The Volvo C70's second-place finish proves that we don't necessarily have to like a car in order for it to place well in one of our comparison tests. When the totals were added, we were baffled as to how it is that a car all but one of our editors would choose as their last pick could place above the other two vehicles. Let's analyze the data to see if we can explain this phenomenon.

The Volvo really impressed with its performance at the track. Its 2.3-liter 236-horsepower five-cylinder engine was able to squeeze out a 0-to-60-mph sprint in 6.7 seconds, and a 15.2-second quarter-mile run was comparable to the BMW's. Keep in mind that these numbers were extracted with the Volvo's engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, while the Bimmer had row-'em-yourself gears. The transmission was ready to upshift in a smooth manner and was perfectly behaved during normal cruising, but became slightly cross and sluggish when quick downshifts were called forth during more aggressive driving.

Power delivery was smooth, but like most turbo engines, it prefers to distribute its juice in the high revs. Opinions were divided as to the engine's sound — some called it unrefined with lots of noise, vibration and harshness, while others liked it for its personality. We definitely preferred the feel of the Saab's engine, even with its inferior track times, which seems to enjoy being spun to oblivion. The T5 seemed to just play along.

We dinged the steering score because of the C70's large turning circle of 38.4 feet; that's 4 feet fatter than the BMW or the Saab. Furthermore, the steering was devoid of road feel and lacked linearity, as it grew disproportionately heavier during hard turns. Torque steer isn't as readily apparent in this front-wheel driver as it is in the Saab. The Volvo's braking distance from 60 to 0 mph was second only to the BMW's at 114 feet, with fine pedal progression and feel, although a few editors complained of brake fade.

Like the Saab, the Volvo is based upon a rather elderly platform, the erstwhile S70/V70 platform which, in turn, was begotten by the 850. Unlike the BMW and Thunderbird, which have as their foundations more modern underpinnings, the two Swedes were befuddled in the twisties, curbing the desire to drive with exuberance. Body roll and wallow kept high-speed antics to a minimum, although the C70's behavior was fairly predictable. For highway cruising, however, the softly tuned suspension was a boon, providing a floaty ride in sync with a leisurely Sunday drive up the coast. The Pirelli P6000 225/45R17s went a long way in helping us push the Volvo, with lots of scrub near its limits and great amounts of grip. Surprisingly, the C70 was able to run our 600-foot slalom course at the highest speed: 63.6 mph.

These track numbers prove that the Volvo is a capable handler, yet, the driving experience can't be measured wholly by numbers. A vehicle must pull all its components together to make the driver enjoy the event; the Volvo simply didn't deliver in this subjective area, earning the lowest score of 5.4 in the Fun To Drive category.

Where the Volvo picked up the most points was in its feature content. As the C70 was the most expensive vehicle in the test, we expected that it would contain a healthy list of features, and indeed it did. It followed very closely behind the BMW in terms of comfort and safety considerations that our editors deem most important in this class. Among the convenience features are an in-dash three-disc CD changer that operates by loading a cartridge. While some editors sniff that this is outmoded, it is preferred by others for quicker loading of their favored tunes. The climate control is dual-zone and exceedingly easy to use, and the one-touch master control for all four windows was appreciated. While we noted the absence of a stability control system (the C70 has a traction control system, and most other Volvos have some form of stability management system), it had side airbags (no option for rear seats) and a rollover protection system in which steel bars deploy from the rear seats when the car detects an imminent rollover.

A further word about comfort: The C70's driver seat was deemed one of the most comfortable seats anywhere around; one driver even commented that he would love to watch the NBA playoffs splayed out on this sofa-like contraption. It was plush yet supportive, with plenty of adjustments to give any-sized driver a perfect fit. The tilting and telescoping steering wheel go a long way in helping with that. Furthermore, the rear seats offer 34.6 inches of legroom, far more generous than any other convertible. These are practically sedan-sized proportions, and even adults will have little to complain about.

We also fancied the liberal use of soft-touch materials and nicely damped buttons that control the functions of the cabin. The leather was nicer than the seemingly pachyderm-sourced hides we've seen in other Volvos, and the wood trim, while fake, added warmth to the cabin. Wind buffeting was nearly nil with the side windows up, but that made the rattles from around the dash area that much more apparent. We've typically found Volvos to be solidly crafted, so we'll chalk that one up to a rather-high-mileage test vehicle.

