Volvo C30 Road Test Report

Performance

Regardless of whether you’re after outright pace or economy, the engines in the Volvo C30 range deliver a strong turn of speed compared against their rivals. The excellent 1.6-litre turbodiesel used in the DRIVe model is rapidly becoming the most popular engine in the C30 range, either in 119g/km standard form or increasingly as with the optional Start-Stop technology that reduces emissions to just 99g/km of carbon dioxide by switching off the engine when the car is at a standstill in traffic. Both of the DRIVe models manage 0-62mph in a decent 10.7 seconds, which is 0.5 seconds quicker than the 11.2 seconds needed by the 1.6-litre petrol engine offering. There are also 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, providing 143- and 134bhp respectively, while the C30 range is capped by the 2.5-litre, five-cylinder T5 model that packs 227bhp to dismiss 0-62mph in a mere 6.2 seconds.

Ride & Handling

Volvo has struck a clever balance between sporty firmness and just the right amount of supple subtlety to make the C30 hatch a very enjoyable and pleasurable car to spend time in. On twisty roads, there’s plenty of grip and composure through corners, and the C30 balances steering feel with not too much effort so this Swede makes easy work of country routes. In town, the C30 is comfortable and deals with most potholes in an efficient fashion. The T5 hot hatch has a much firmer ride in all conditions and picks up on urban ripples more readily, but no more so than most of its rivals. There is also the option of a Sports chassis that lowers the C30 by 10mm over its wheels, firms ups the suspension by 30% and makes the steering 10% quicker to react to driver inputs. This is standard on all R-Design models, but cannot be ordered for the DRIVe versions of the C30.

Build Quality & Reliability

If the C30 was hard to fault for its quality in its original form, the facelifted model takes it another notch higher. Everywhere your hand comes into contact with the C30, the materials feel first class, solid and pleasing to the touch. From the door handles to the handbrake, the steering wheel to the seat levers, Volvo has refined and improved every element of the C30 to make it one of the most satisfying cars to sit in, regardless of whether it’s another small hatch rival or from any other sector. The simple dash now has a cleaner, more integrated look as the digital ventilation display and air vents are more harmoniously incorporated into the look, while the floating centre console remains as a Volvo trademark design cue. On the mechanical front, the C30 is unchanged and every bit as sound as before thanks to engines and transmissions that have proven their worth in many Volvo and Ford-related products.

Safety & Security

You name it, the C30 has it. From visible VIN number through deadlocks and a standard alarm to anti-whiplash headrests and sturdy side impact protection beams, the C30 is a model of safe and secure motoring. Every model also comes with six airbags and Volvo’s Dynamic Stability and Traction Control to prevent the wheels from slipping and to keep the C30 pointing in the right direction on wet or icy roads. Unlike most rivals, it’s also more difficult to disarm the C30 ESP and makes it a conscious choice of the driver rather than something that could possibly be disabled by accidently pressing a button. To disable the Volvo’s ESP, the driver has to scroll through the car’s on-board computer memory, so there are no excuses for switching off the ESP accidentally.

Space & Practicality

Stylish as it is, the C30 is strictly a four seater as there are only four seats courtesy of the rear being made up of two individual chairs. Space is a little pinched in the rear for legs, but two adults can just about manage for shorter hops. Up front, the driver has plenty of room to manoeuvre and find the ideal position, while the C30’s large glasshouse affords excellent all-round vision. There’s reasonable storage within the cabin, helped by the cubby behind the centre console, but the C30’s boot is one of the smallest in its class. The boot cover doesn’t leave much space for slotting in luggage, so it has to be lifted and then replaced to make sure no prying eyes can see into the boot through the large glass tailgate.

Ownership & Value

The Volvo C30 is one of those cars that many buyers have made up their mind they are going to own long before they ever set foot near a Volvo dealership. Its distinctive good looks are even more appealing thanks to the facelift and the cabin is all the more inviting with the subtle changes wrought there too. If anything, these styling changes should help attract even more buyers to the C30. All but the hot T5 are easy on fuel, insurance and servicing, and the DRIVe models save owners even greater wads of cash thanks to their low road tax rates – or free road tax in the case of the Start-Stop model. Long term values of the C30 are bearing up well as this Volvo has acquired something of a cult following, which bodes well for anyone putting their cash into a facelifted model. All C30s come with a good level of standard equipment, so this Swedish small hatch is sound choice.