Introduction:

For 2008, the C70 benefits from its first significant upgrades. Among them: more horsepower, new safety features, real wood in the interior, and Sovereign Hide premium leather seating surfaces as a new option. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated City/Highway 18/27 miles per gallon.

The sporty C70 is based on the S40 sedan, but it has more luscious lines. It also has a wider track (the distance between the right and left wheels). The engine, suspension and transmission are proven Volvo components, while the rigid chassis was designed to meet Volvo's industry-leading safety standards.

We found the C70 to be an excellent highway cruiser, smooth and steady at high speeds. With the top up, it's quiet. It's a steel top, so it feels like a coupe when it's up. The C70 drives like a sports car. It has a solid feel and strikes an appropriate balance of responsive handling with a smooth, well-controlled ride quality and fade-resistant brakes. We liked it best with the six-speed manual, but the five-speed automatic is crisp and responsive.

The styling is brilliant, with elegant coupe lines, and the retractable hardtop is an engineering masterpiece. The cabin features comfortable seats, the latest in Volvo interior styling and fabrics, and a clever cubby behind the center dash. The stereo sounds superb. Everything operates as it should, and it's a beautiful piece of work.

Nothing else on the market offers what the C70 does, priced under $40,000.