More women than men buy Volvos, and this one’s their dream

Back in the 80’s, I had a friend with a Volvo sedan so big and boxy, had it been fitted with a halftrack, the Army could have used it as a tank. Volvo hasn’t been making cars like that for a long time, but the image of square safety sedans driven by Moms in Birkenstocks has stuck with some people. So the sleek C70 will make their heads spin.

It’s a sharp looking ride, with a sloped nose, rising to a low-profile roof and stretching back to high hips that all make the car appear to be leaning into the wind. Even standing still, it looks kinetic. And the cherry on top? The C70 is a convertible with an ultra cool robo-roof.

Inside, the appointments are lovely. Our test C70 had leather that matched the car’s cranberry exterior, and the power bucket seats for both the driver and passenger are comfortable, heated, and fully adjustable. My partner, who is 6′4″, fit in the car with headroom to spare, had plenty of legroom once he’d adjusted his seat, and it was easy for him to climb in and out. Also adjustable is the nice ergonomic leather steering wheel. The gearshift is well placed in the center console, whose storage compartment holds USB and MP3 ports. The display is clear and unfussy and all the functions are easily navigated. And like the Volvos of yore, this one doesn’t skimp on the safety features, with rollover protection system, front and side air bags, and unibody construction with passenger safety cage.

But I wouldn’t put my worst enemy in the backseat. I’m 5′8″ and once I’d adjusted my seat to drive, it was almost to the backseat, leaving no leg room. Even if there were any leg room, it’s not an easy backseat to get into, and once there it’s awfully claustrophobic. So basically, this coupe is a two-seater with space in back for purse, gym bag or possibly dog, though honestly my dog Dixie would be much happier riding shotgun.

The acceleration is terrific, and the handling tight and responsive. I was up to speed immediately on the Los Angeles freeways, gliding through lane changes like a shark cruising for tuna. The visibility is great, which given the smallish back and rear windows was surprising. And in congested L.A. traffic, the car stops on a dime without a hitch, coming to a smooth halt.

The car is solidly built, conveys no road chatter or noise, and runs so quietly that the first time I turned it on, it took me a second to realize the engine was running. Like practically all cars these days, it has a remote entry lock key, but something about that key screamed, “Don’t lose me! I’ll cost you a fortune to replace!” Of course, if you’re already paying the suggested price of almost $40K for the car, I’m sure you can afford a new key. But I’m just saying…

Like all Volvos, it’s on the heavy side, and the gas mileage reflects that weight. The manufacturer’s EPA estimate is 19 MPG in the city, and 28 on the highway. With an environmental performance rating of 6 out of 10, and a smog score of 5 out of 10 it’s still considered an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle.

The big fun feature of this car is, without a doubt, the fact that it’s a hardtop convertible. The retractable roof is a marvel of mechanized metal origami, folding itself neatly into the trunk with the touch of a button. I actually saw a guy lower his cell phone and watch as I opened the roof in a parking lot. Having someone in L.A. detach phone from face to witness something happening in the real world is great praise indeed. It’s a gorgeous bit of engineering.

At first glance, the trunk of the car seems huge, but inside is a well and a canopy under which luggage must be stowed according to a diagram if you wish to open the roof while, say, on a road trip. It’s amazing that Volvo was able to save any room for gear with the roof tucked in the trunk, but you still either have to travel light if you want to raise the roof, or use the torturous backseat for anything beyond a single suitcase per person.

In the U.S., more women than men buy Volvos, so I do have to kvetch about the way Volvo is marketing the car. I think they’re totally missing the boat.

The current TV commercial shows two identical C70’s parking outside a coffee shop, one with the top down, the other with the top up. The drivers, both male, go in to buy lattes or whatever, while the gals left behind giggle away, swapping shirts, sunglasses and hats. Then those wily minxes push the button and change the roofs and when their unsuspecting partners emerge, frothy cappuccinos in hand – voila! – the girls change boyfriends too!

Um….fail. This is a hot forty-thousand dollar car that drives like a dream, and Volvo is marketing it like a kooky cute ride for zany funsters, the gals mere passengers. But women who have the money aren’t going to buy a car like the C70 if it’s not sold to them in a real, thoughtful way.

I loved driving it, felt great in it, and I think many women who don’t have to haul kids around and can afford such a ride will love it too.

Women will buy C70 for the reasons they’ve bought Volvos for years – it’s safe, reliable and solid. But they’ll also buy it because it’s fast, it’s hot, and it’s sexy, and when they’re behind the wheel of the C70, they’ll feel like they’re on top of the world. I know I did.