2008 Volvo C30

Retail Price as tested: $27,950.00

The interior is designed well and the seats although not leather have a great feel to them. I normally do not like hatch backs but the C30 is an exception. You can load your briefcase or items you don’t want in the front seat in the hatch area. The non-framed glass makes the hatch light and easy to use.

When I first heard I would be driving a Volvo my first thought was “safe” and “old”. That was my impression of Volvo before driving the C30. I know Volvo has tried to keep the “safe” image while appealing to the younger generation. They accomplished both with the C30. The Volvo C30 is a sporty 2 door hatch back car that drives a well as it looks. It does appeal to the younger generation (according to the young people I showed it to) in its styling and turbocharged 5 cylinder engine. I would guess that some of these sporty changes are due in part to Ford’s ownership of Volvo. Some reviews will tell you that this is not a “sports car”. In my opinion it’s the next best thing. You have a car that runs well, handles great, has a great transmission, is fun to drive and has an interior layout that is very practical. Its a great little car with all the features you would expect in a car with a much larger sticker price. You get a lot of car for the money with the C30.

2.5-litre 227-hp 5-Cylinder Engine

The C30 5 cylinder engine boasts 227 hp due in part to the turbocharger and variable ll valve timing. Its a smooth engine that passes all emissions standards including California’s ULEV II.

Engine and Transmission

The C30 has plenty of power and the 6-speed transmission works very well. It shifts like a dream and you hardly know your driving a manual transmission. The C30 comes with DSTC (Dynamic Stability & Traction Control) that varies the power supplied to the wheels depending on the driving conditions. It can also cut engine power and/or braking individual wheels to help reduce skidding so you maintain control. It also has a setting for wet or snowy conditions. The C30 handles great and its power to weight ratio makes the car very fun to drive.

Interior

John Rush - Host

Gearhead Radio & Drive Radio

For a audio version of my review - please visit www.gearheadradio.com.

For more details on other features and options on the Volvo C30 click here.

6-speed Manual Transmission

The C30 ^-Speed Transmission is very smooth and easy to operate and give “precise” shifting. The 6th speed really helps fuel economy and give you a very quiet ride at highway speeds by reducing engine speed.

The interior is spacious with four individual seats. The layout of the dash is very simple but practical. Controls are easy to find and use. The rear seats fold down to give you a nice large cargo area.

After driving the Subaru Impreza the radio in the C30 was a huge relief. It actually did what you asked it to without having to scroll through 2-3 screens to do it. I like the layout of the C30 as well as the material used in the seats. Its not leather but the next best thing. Its cool in the heat and looks like it would be easy to maintain. The rear seats fold down to make extra room for luggage or cargo. The HVAC is also easy to use and works very well even on hot days. Volvo does offer a NAV system and Bluetooth which of course I highly recommend. The Volvo C30 its simple, practical and fun to drive. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a sporty but practical car that runs well and gets good mpg all for under 30k.

The Radio was easy to use and produced great sound. One thing missing is the iPod controls. The HVAC controls are easy to use and are right at your finger tips.