Volvo C30 Interior Review
Volvo aims at sportiness inside the C30, along with high-tech, Scandinavian style. Volvo's trademark floating center stack is the central design element. The brushed aluminum center stack's design is simple, with four round knobs for the main audio and climate controls. Along the center is another series of buttons for more audio and climate functions, including a telephone-like set of buttons for the audio presets. As a unique feature, the center stack can be ordered with an integral surface design Volvo calls surf. Should this idea catch on, Volvo may offer more patterns in the future.
The standard cloth upholstery is also unique. Volvo calls it Kalix T-Tech. It has the look of wetsuit material. Kalix has a higher quality appearance than most cloth, fitting somewhere between regular cloth and leather. Leather seating surfaces are also available. Overall materials quality is typical Volvo, meaning excellent. The dash panel is made of a quality soft-touch material, and all the panels fit together with close, uniform gaps.
The C30 is comfortable, but not as comfortable as other Volvos, which are among the most cosseting cars available. The driver's seat has enough manual adjustments to tailor a comfortable driving position and enough side bolstering to keep backsides planted in corners. The front seats have plenty of head room and good leg room, though very tall drivers might wish for more seat travel. The tilt/telescoping steering wheel helps the driver adjust for a comfortable and proper driving position. The steering wheel seemed too big to us, though. Many manufacturers opt to go with a smaller diameter steering wheel for sporty cars, and the C30 would benefit from one, too.
Visibility is generally good, though Volvo's typically thick front pillars can restrict vision to the corners at intersections.
The audio system was given special attention as Volvo designed the C30 for young, active city dwellers. The standard radio in 1.0 models is a capable 160-watt AM/FM/CD stereo with eight speakers and MP3 player connectivity. The better-equipped 2.0 models get a 650-watt Alpine unit with 10 Dynaudio speakers and Sirius satellite radio with a six-month subscription. A USB port for iPod or flash drive connectivity is available as an accessory. It allows customers to control their iPods through the radio. The high-end stereo can really crank, and the sound is clear even at high volume.
Interior storage consists two cupholders located ahead of a console bin that is just big enough to hold CD cases. Additional storage can be found behind the center stack in a rubberized tray. Unfortunately, it's hard to access. Map pockets are also located in the doors.
Though the C30's two-door body style doesn't encourage family use, the rear is fairly easy to access and offers decent room. The front seats tilt and slide forward to provide an open path to the rear seat, though it still requires passengers to twist and duck. Once inside, they sit back and into the seats. Leg room is good unless the front seats are far back and toe room under the front seats is plentiful. Head room is sufficient for six footers, but tall riders might need to slouch.
The C30's hatchback body style gives it a fair bit of utility. The rear seats fold to create a flat load floor with 20.2 cubic feet of easy-to-access cargo room. With the seats up, there is still 12.9 cubic feet, so you can pick up your groceries while driving with friends.
Volvo C30 Road Test
The C30 isn't your typical Volvo. It's the smallest Volvo and the most athletic. Volvo has succeeded in its mission to build a fun-to-drive, sporty car.
The turbocharged five-cylinder engine provides 227 hp and 236 pound-feet of torque all the way from 1500 to 5000 rpm. That means the C30 has good power both off the line and in highway passing maneuvers. The engine is responsive, with a minimum of turbo lag. Torque steer, felt through the steering wheel as a slight pull to one side under hard acceleration, is well checked, which is impressive for a front-wheel drive car with this much power.
With the standard six-speed manual transmission, the C30 is capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in just 6.2 seconds. That's quite quick, and comparable to the acceleration performance of the Volkswagen GTI. The manual shifter's throws are a little long and rubbery. It doesn't feel as sporty as some customers might like, but it is easy to shift.
With the optional automatic transmission, 0-60 mph comes in 6.6 seconds, which is still quite quick. The automatic transmission kicks down quickly when extra power is needed. It has a manual shiftgate for more driver control, but the C30 lacks the steering wheel-mounted paddles found in some of its competitors.
The turbocharged five-cylinder engine offers a nice balance of power and fuel economy. Under the tougher 2008 EPA guidelines, the engine is rated 18 mpg City and 28 Highway with the manual transmission and 18/27 mpg with the automatic. We expect most drivers will average 22 to 24 mpg depending on driving style.
On the road the C30 handles well, with flat cornering and fine balance in quick changes of direction. The 1.0 model, with its standard 17-inch tires, is a bit less sharp than the 2.0 model with its 18s. Steering in both models is direct, but it could stand to be a little quicker for a car with C30's sporty aspirations. Slow steering and big steering wheels are just part of the Volvo driving experience. The 2.0 model's sport suspension and larger wheels and tires provide a bit more road feel through the steering wheel.
Both models have a firm ride, but the 1.0 is smoother. While neither model feels harsh, the 2.0 is more prone to pounding over sharp bumps. The 1.0 model is close to the surprisingly refined VW GTI for ride quality, but the 2.0 has a rougher ride. The C30 looks better with the 2.0's larger wheels, but you'll want to try it before you buy, especially if you live in an area with bad roads.
The brakes have good pedal feel and fine stopping power. Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution assist the driver in emergency stopping situations. While the C30 is generally light on content, it's still a Volvo, which means it's safe. It has all the safety equipment, including front side and curtain side airbags, traction control, electronic stability control, and Volvo's WHIPS active head restraints that are designed to reduce the risk of whiplash.
Volvo C30 Lineup
The 2008 Volvo C30 is offered in two trim levels, both with front-wheel drive and a 227-hp turbocharged five-cylinder engine. A six-speed manual transmission is standard and a six-speed automatic is a $1250 option.
The C30 1.0 ($22,700) comes standard with cloth upholstery; air conditioning; keyless entry; leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio controls; height-adjustable manual driver's seat; outside temperature display; power windows, locks and mirrors; 50/50 split-folding rear seat; 160-watt AM/FM/CD stereo with eight speakers and MP3 player connectivity; and 205/50R17 all-season tires on alloy wheels. Options include the automatic transmission, sunroof ($1,200), leather seating surfaces ($1,200), and Sirius satellite radio ($625). The Climate Package ($675) includes heated front seats, headlight washers and rain-sensing wipers.
The C30 2.0 ($25,700) adds painted wheel flares, side skirts, and spoiler; 215/45R18 summer performance tires; a 650-watt Alpine stereo with Sirius satellite radio with six-month subscription and 10 Dynaudio speakers; sport suspension; and aluminum dash inlays. In addition to the 1.0's options, the 2.0 offers a power driver's seat ($450), a DVD-based navigation system ($2,120), and all-season tires on 17-inch alloy wheels (no cost).
Volvo encourages customers to personalize their C30s by offering several Custom Build Options. There is a one-time $300 charge for any car ordered with one or more Custom Build Options. These items include cruise control ($185), fog lights ($295), trip computer ($100), bi-xenon headlights with washers ($700), heated front seats ($450), power-retractable rear-view mirrors with puddle lamps ($250), alarm ($200), automatic climate control ($250), keyless starting ($450), power driver's seat ($450), power driver and passenger seat ($900), the Alpine/Dynaudio stereo ($800), interior air filter ($200), Homelink universal garage door opener ($225), and auto-dimming rear-view mirror ($150).
Safety features include the mandated dual front airbags plus side-curtain airbags for head protection, and side-impact airbags for torso protection. Active safety features consist of anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control (ESC), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. Rear obstacle detection is a $400 option and Volvo's Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) is a $695 option. Both are part of the Custom Build Options list.