1998 Volvo C70 Midsize Car Review & Performance

Volvo's chief stylist once remarked that saying he worked on the Volvo design team often had the effect of

saying he was on the Dutch bobsled team. That's no longer the case. Volvo stylists have done a remarkably good

job of making their new coupe look exciting and familiar at the same time.

In front, the trademark rectangular grille with its diagonal trim flash dominates, but this boxy element is

surrounded by rounded forms that create a sporty appearance. In profile, the C70 has a contemporary look

relieved by tastefully applied sculptural elements. Its proportions are similar to those of the new

Mercedes-Benz CLK coupe, but Volvo's execution is more dramatic.

From the rear, the C70 exhibits a family resemblance to Volvo's S70 sedan. Wheels and tires make a large

contribution to the C70's rakish, hunkered-down appearance. For years, stylists have exhibited sketches of

concept cars that draw much of their visual appeal from large tires filling fender openings. Practicality

usually cuts these down to a more traditional size by the time images on paper are translated into steel.

Volvo chose to stay with the fanciful large rims and rubber, equipping the C70 with standard 17-inch alloy

wheels. The optional 18-inch wheels, as supplied with our test car, are even more dramatic.

By class standards, the C70 is fairly large, riding on the same 104.9-inch wheelbase as its sedan sibling--with

which it shares many chassis and drivetrain components.

Though only a single version of the C70 is offered, Volvo offers buyers considerable leeway in configuring the

car to their preferences. There are, for example, two spring and shock absorber settings available (firm and

firmer), two wheel and tire options, manual and automatic transmissions, traction control, heated front seats,

upgraded leather upholstery and a choice of finishes for interior wood trim. Everything else the driver of a

luxury sport coupe might want is already standard equipment.

A convertible version of the C70 is set to make its debut during the 1998 model year.

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.