After all, if you wanted a two-door hatch that tears up a tight, twisty road at the sacrifice of space, you would be looking at the nimble Mini Cooper S. Although smaller, it accomplishes the point of being cramped, light and potent.
Moving up one size, we have the Volkswagens, where although the Scirocco isn’t as agile as the MINI, also comes in five-door GTI form, thus, eliminating the need for acrobatic stunts when cozyness spells five. Having “over 200 bhp” also means a “normal” cruising speed of “over 200 km/h.”
And at the heavy end of the scale, we have the Volvo C30. It weighs a monstrous 1800 kg. Yet, it lacks those side panels that open up to allow passengers to climb in.
I believe they’re called doors.
So you’ve picked up on my blatant sarcasm, which probably means that the review of the C30 isn’t going to be glowing.
But some of you will also realize where this is headed to – the Volvo C30 is to a MINI or a Golf like what Pamela Anderson and Borat are to each other. They’re just not the same, and I’m often surprised at the number of “enthusiasts” who compare them on the same playing field.
Moving up one size, we have the Volkswagens, where although the Scirocco isn’t as agile as the MINI, also comes in five-door GTI form, thus, eliminating the need for acrobatic stunts when cozyness spells five. Having “over 200 bhp” also means a “normal” cruising speed of “over 200 km/h.”
And at the heavy end of the scale, we have the Volvo C30. It weighs a monstrous 1800 kg. Yet, it lacks those side panels that open up to allow passengers to climb in.
I believe they’re called doors.
So you’ve picked up on my blatant sarcasm, which probably means that the review of the C30 isn’t going to be glowing.
But some of you will also realize where this is headed to – the Volvo C30 is to a MINI or a Golf like what Pamela Anderson and Borat are to each other. They’re just not the same, and I’m often surprised at the number of “enthusiasts” who compare them on the same playing field.
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Exterior
The C30 was designed by Peter Horbury, who just before leaving Volvo for Ford’s design team in the USA, was amongst the fore-front of heads responsible for getting rid of Volvo's “brick” image.
Covering its skeleton in 2010 form is a redesigned front end, which of course, will be the first to strike an impression. The front is new, and much larger, with an air intake that has also grown in size, resembling that of the XC60.
Volvo has decided to keep a grille pattern that will be unique to the C30. They’ve also gone crazy with it everywhere else on the car. This honeycomb theme exists on the door inlays, scuff plates, and other minor garnishings.
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Thankfully, the shoulder lines and backside hasn’t changed much, with all further enhancements receiving thumbs ups from everyone.
The same deep lines and details are there, and the colour you see here, “Orange Flame Metallic,” is new. Wheel arches and skirt-linings are located slightly lower down, and are available, as in this case, in a contrast-colour option, making it seem as if the entire coupe has been lowered further.
The rear end gets visible exhaust tailpipes, while there’s a shocking, un-Volvo-ish element – white 17-inch wheels!
Not that we’re complaining, but these babies need washing everyday, especially if you drive hard. We observed lots of brake dust during our test drive round the city island state, especially after negotiating heavy traffic where braking is required more than often.
The design of the dashboard area on the inside is typical Volvo C70, V50, but with the addition of what looks like purplish, chocolaty brown. We’re probably most thankful towards them for removing the older C30’s floral-themed “floating” centre console.
In its place, an “Oyster Burst Déco,” an inspiration of classic Swedish Hagström guitars, popular with stars such as Elvis Presley during the fifties.
Hagström used the word "burst" in many of its model names and gave their guitars a gradient-like pattern that shifted subtly from light to dark and back again.
The same deep lines and details are there, and the colour you see here, “Orange Flame Metallic,” is new. Wheel arches and skirt-linings are located slightly lower down, and are available, as in this case, in a contrast-colour option, making it seem as if the entire coupe has been lowered further.
The rear end gets visible exhaust tailpipes, while there’s a shocking, un-Volvo-ish element – white 17-inch wheels!
Not that we’re complaining, but these babies need washing everyday, especially if you drive hard. We observed lots of brake dust during our test drive round the city island state, especially after negotiating heavy traffic where braking is required more than often.
The design of the dashboard area on the inside is typical Volvo C70, V50, but with the addition of what looks like purplish, chocolaty brown. We’re probably most thankful towards them for removing the older C30’s floral-themed “floating” centre console.