Top operation is one-touch and easy but you've got to have the parking brake up and have the tranny in "Park" for it to work; it also takes the longest time of the four, requiring about 31 seconds to go up and 26 to go down, including the windows. If you were looking for a quick transformation between red lights, well, the joke will be on you, as the light turns green and people start honking at you mid-opening. The boot is self-covering and doesn't take up a terrible amount of space in the medium-sized trunk of 8.1 feet. Should you need to carry long items, the ski pass-through should come in handy.

Volvo has succeeded in retaining traditional styling cues, such as the waterfall grille and square headlamps, in a shape that's sleek and modern. While it's handsome, most of our relatively youthful staffers felt that its appearance was more conservative than most of their tastes dictated.

The Volvo will certainly have its fan base, with its sedate driving demeanor, elegant interior, good looks and plethora of features. They were enough to overcome its price disadvantage as the most expensive in the test and gain an edge over the Ford and Saab. Our main problem with it is that the C70 didn't arouse any sort of passion or enthusiasm. It's like Ilsa choosing Victor over Rick in Casablanca; it's a matter of sense over sensibility. Some may wholeheartedly agree with her decision. If you're looking for top-down fun with the least amount of fuss and muss and plenty of room for four, the Volvo may be just the scratch to your itch.

SECOND OPINIONS:

Consumer Advice Editor Phil Reed says:
Solid, safe, predictable — yet oddly unexciting. That's how I would describe the Volvo

C70. For someone who wants the Volvo experience and desires a convertible, this fills the bill. But a driving enthusiast will likely be disappointed. There is plenty of straightaway power, and it surges nicely on the high end (it even feels stable at high speeds), but this car doesn't beg to be thrown into the corners. It gives up in confusion when asked to perform. There's lots of body roll and a tendency to plow in hard turns. Even the styling of this convertible comes up short. It's clean and tasteful but stops short of making a statement of any kind.

Road Test Editor Erin Riches says:
Unlike the other convertibles in this group, which could potentially satisfy both enthusiastic and reserved drivers, Volvo is going after only the latter group with its C70 Convertible. Everything about the C70 is unhurried: Its turbocharged inline five doesn't have the intensity of the Viggen's turbo four, and turbo lag is more noticeable when pulling into traffic. At higher speeds, the automatic takes it time with downshifts. When entering turns, the steering seems slow and lacks the fluid feel of the T-Bird or the 330Ci. While the ride is certainly comfortable enough for carefree cruising and sightseeing, the chassis gets unsettled easily if you push the car around a tight curve. Moreover, I thought the C70 had the worst structural rigidity of the group — rattles coursed through the body on rough pavement. Although the seats provide excellent comfort, the rest of the cabin apparently has to make do with the design and ergonomics of the retired S70 sedan, rather than benefiting from the improved decor of the stylish S60. More disturbing was the execution — I noted cheap plastics and numerous build issues, and ranked the Volvo lowest of the group in these areas. Despite my criticism, I feel certain that the C70 could be enjoyable for people who want a nice, safe Volvo to keep them company on trips to the beach. But the asking price is awfully high.

Senior Editor Christian Wardlaw says:
Volvo's C70 is a great place to be after a tough day at the office. Peel the lid, crank up the Dolby Logic stereo, settle into the world's most comfortable driver seat and cruise home using the scenic route — you can feel the tension fade with each passing mile. Unfortunately, this blissful comfort doesn't co-exist with excitement and passion, the way it does in the less-expensive BMW. Volvo tries hard to instill a sense of the latter in the C70, but with little success. Based on a platform even older than the Saab's (the 1993 Volvo 850), the C70 features slab-sided sheetmetal, vertical waterfall grillework and pudgy hindquarters. Were it not for a snazzy set of meaty multi-spoked wheels, there would be little of note in terms of exterior style. Furthermore, during my drive, the Volvo felt soft and squishy, plowing around turns, bounding over dips in the road and exhibiting brake fade during a downhill canyon run, the only car in the test to do so. The transmission never seemed to know what gear to select when running hard, and the engine, while powerful, suffered from noise, harshness and vibration. Most people will like the Volvo C70 most of the time. It is quick;, it is comfortable; it is loaded with features; it is relatively simple to drive and operate. But so is a Toyota Camry Solara. Nothing about the C70 grabs at the heartstrings and makes you want to blast down a coastal road with the top down and the tunes blaring. It was my least favorite of the quartet.

Stereo Evaluation - 2002 Volvo C70 Convertible