The moment I slid behind the wheel of the Volvo C70 retractable hardtop…I stopped in my tracks….’oh my goodness’, reaching for the ignition…..the switch looks like a stove knob.  I turned it…click…click…click…engine ignited…even starts like a stove.  If that doesn’t speak to a Mom who loves to cook, what does?  And from there it only gets better.

The interior on this car is lustrous.  The waterfall center stack lends a modern elegance to the interior space, despite critiques that the navigation and audio controls are confusing.  Rich sounding and warm, the high performance stereo pipes music through its eight speakers clear and pure.  And most notably, the baseball stitched Sovereign hide leather seats are so comfortable, to quote a dear friend, “you could ride around naked.”

In performance, reviews have been fair.  Surely its 2.5L, I-5 engine is not head of the pack in 227 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, but for power to weight ratio, this car is well proportioned.  It rides beautifully. There’s no other way to say it.

The words ‘retractable hardtop’ and ‘baby’ rarely end up together in a Google Search.  With my daughter in a rear facing carseat, driving with the top down wasn’t on my priority list.  Not to mention that the trunk space disappears.   With the top up, trunk space is still compromised, but better than other retractable hardtops I’ve seen.  Also, bringing a child and carseat into the picture is always accomplished more smoothly in a four door vehicle.   That being said, this coupe has the most backsesat space I’ve seen so far in a retractable hardtop.  And the carseat installation was breeze.  Latches are well positioned and easy to use.

Smooth, solid, and comfortable.  Combining safe with a hint of sexy. Hard to beat for a Mom.  Out cruising on a Saturday morning, enveloped in those seats, listening to my own private Billy Joel concert, my stress melted away.

Some Basics
MSRP: $39,411-$42,812
Engine: 2.5L I-5
hp/torque: 227hp / 236 ft-lbs.
drivetrain: FWD
Fuel Economy: 18 city/28 hwy
IIHS Safety Rating:  Good.

drivermom summary
Three words to describe this car
safe, comfortable, smooth

What’s the best thing about it?
gorgeous interior

What’s the biggest drawback?
retractable hardtop limits trunk space

Mom-friendliness score: B+

If this car could talk, what would it say?
“Yes, Volvos can be sexy.”