Volvo is proud of its C70. It was the world’s first four-seat convertible with a retractable hardtop when it launched in 2006.

And for 2010 it has a new look – including a bold new face – to bring it in-line with the rest of a revamped Volvo range. Stuart Milne put it through its paces.

Pininfarina is a name more often associated with Ferrari, but the Italian design house has stamped its mark on the handsome Volvo C70.

The 2010 Volvo C70 facelift now sports a new look which Volvo says brings it into line with the larger cars in its range. That means a more rakish front, with a huge Volvo badge replacing the small and rather apologetic logo on the old car.

It takes its design cues from the Volvo S60 Concept – a production version of that model will arrive soon – and sees more than a few pieces of plastic involved in the restyle.

New front wings make the car look more wedgy and the headlights are more pronounced, while the rear has been updated more subtly, with LED taillights and a new bumper treatment.

The three-piece Pininfarina folding roof remains. Volvo says it opted for this – rather than the more common two-piece setup – because it improves interior space (roof down there’s 200 litres of luggage space while roof-up room grows to 404 litres) and reduces noise and vibration. The roof folds in 30 seconds once the luggage divider is fixed into place.

Interior improvements

A raft of minor interior improvements add up to a lot, with silver plastics bringing the rather dour interior of the previous car to life. One particularly welcome improvement is the centralisation of the dials behind the steering wheel – the pre-facelift model had a steering wheel that looked offset and awkward.

Roof up, the Volvo C70 suffers from very little chassis flex, however the car’s general demeanour means it’s more of a boulevard cruiser than a dynamic driver’s car. The suspension is soft, but some imperfections on the road are still transmitted into the cabin, and the steering is nowhere near as direct as the BMW 3 Series Cabriolet or the Audi A5 Cabriolet.

We tested the 2.4-litre D5 diesel engine, one of two diesels in the range, and it lacks the refinement of the similar engine found in the Volvo XC60. The automatic gearbox in our test car means it’s slightly slower than the manual, reaching 62mph in 8.8 seconds before hitting a 140mph maximum.

The other diesel is a 2-litre which develops 134bhp and will reach 62mph in around 10.5 seconds. Petrol choices are a 2.4 and a 2.5 T5, the former matching the D5’s performance and the latter producing a seven second 0-62mph time.

Well equipped

Equipment levels are good, with all models receiving climate control, ESP, electric windows and cruise control. The SE adds Bluetooth, leather seats, automatic wipers and an upgraded stereo, while the SE Lux also gets an electric drivers’ seat, adaptive headlights and electric mirrors.

A Premium upgrade is available, adding leather and sat-nav to any of the standard models.

Naturally Volvo has engineered an impressive level of safety kit into the C70. The world’s first door-mounted curtain airbag replaces the roof-mounted system found in fixed-roof cars and there’s a rollover protection system.

The Volvo C70 facelift represents an interesting choice for buyers looking for a four-seat convertible. It might lack the dynamic thrills of its rivals, but there’s an elegance some others lack.

Key Facts

Model tested: Volvo C70 D5 SE Lux
On the road price: £33,775
Date tested: January 2010
Road tester: Stuart Milne