2008 Volvo C30 Version 1.0 2dr Coupe Auto
Trim Info:
19 mpg city / 27 mpg hwy
Estimated Mileage
Miles
accurate info about this vehicle
Expert Reviews
When people think of a typical “hot hatch," images of a select few automotive icons like the Volkswagen GTI or John Cooper Works Mini Cooper S will likely pop up in their heads. But one moniker that certainly won’t make itself present is Volvo – that is, until now. The 2008 Volvo C30 will change the way you think about Volvos, hatchbacks, automotive styling and the country of Sweden in general. The C30 does away with typical conservative Volvo styling, sporting a distinctive and aggressive character that carries over into the driving experience. Volvo is offering two separate packages for the C30, the base-model version 1.0 and the more aggressively styled and sport-tuned version 2.0, so that both the everyday driver and the enthusiast alike can find something to fit their needs.
The C30 is an unmistakable car with a modern style of its own. The five-cylinder turbo engine has ample power for such a small car, while the steering and suspension deliver excellent driving dynamics. Backseat room isn’t severely limited, making it feel more like a coupe than a hatchback.
While it starts at a low, competitive premium hatch price, the C30 can get expensive, quickly. While it is a fun car to drive, it doesn’t have the pure enthusiast driving orientation some of its competitors have.
DriverSide Driving Impressions
The C30 delivers a well-behaved, sophisticated ride around town, using its turbo-aided torque delivery to move it along briskly and with relative ease. There are two sides to the C30 however, and when it’s time to have fun, the C30 is more than willing. The buzzy five-cylinder engine gets all its torque at an extremely low 1,500 rpm and, while power delivery is linear, smooth and predictable, it is also increasingly potent as the needle approaches the redline. The steering is direct and exhibits minute amounts of understeer at worst, while the gearshift in the six-speed manual is light and precise. Our only complaint would be the relatively high engagement point of the clutch, an issue likely to relieve itself once the clutch has been broken in.
While the C30 may be a bold, new move for Volvo, the power plant remains the company’s tried and true 2.5-liter turbocharged and intercooled inline-five cylinder, which produces 227 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. The engine drives the front-wheels through either a standard six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode.
The options list is perhaps the Achilles Heel of the C30 because, while base price is reasonable and competitive, the C30 suffers from an acute case of “MCS" or Mini Cooper Syndrome, in that there are simply too many desirable options boxes to tick. Simple items such as highly reflective metallic paint, aggressive 17-inch wheels, plush leather seats, moonroof, an automatic transmission and satellite navigation conspire to quickly raise the price of the C30 north of the $30,000 barrier, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. C30 options include everything from a Swedish Flag on the roof to rear park assist, and they add up quick.
The name of the game at Volvo is and always has been safety, and the C30 comes standard with a host of safety features including antilock brakes, plenty of airbags and Volvo’s Dynamic Stability Traction Control system, which can be switched off if the driver chooses. Fitting to the C30’s next-gen design, a high-performance 8-speaker audio system with CD, MP3 and auxiliary inputs, also comes standard.
The ULEV-II C30’s inline-five manages to return respectable fuel economy for a hatchback, but nothing phenomenal. The manual achieves 19 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The automatic uses just as much gas around the city while on the highway its lack of a sixth ratio results in a slightly lower 27 mpg.
Interior
The centerpiece of the C30, like its bigger S40 and S80 brothers, is the ‘floating’ center console, which leaves an empty space between the control panel and the forward dash. The seats offer good support and the leather items are up to usually high Volvo standards. The steering wheel, which includes built-in audio controls standard, is well sized and placed.
The C30’s design harkens back to the 1972-1973 Bertone-penned P1800ES of the early-1970’s and begins with a long hood and blackened headlight surrounds and ends with a glass-only hatch gate, giving the car an aggressively fresh yet classy look. For a racier stance, opt for the version 2.0 which adds 18-inch rims, a rear spoiler and two-tone side skirts and fascias.
Pricing, which begins at $22,950, puts the C30 on par with its most obvious rivals, the Volkswagen GTI and the Audi A3. Again, the problem here is the plethora of enticing options which can quickly see the price reach into the $30,000 range. If you can contain your desires on the options sheet, the C30 offers a lot of well-engineered car for a relatively low price.
The 2008 Volvo C30 has a personality all to itself and it’s hard not to let it win you over. Unique design, sophistication and performance in even doses rarely come in packages this small and – if you’re considering a European hatch – the C30 will prove difficult to avoid.
|
In The Autoblog Garage: 2008 Volvo C30 V2.0 – Filed under: Garage, Hatchbacks, VolvoClick above for high-res gallery of our time with the 2008 Volvo C30We've been told for so long that hatches don't sell here in the U.S., so it's surprising to see a new crop of two-box premium cars going on sale Source: feeds.autoblog.com
Volvo C30 R-Design – Volvo C30 R-Design Source: jalopnik.com
Is Your Volvo C30 Lacking That Certain Feminine Quality? [New Cars] – No jokes here, Volvo is actually offering 20 special films that you can adorn your C30 with. We guess this is for people who think the Volvo C30 R-Design is too tough? Starting next week you can make your C30 a woodie, or a cheetah or camouflage it i Source: feeds.gawker.com
Volvo C30 news - Skin disease - 2008 – Volvo offers animal-skin coating for C30. Even more wrong than it sounds Source: rss.feedsportal.com
Best new cars of 2008 – Best new cars of 2008 Source: cars.about.com
Corn Power: Volvo C30 Green Racer – Two things we aren’t big fans of: Volvos and ethanol. But see, that’s not really true. My own racecar is a Volvo (in fairness it’s a V8olvo) and ethanol is one of the key ingredients in beer. Still, strictly in terms of regular car Source: www.autofiends.com
Chevrolet Camaro, Nissan GT-R Top Gear, Volvo C30R, Ford Mustang - 07/21/2008 – A new pony car surfaces, Nissan’s GT-R hits the Top Gear test track and the smallest Volvo gets more gumption. Hosted by Derek DeAngelis. Visit http://feed.fastlanedaily.com and vote for what you want in the show! Source: www.fastlanedaily.com
SwedeSpeed – Resource for enthusiast of Volvo cars old and new. Source: www.swedespeed.com
Turbobricks – Volvo fan site. Source: www.turbobricks.com
Volvo developing 300-hp C30 with AWD – Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Hatchbacks, Volvo, UK Click above to view high-res gallery of the Volvo C30 R-Design Rumors of a new Volvo hot hatch have gotten hot again with talk of a new 300-horsepower C30 for Europe. According to reports, the ne Source: feeds.feedburner.com
300 Horse Volvo C30 – Remember when all you Blue Oval fan boys pitched a fit when the new Focus RS wouldn’t come with all wheel drive? Get ready to start complaining again. Word on the Web is that Volvo is working on a 300 horsepower version of its C30 powered by, you Source: www.autofiends.com
