Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 78%

Is it a bird, is it a plane? No... it’s a Volvo C30.

Volvo’s return to the hatchback has been on the road for a few years now, but the bravely-designed four-seater is still a rare sight.

Have buyers been right to stick with the big-sellers, or are they missing a trick? We spend a week with one, and found it started to get under our skin.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

The Volvo C30 is like nothing else on the road. The front is familiar Volvo, the sides aren’t too radical – bar the lack of rear doors – but step around the back and you will scratch your chin on the road. The C30 looks like it has escaped from a science fiction film set. It’s a homage to the classic Volvo 1800ES and we love the boldness of approach – far too many cars look the same these days.

9/10

2. Looks inside

The Volvo cabin is a soothing place to spend time. The seats are comfortable over long distances, the controls and dials are well laid out and easy to operate and there is an airy and modern atmosphere. Simple and elegant use of high quality materials and an ultra-slim centre console which appears to ‘float’ next to your left knee give the C30 a subtly expensive feel.

7/10

3. Practicality

There are two sports seats in the back, not the more conventional three-seat bench. This layout caused debate in the office, some preferring the greater comfort of the individual seats, while others thought the practicality penalty of making the C30 a four-seater was a big oversight.

The boot is 433-litres in size, and it can be increased in size to 947-litres by folding down the rear seats.

6/10

4. Ride and Handling 

It’s meant to be the best-handling and most agile Volvo in the company’s history. And, we stood the best chance of finding out if this statement was true, because our test car was the hot T5 model which shares its engine with the Focus ST.

They weren’t lying; it accelerates, steers and stops with more vigour than any of Volvo’s other models.

But what about the competition? Despite parts sharing, don’t expect this to be a Focus ST in a Volvo suit. The suspension is far softer in the C30 than in the benchmark hot hatch. It’s not as much of an entertainer as the fast Ford, but it can still cover ground at a rapid pace and it’s a calm cruiser. We liked its sport-tourer feel - not everyone wants a fast car with stiff suspension.

8/10

5. Performance

Acceleration from the 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine is strong, linear and accompanied with a cultured growl from the exhausts. It’s well matched to its six-speed gearbox, with long gears – this isn’t an engine you rev to the redline like the Honda Civic Type-R. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 6.7 seconds and top speed is a mighty 149mph.

The C30 is also available with a 1.8-litre bioethanol engine producing 125bhp and a 2-litre petrol with 145bhp. Three diesels including a 1.6-litre, 2.0 and 2.4 can be specified with 109bhp, 136bhp and 180bhp respectively.

Volvo has introduced an excellent dual-clutch automatic gearbox called Powershift, which is available paired with the 2-litre diesel engine. The 2.4-litre D5 diesel and T5 petrol are available with conventional automatic gearboxes, and all models are fitted with a manual gearbox as standard.

7/10

6. Running Costs

Choose the T5 and the flipside of its great performance is increased cost. Volvo’s claimed 32.5mpg average fuel consumption is optimistic, and you will need serious driving discipline to sustain it.

Figures of 38.2mpg and 38.7mpg for the 2.0 and 1.8 are below average for this class of car, as are carbon dioxide emissions of 177g/km (tax band E) and 174g/km (tax band E).

Diesel is a clear winner for high-milers, the 1.6 achieving a fantastic 57.6mpg while emitting 129g/km (tax band C). The 2.0 is capable of 49.6mpg combined (tax band D) and the 2.4 D5 achieves 45.6mpg (tax band E).

A model called the 1.6D DRIVe has been tuned for economy. It achieves 64.2mpg and emissions of 115g/km (tax band B).

7/10

7. Reliability

The Volvo C30 is well-built and employs many components tried and tested in various Volvo and Ford models. It shares its engineering platform with the Ford Focus. There are few reported issues. If you own a Volvo C30 share your experiences on Drive the Debate.

8/10

8. Safety

It’s a Volvo. Unsurprisingly the C30 achieved a five-star rating in EuroNCAP crash tests. It has front, side and curtain airbags as standard, anti-whiplash seats and a host of electronic safety systems help prevent skids. An optional safety extra is available which warns the driver of vehicles in the car’s blind spot. It’s an effective and reassuring system which illuminates a light in the wing mirror when a risk is present.

9/10

9. Equipment

Trim levels include R-Design Sport, R-Design SE Sport, SE and SE Lux.

R-Design Sport models feature a racey body kit, rear spoiler, silver grille and wing mirrors and five-spoke 17-inch wheels. Two-tone black and cream leather upholstery, leather steering wheel, aluminium centre console, blue dials and sports pedals are also fitted. Even the entry-level car gets climate control.

SE cars are less sporty and feature cruise control, steering wheel audio controls and automatic wipers.

R-Design SE Sport trim combines the features of the SE with the sports body kit of the R-Design.

And finally, the SE Lux is aimed at buyers who want comfort. It has heated and electric memory seats, leather upholstery, luxury floor mats and folding mirrors.

The optional 650W Dynaudio sound system is one of the best we’ve tried in any car, with a clear and potentially very loud sound.

8/10

10. X-Factor

If you see a crowd of people moving one way and instinctively want to head in the opposite direction, you should test drive a C30. It’s the oddball hatchback which polarises opinion and will be sure to start conversation everywhere you go. Running one isn’t revolutionary though: it’s good to drive, safe and reliable.

9/10