In its place, an “Oyster Burst Déco,” an inspiration of classic Swedish Hagström guitars, popular with stars such as Elvis Presley during the fifties.
Hagström used the word "burst" in many of its model names and gave their guitars a gradient-like pattern that shifted subtly from light to dark and back again.
Just like in the C30.
Also new on the list is a hard-cover option for the luggage compartment (see pictures) for those seeking a more secure, turtle shall-shaped contraption that hides their belongings.
Personally, we’d go for the soft version as you’ll have to remove this device out of your car if you don’t want to use it, or have too much luggage to load, requiring its removal.
Driving Impressions
230 bhp and 320 Nm of torque gets you places. Fast. As fast as the GTI, if not slightly faster. We clocked 7.26 seconds for the C30’s 0-100 km/h sprint on a full load of petrol, two passengers and with the air-conditioning turned on. Impressive!
With enough torque from 1,500 rpm onwards, the 2.5-litre turbocharged engine pulls very strongly above 3500 rpm, and in typical 5-cylinder fashion, remains smooth and with an entrancing audio-track that never makes you feel as if you’re about to hit the limiter.
But do this enough, and you’ll have to watch in alarm as your fuel needle quickly winds clockwise.
It shares the Ford C1 platform, which means similarities between the S40, V50 and the high powered Focus ST. There are MacPherson struts in the front and a good, proper multilink rear setup suited for a car of its stature.
Also new on the list is a hard-cover option for the luggage compartment (see pictures) for those seeking a more secure, turtle shall-shaped contraption that hides their belongings.
Personally, we’d go for the soft version as you’ll have to remove this device out of your car if you don’t want to use it, or have too much luggage to load, requiring its removal.
Driving Impressions
230 bhp and 320 Nm of torque gets you places. Fast. As fast as the GTI, if not slightly faster. We clocked 7.26 seconds for the C30’s 0-100 km/h sprint on a full load of petrol, two passengers and with the air-conditioning turned on. Impressive!
With enough torque from 1,500 rpm onwards, the 2.5-litre turbocharged engine pulls very strongly above 3500 rpm, and in typical 5-cylinder fashion, remains smooth and with an entrancing audio-track that never makes you feel as if you’re about to hit the limiter.
But do this enough, and you’ll have to watch in alarm as your fuel needle quickly winds clockwise.
It shares the Ford C1 platform, which means similarities between the S40, V50 and the high powered Focus ST. There are MacPherson struts in the front and a good, proper multilink rear setup suited for a car of its stature.
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The C30 isn’t lacking in corners either. In fact, it manages to be as stable as a Scirocco Sport. Not engineered to compete in this class of cars, the steering is as big, and as numb as other Volvos, so you won’t know what you’re ploughing through often enough.
With high-speed overtaking and comfort as its forte, it’s safe to say that the Volvo matches up to other hot-hatches over long-distance stretches. In fact, we feel that this would be the better, more comfortable car to do it in, what with head and legroom being more generous than a Scirocco, with ample provision for a third person in the back due to the soft middle section in between the two sculpted rear seats.
With high-speed overtaking and comfort as its forte, it’s safe to say that the Volvo matches up to other hot-hatches over long-distance stretches. In fact, we feel that this would be the better, more comfortable car to do it in, what with head and legroom being more generous than a Scirocco, with ample provision for a third person in the back due to the soft middle section in between the two sculpted rear seats.
But it still is a C30, so headroom isn’t up to par with other square-backed hot hatches.
So why would you buy one?
In 3 years, the only obvious competitor to the Volvo would be Volkswagen’s Scirocco Sport. Even then, it’s unfair to say so as they’re of different engine sizes and weights. What’s amazing, is that Volvo have managed to keep the youthful image of the C30 alive and well all this time.
It doesn’t look as if it has aged. In fact, it looks like its “grown younger” Oxymoronic? Hardly.
So why would you buy one?
In 3 years, the only obvious competitor to the Volvo would be Volkswagen’s Scirocco Sport. Even then, it’s unfair to say so as they’re of different engine sizes and weights. What’s amazing, is that Volvo have managed to keep the youthful image of the C30 alive and well all this time.
It doesn’t look as if it has aged. In fact, it looks like its “grown younger” Oxymoronic? Hardly.
