Top raised or lowered, the Volvo C70 looks good. However, it's got too much rear overhang, and sits on its suspension in a way that makes the rear end look too low to the ground. Nevertheless, distinctive Volvo design cues abound, from the grille and headlights to the power dome hood. From the strong shoulders that sweep front to rear to the taillights, there's no mistaking this car for anything but a Volvo. However, I sure do wish the antenna was integrated into the windshield or was a power unit instead of the fixed black one on the right rear quarter.

The C70's interior is a bit austere for some, but I really like the waterfall center panel and “floating” dashboard. Notice that there's no chrome to glint in sunlight – the trim is all aluminum, which cuts down on glare and really came in handy during our trip up the California coast. Designers might consider adding contrast between the medium and light gray shades in our test car, though, and we thought it odd that the glovebox handle is black and rest of lower dash is light gray.