2008 Volvo C30 Review

PROS
Fun to drive, Powerful engine, Cool features

CONS Cramped rear seat, Poor fuel economy for the size, Oddly shaped cargo area

Not your father's Volvo Like every automaker, Volvo covets young, affluent buyers. These trendsetters are the first to adopt new technologies and regularly place image over practicality. They helped launch MTV, and, more recently, products like iPod, and TiVo.

While, Volvo has quietly made a living selling safety, that doesn't necessarily help the Swedish automaker reach out to these younger buyers. So if Volvo wants to grab a slice of the under-40 pie, it has to do more than just build and sell safe cars.

That's where a vehicle like the C30 makes perfect sense. Volvo intended it to be a lightning rod. You either love it or hate it, and Volvo's hoping that most will love it. The car shares chassis and engines with the S40 sedan and is actually the smallest Volvo ever sold in the United States. It is available as a two-door hatchback and competes with vehicles like the Audi A3, MINI Cooper S, and Volkswagen GTI.

The front-drive-only C30 comes in two trim levels, 1.0 and 2.0. Both are powered by a turbocharged 225-horsepower five-cylinder engine. A six-speed manual transmission is standard and a five-speed automatic is optional.

Antilock brakes with brake assist, stability and traction control, and front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags are standard on both models. Also included is Volvo's WHIPS protection system. It is designed to reduce the severity of whiplash injuries. Rear park assist and a blind-spot detection system are optional.

Standard equipment on C30 1.0 includes front bucket seats with center console, split-folding rear seatback, leather-wrapped gearshift and steering wheel, air conditioning, 17-inch wheels, and tilt-telescope steering wheel. 2.0 models add aluminum interior trim, 650-watt audio system with iPod control, 18-inch wheels, sport suspension, and body kit.

Options include HID headlamps, fog lights, sunroof, heated seats, keyless starting, leather upholstery, and navigation system. Unlike other Volvos, C30 can be custom-built to a customer's desires. This process can take up to eight weeks, but allows buyers to choose unique colors, features, and interior materials. In addition, Volvo is offering a number of dealer-installed options on C30 that will allow buyers to further customize C30.

Get up and Go 
Volvo claims that manual-transmission C30s will accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 6.2 seconds. Automatic models come in a tick slower at 6.6 seconds. Based on seat of the pants observations, those boasts are 100-percent accurate. The engine delivers good acceleration from a stop and excellent passing power.

The five-speed automatic shifts smoothly and downshifts promptly for additional passing power. The engine is refined in cruising but does growl coarsely in hard acceleration.

The C30 is EPA rated at 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. Those are not impressive numbers, given the vehicle's size. It's likely that you'll average about 22 mpg around town and perhaps 25 mpg on the highway. Volvo recommends premium-grade fuel for best performance.

On the Road
Volvo engineers wanted to give the C30 a sporty ride without making it overly firm. In that mission, they succeeded.

The base suspension and 17-inch wheels on 1.0 models offer the smoothest ride. It is firm but also absorbent enough to soften large bumps. The tires also filter minor pavement imperfections to the point where they are not annoying.

2.0 models get 18-inch wheels and a firmer suspension that Volvo calls Dynamic--though it isn't actually active. The larger wheels and firmer suspension conspire to deliver a much firmer ride compared to the base model. However, the ride isn't as harsh as Cooper S.

Similarly, there's a fair amount of difference between models in the handling department. The base model drives like a typical sporty coupe. That means is tracks true, but has too much body lean and too little grip from the tires to be sporty. The 2.0, on the other hand, holds the road quite well. It's not as nimble as a Cooper S or GTI, but remains quite composed when driven aggressively on twisty roads.

Steering on both models is sharp and accurate. Brakes are strong and easy to modulate.

The C30 is easily quieter than the Cooper and on par with the GTI and Audi A3. Noise levels are higher on the 2.0 due to the larger wheels and tires.

Behind the Wheel C30's interior is crisp and contemporary. There's not a lot of flare, unless you opt for some of the dealer-available aftermarket trim pieces. Still, the design is logical and the materials and assembly quality are quite good.

Large white-on-black gauges face the driver from behind the steering wheel. Window and mirror controls are on the driver's armrest. The center stack is positioned rearward so it's easier to reach. It features four large dials and about twenty or so buttons. Because of its forward location, Volvo was able to carve out a nice storage bin behind the console that's perfect for a purse.

As some buttons have multiple uses, radio and climate controls are not as simple as in some other vehicles. If you own an iPod, the 2.0 comes standard with an audio system with a plug in the center console that will allow you to control the iPod with the C30's radio. That's a nice feature compared to the simple audio jack that is offered by most competitors.

The front bucket seats are firm and well bolstered. They aren't so hard that they become uncomfortable on long trips. Thanks to a tilt and telescope steering wheel, the driving position is excellent. Visibility is good to the front and directly astern, where the large hatchback glass makes it see when parking. Large side mirrors help compensate for blind spots to the rear three-quarters.

Driver and front-seat passenger have good leg room and adequate head room. Opting for the optional sunroof will cramp taller drivers.

As in most sport coupes, the back seats are cramped and difficult to access. Head room is tight--even for kids--and leg room is non-existent when the front seats are more than half-way back.

Cargo room behind the rear seats is good and the all-glass hatchback is light. Rear seats don't fold flush with the cargo floor. Other than the convenient bin behind the center stack, interior storage is unremarkable.

Bottom Line
Volvo has done a good job creating a sporty coupe that will meet the needs of its current customers and attract new shoppers. The C30 isn't as sporty as the Cooper S or GTI, but it's fun to drive and doesn't have a pounding ride. In addition, it offers features that are designed to attract younger buyers like a 650-watt audio system with iPod control, blind-spot detection, Bluetooth, navigation, and keyless starting.

Fuel economy is a minus, as is the oddly shaped cargo area. Given the high level of standard equipment, prices are reasonable: $23,000 for the base and $26,000 for the 2.0. That places C30 squarely between the Cooper and the larger and Audi A3. Though the 2.0 comes well equipped, buyers should note that it's easy to option one past $30,000 and at that price point, the C30 doesn't seem like such a great value given its limited practicality.