very good for a convertible, coming in at 12.8 cubic feet with the top up. When down, capacity drops to just 6 cubic feet. However, the C70 has a button in the trunk which lifts the roof assembly several inches to allow for some extra space for small items.

Drive:

The 2011 Volvo C70 is engineered to emphasize driving comfort over performance. The ride is smooth and confident with impressive quietness when the top is up. The inline-5 turbo engine, while not a match for some of its German rivals, still provides enough gusto to satisfy most drivers. And its softly sprung suspension does an excellent job of gobbling up roadbumps and rough spots, making the C70's ride a pleasing commuting and highway-cruising experience.

Update: Weak Economy Leads To Lower C70 Prices:

Auto sales have been weak for months, evidence of a continuing poor economy and an especially weak car buying trend.

Volvo dealers have recently made some progress in offsetting at least some of the market weakness through strong incentives and easier-to-get discounts. The bottom line? The current combination of a soft market along with intense dealer competition has created the perfect opportunity for nailing down some great deals.

Car dealers will "wheel and deal" bigtime right now if you know how to push their buttons.

How To Buy A New C70 At The Best Price: Before listing MSRP and invoice prices for the 2011 Volvo C70, here's the best way to get the lowest price, especially given the current slow car market.

Prices:

2011 Volvo C70:

T5, FWD: list price: $39,950, invoice price: $37,553

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2011 Volvo C70 Convertible Features and Pricing