2007 Volvo C70

Coupes are the new convertibles. It seems that the latest trend in ragtops is to make them hardtops. Hardtops that retract, that is, thereby sidestepping a stumbling block for many prospective convertible buyers. Where canvas or vinyl tops can be drafty and chilly, hardtops are safer and more snug. Retractables promise all of the advantages of a convertible, with most of the perks of a conventional hardtop.

Styling

It's not clear why soft tops are suddenly falling out of favor. Part of this new movement is clearly fashion, but the rest is rooted in reason. Fifty years removed from the last great retractable boom, technology is now in a much better position to deliver on the promise of reliable, retractable roofing. Fashion or function, the ranks of the retractables have been expanding of late, with great haste. When the new Volkswagen convertible emerged recently, it did so with a hard hat. And when Chrysler's Sebring convertible, long the staple of Sunbelt rental car fleets, debuts next year, it's rumored to be a retractable, too. Even the Mazda Miata MX5, possessor of the easiest top to drop on the planet, mind you, has sprouted a folding hardtop model to join the traditional ragtop.


Volvo's retractable convertible made its debut last year, putting the Swedes in the vanguard of the fashion-forward. Like most folding hardtops, the C70's is a marvel of engineering, worthy of watching just for the beauty of its mechanical ballet. With the touch of a button for about 30 seconds, the top divides into thirds and lowers elegantly beneath the rear deck.


Fashion forward, function backward. A hardtop lodged below deck yields a clean look, but the top has to go somewhere when not in place. As a result, one casualty of the new technology is trunk room. The C70's trunk with top up is 12.8 cubic feet, a stellar number for a subcompact, sporty car, and easily up to a weekend getaway's worth of luggage. However, if you plan on dropping the top, you must swing down a partition to make room for the roof, thereby reducing trunk room to a Miata-esque 6.0 cubic feet.

Interior

Inside, Volvo claims a design influence derived from Scandinavian products more than cars, and the C70 cabin has a clean, upscale look. Storage suffers somewhat in translation, however, as door pockets and center console spaces are distinctly compact. Fit and finish are first-rate; front seats are supportive and comfortable. Most switchgear is conventionally placed and within easy reach. Many HVAC and sound system controls are found in a narrow band, marching up the center stack. There are too many buttons packed in too little space to be easily found while driving.