Insurance Group: 22
MPG: 37.2
CO2: 177
0-62 Mph: 9.4 secs
BHP: 143 BHP
Range: 450 miles
PROS: The R-Design package gives the C-30 a bold look, and the performance is good enough to bring the best out of the handling in a car that is well priced too.
CONS: The performance doesn’t quite match some of the other hot hatches on the market, and space in the back seats and the boot isn’t particularly generous.
The C-30 is very balanced when dealing with the twists and turns of the A and B roads, but the other side to this coin is that the ride is generally quite firm, but this becomes better as you pick up the pace. The steering feels good, but it doesn’t quite have the instinctive feel that some of the best hot hatches on the market can offer. The driving position for the C-30 is very good with the driving seat and steering wheel both being easily adjustable, but the thick pillars at the back do restrict rear visibility a little.
Engine performance from this version of the C-30 is quite good, with the acceleration from 0-62mph achieved in a brisk 8.8 seconds. The top speed is 130mph meaning that motorway driving is well within reach, but driving at speed does mean that there is a fair amount of wind noise that is clearly audible within the cabin.
One of the main reasons that many people will be attracted to the Volvo C-30 is that it really is an attractive car, and the R-Design body kit actually adds to this look. The front end is bold with the large headlight clusters dominating much of the car, while the spoiler over the rear window adds very little in terms of practicality. Inside the cabin is classy, although it may be a bit too colourful for some people, with a dashboard that is clear and easy to read.
The level of equipment that comes with this version of the C-30 is quite reasonable, with alloy wheels very important to the overall look of the car. Cruise control and climate control are both important that help to make the car a little more civilized, while the CD stereo is fine and also has an MP3 input for those who keep all their music on a portable player.
Many people will consider buying a hatchback car because of the practicality that it can offer, but the C-30 isn’t really as practical as it should be. The space in the boot is disappointing, and headroom and legroom both suffer in the back seats too. The reliability to be seen in the C-30 is very good, and this is reflected in the high marks given by drivers in a 2011 survey.
The Volvo C-30 is also a very safe car, and boasts plenty of driver aids to help keep it stable and under control on the road. The car also has six airbags and anti-whiplash head restraints, and all these combine to give the C-30 the five star result in the Euro NCAP safety test.
Many people consider Volvo to be a fairly premium car manufacturer that makes quite expensive cars, but the C-30 R-Design is a car that is quite affordable with a list price of £17,010, which compares quite well with some of the other hatchbacks on the market.
The 2.0 litre petrol engine is a good performer but it isn’t particularly efficient, with the fuel efficiency figures showing an average 37.2mpg. The insurance group is fairly reasonable meaning that premiums won’t be as high as some of the other hot hatches on the market, and the desirability of the car means that the resale values of the C-30 are quite good too. The car is provided with a three year or sixty thousand mile warranty, and also has one year’s roadside breakdown cover.
The Volvo C30 certainly offers a lot; with its stylish coupé looks, classy cabin and nimble handling. It’s a bit more distinctive than your average family hatchback and provides most of what you’d...
The C30 is a safe, good looking car with decent performance credentials. It is not a family car thanks to its small boot but singletons and couples are going to be tempted by the Volvo's low price ...
The C-30 is a car that generally offers a good driving experience balanced with a ride that will be a little too firm for some, while the good looks will attract many people. The drawback with the...
The C30 is useless as a family car but if you don't have kids it's a great choice. Good looking, extraordinarily economical and well-made, there isn't much to dislike about the C30.
The C30 is a car that does the majority of things quite well, and it is a very safe car to drive, but unfortunately it just seems to fall a little short of the rival cars in the class. The engine ...
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