MOTORNETNEWS  ROAD  TEST  -  AUGUST  2007

VOLVO  C30 LE  HATCH

 The new Volvo C30  is reminiscent of the DAF- sourced Volvo 360 of twenty years ago, however, this new model is prettier, more practical, more powerful and comes with a list of standard equipment that wasn't even available in those early 1980s. 

It's not cheap but it is very well built, has a very good ride, tons of grip and is one of the best-looking small hatches on the market. For those aspiring to the prestige and safety of a Volvo the C30 is the chance to do so for a reasonable price - and you won't be disappointed.

OUTSIDE:    

From its smart corporate grille to the neat hatchback, the C30 is a very attractive small car. There are lovely sculpted lines running from the front bumper to the very neat taillights and the flared guards are designed as part of the car's shape and not as 'add-ons' as in many other makes. 

The bumpers have body-coloured inserts for extra protection although the grille is incorporated in the front bumper and this could be an expensive replacement in a relatively minor bingle. The rear bumper offers very good protection. The 10-spoke alloy wheels are smart and quite easily cleaned.  The body-coloured exterior mirrors have repeater lights for the indicators and the tail lamps are visible from the sides. 

Under the grille is a matching air-intake and the fog/driving lights  are set in smart nacelles at each side. the swept back headlight covers protect the projector-style lamps with the indicators set at the edges. The wide doors allow excellent access to the front seats are quite good entry and egress from the rear ones. The C pillars are fairly thick and hamper vision when reversing. The bonnet has a gas strut but the layout is a bit untidy and lets the side down a bit. Access is very good.

INSIDE:

The interior is very elegant - and this is the entry level model! - and has a pleasant ambience. Quality materials are used throughout with clothleather seats and plastic trim in charcoal and light grey. The front seats are very supportive and comfortable while the rear ones are best left for children or very small adults. Front leg room is very good.

The dash layout follows the Volvo pattern with a 'floating' console that curves away from the dashboard leaving a handy space for odds and ends behind it. The console is in brushed silver and very attractive and houses the audio and air-conditioning controls. These are simply laid out and very user friendly.

The instrument dials are deep set in the binnacle and have white numbers on black backgrounds. The three-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel has remote controls for the audio and cruise control systems and is fully adjustable for rake and reach. The driver's seat has powered controls with a memory system and the passenger seat can also have them as an option. It is very easy to get a comfortable driving position with the fully adjustable steering column and the electric height and tilt adjustment on the seat.

Storage spaces are fairly minimal, there is a very small glove box with a deceptively large lid, the space behind the floating dash and pockets in the doors but little else. Twin cupholders are set into the centre arm rest that also has a small lidded bin. 

 Each sun visor has a vanity mirror that has a cover as well as being illuminated when the cover is opened. At the top of the floating console is an LCD information display.

LUGGAGE  AREA:

There is quite a lot of room under the hatch door - much more than you would imagine from the profile of the C30. The rear seats have a split-fold capacity to increase the luggage space. The child restraint lugs are set into the backs of the rear seats so that the retaining straps don't cross the luggage area. 

Unfortunately there is no full sized spare wheel - perhaps not such a problem as most C30s will be used as suburban transport. The spare is a steel wheel with a temporary spare tyre set under the floor. there are four tie-down lugs in the boot area and a solid cargo cover. The hatch door has two internal recesses for closing.

The hatch door has a very large window area and a washer/wiper fitted.

ON THE ROAD:

The C30 LE is powered by Volvo's very smooth and quiet petrol-powered, 5-cylinder engine that develops 125kW @ 6000rpm and 230Nm of torque @4400 resulting in a driving style where you need to keep the revs up to get good performance. The test cars had the smooth 5-speed automatic transmission and the ratios had been chosen to compliment the engine's characteristics. 

Over a week long test of around 75% urban and 25% freeway driving the C30 averaged a very good 8.9 litres per 100km consumption. Urban use showed around 9.2 whereas freeway consumption was a moderate 7.5. 

The ride is very supple in the European manner with excellent grip and safe, sure-footed road holding.  Steering and braking were as expected from a Volvo and all-round vision was very good except for the wide C pillars at the rear. The hand brake was still in the left hand drive position making it a little awkward to use.

PRICE:            $39,950 (5-speed auto), $38,450 (5-speed manual) plus on-road costs.

STANDARD:    ABS brakes with Brake Assist System and Electronic Brake Distribution; 16" alloy wheels; Dual front, head & side airbags;  cruise control; fog/driving lights; leather steering wheel; leather upholstery; power front driver's seat with memory; power mirrors, steering & windows; 8-speaker audio system with CD; front seat belt pre-tensioners; Traction Control System and trip computer.

OPTIONS:        17" alloy wheels $1,500; 6-stack CD $795; Dynamic Stability Control $2,190; Heated front seats $315; Metallic paint $1,350;  Parking Distance Sensors $550; Power passenger seat $1,950; Power sun roof $2,150; Premium sound system $930; Sports suspension $1,500; Xenon headlights $2,100.