On the heels of a 2011 refresh, the remarkably practical 2012 Volvo C70 hard-top convertible you know and love carries over into 2013 with newly standard headlight washers and rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a rear spoiler is now available in the Inscription option pack. Otherwise the C70 is expected to remain relatively unchanged for at least the next few years without even so much as a facelift planned until 2015, at the earliest. Not that anyone is complaining—in fact, it wouldn't be surprising if Volvo had to hire staff to handle all its C70 fan mail.

The only detriments to Volvo's C70 are the same detriments you would expect in any other convertible—rear legroom is just a hair undersized for the 2 passengers it accommodates there, and performance is hampered slightly by the added weight to keep the frame stable with a removable roof. Volvo is known to choose comfort over performance in any case, so it's no surprise the C70's performance isn't rip-roaringly sporty in the first place. Why suffer the unreliability and bumpy jolts of a sporting ride if you never get to use all that performance on public roads anyway? Still, the C70 is certainly no slouch on the Autobahn, either.

That said, there is a surprise or two in what the C70 does better than most convertibles, hard-top or soft. The top-down breeze is remarkably well-funneled for a blissfully aerodynamic pocket of soft wind in the cabin, but if you want to leave the outside, well, out, you can put the top up with the push of a button for cabin serenity that easily rivals that of a luxury non-convertible. With the top up the trunk offers nearly 13 cubic feet of cargo space, but even with the top down there's still 6 perfectly usable cubes readily accessed with a Load Assist button to open it up for you. The C70 also offers better crash-test ratings, more safety features and one of the best optional 14-speaker Surround-Sound premium stereos among similarly priced convertible competitors.

Unlike most of its 2013 lineup, Volvo's C70 is still offered in one trim with two trims above the base, lacking any rally-inspired sport edition and the newer re-introduction of the usual Premier trim-level-turned-option-pack that other models gained for 2013. Those not familiar with the move will find the new buying experience vastly simplified, since you can just choose the model you love and upgrade your trim level while adding the features you want without worrying whether one feature set is compatible with another trim. Rest assured, any C70 buyer can get whatever options they wish, whether they opt for the Premier Plus or Platinum trims, since those, too, are basically just option packs.

The usual turbocharged 2.5-liter inline 5-cylinder powers the 2013 Volvo C70 and offers 227 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque with no noticeable turbo lag and ample power from the moment you give it gas. This front-wheel-drive beauty takes commands from a smooth and responsive 5-speed auto-manual, but due to the added heft for being a convertible it takes 7.8 seconds for the C70 to reach 60 mph from a standstill, and fuel economy for this engine is also dragged down to a final figure of about 18 mpg city/28 highway with the usual regular-grade fuel.