Not your father's Volvo
I am happy Volvo built this car. Have a good look at it. It is not excessive in any specific way; there is no exaggeration on a theme. It is simply something new. Who would have thought it — the auto industry can put something fresh to market once in a while.
The C30 is funky, cool, contemporary and all sorts of other adjectives. Its purpose is to draw a younger crowd to the Volvo brand. The C30 may sell to a demographic of young professionals, but it makes everyone think, “Wow. I guess Volvo isn’t that boring after all.”
It is a sort of combination of sport-hatch and luxury coupe. It is front-wheel-drive four-seater with a choice of two inline five-cylinder engines.
The base C30 starts at a reasonable $27,495. You get a 2.4-litre inline five with 168 hp and 170 lb.-ft of torque, shifted through a five-speed manual with an optional five-speed automatic. It is a decent price to get into a car with a premium badge. It comes with all the basic power goods — and the brilliant styling.
The car I drove was the C30 T5 that starts at $31,995 and comes with a slightly bigger 2.5-litre inline five. With the benefit of a turbocharger, the engine makes 218 hp and an impressive 238 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. My 2007 car had some expensive dealer-installed accessories including 18-in. wheels and a body kit that put it up to $44,263 (ouch!). However these were aftermarket options that for 2008 will come from the factory, which would make the sticker closer to $41K. The body kit takes the car’s visual impact to another level, and is worth the extra $2K it costs.
Despite the racy looks, the C30 leans more toward a premium drive than a sporty one. It can be pushed hard, but it doesn’t feel quite as alive as cars like the Volkswagen GTI or the Mini Cooper S. In the bends it feels a little heavy, and the steering isn’t terribly communicative, but it can certainly put a smile on your face.
The turbo engine makes a lot of torque that is always around when you need it. When the turbo gets going high in the rpm range the C30 takes off. The front wheels will skitter as they claw at the ground, even going into third at times. It is a very quick little car if you push it. The transmission and clutch are a treat to work.
You won’t mind spending time inside it. The floating centre console is pretty cool and ergonomics are excellent.
It has some fantastic seats. They look like simple cloth seats, but like all Volvo chairs they are very supportive and comfortable. The look of the interior isn’t as unique as the exterior, but it works well.
Judging by all the head-turning and pointing at intersections, the C30 was unquestionably well received. But appreciating a car’s styling doesn’t always translate into actually wanting to buy one. Its size can be something hard to overcome. The C30 is small, and I don’t mean Honda Civic small, I mean Mini Cooper small.
Two adults do fit in the rear seats, but not by much. For a hatchback, the storage space is what is concerning. The trunk won’t take a full hockey bag, but will fit a good load of groceries or a weekend of luggage for a couple.
You can get more stuff in with the rear seats folded forward, but it is still limited by the small rear hatch. You won’t be squeezing in any coffee tables or new televisions. The glass hatch also lets anyone who walks by check out what you are carting around. But utility is not what this car is about.
You have to drive something, so why not drive something different? I hope Volvo sells a boatload of C30s, just to encourage other automakers to build cars that are equally as stylish and cool. Yet I remain doubtful. The C30 looks great and lacks nothing, but just because people like stylish cars doesn’t mean they will buy them. People generally make the safe decision, and buy the more boring but more practical and sensible car.
I say don’t be afraid of being different — take the leap. Vote with your dollars for cars that are interesting, unique and looking forward in design. In 10 years the C30 will still be a good-looking car.
Fact File
Volvo C30 T5
As tested, before tax: $44,263
Configuration: Front-engine, FWD
Engine/transmission: 2.5L turbo inline-5 / 6-speed manual
Horsepower: 218 @ 5,000 rpm
Torque: 236 lb.-ft. @ 1,500-4,800 rpm
Options: Sport Package; 17-in. alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, heated front seats, sport chassis, power and memory driver’s seat, headlamp washers, homelink, auto dimming rearview mirror ($3,400); Dynaudio Package ($1,000); metallic paint ($650); sunroof ($1,500); 18-in. wheels ($1,488), 18-in. tires ($2,360); body kit ($1,713); chrome tail pipes ($157). Note: wheels, tires, body kit and tail pipes available as a package for 2008 at $2,400.
Freight: $1,615
Fuel required: 60 litres, premium
EnerGuide fuel ratings (L/100km): 10.7 city, 7.0 hwy
Observed fuel economy (L/100km): 9.8 combined
Warranty: 4 years / 80,000 km
Competition: Mini Cooper S, Volkswagen GTI, Honda Civic Si
Strengths: Wonderfully unique styling, ballsy engine, slick transmission
Weaknesses: Expensive options, tight rear seat, small storage area
Find a dealer that sells the Volvo C30
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