Volvo C30 DRIVe
Has facelift made stylish eco hatch better than ever?
The C30 has been on sale since 2006, so bosses have given the pretty three-door a facelift. Not that there was much wrong with the original – the changes merely bring the distinctive hatch into line with the rest of the Volvo range.
They’re limited to the face, with a new grille, lights and bumper. The result is more aggressive, and makes for a distinctive-looking hatchback.
Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Volvo C30
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We wish there was more detailing along the flanks of the car, as it appears a little slab-sided, and the profile is lifted only by the strong shoulder line and neatly tapering side glass.
Volvo will tell you the main design inspiration has come from the classic Seventies P1800ES, although this is only really evident at the back, withthe glass tailgate common to both cars. The design is flanked by the traditional upright tail-lights found on other Volvos, and this is the most interesting aspect of the car. Elsewhere, there is more detailing than on some eco models, with sporty additions such as the chunky
side sills, multi-spoke alloy wheels and rear wing helping to set the C30 DRIVe apart.
Inside, the first thing that hits you is how bright and airy the interior is. Thanks to the large glass area and light materials, it’s a more welcoming environment than the rather dark and sombre Audi cabin.
On the whole, the dash is much more modern than its rival’s, although the main instruments look a little dated. And the floating centre console is more of a gimmick than a useful feature – it doesn’t free up much space behind. However, the clean layout is easy on the eye and the controls simple in operation.
Volvos are renowned for their comfortable seats, but those in the C30 are a disappointment. They have short bases, are overly firm and lack side support. In fact, getting truly comfortable behind the wheel can be a challenge, as the seat doesn’t sit low enough and the steering wheel is too big.
Slide the driver’s seat forward and access to the rear is good, but the electrics performing this operation in our car proved a little slow. Still, once in the back, there’s plenty of shoulder room and decent leg space. And while the pair of individual rear seats means the Volvo is strictly for four people, brighter materials and large windows give the back a more spacious feel than its rival.
Passengers have plenty of room then, but luggage space is limited. The boot provides only 233 litres of capacity with the rear seats upright. Fold them, and that extends to 876 litres, yet access is hindered by the small opening and fiddly parcel shelf.
On the road, the C30 DRIVe gains its eco credentials from a range of modifications. These include an aerodynamic radiator grille, flat undertray, lowered suspension, a longer-ratio gearbox and an intelligent
stop-start system. In practice, the latter works well, with only a small amount of vibration as the 1.6-litre diesel fires up again.
During our test, temperatures dropped to zero degrees Celsius, and we were staggered to see the stop-start still working – most of these set-ups refuse to operate in such conditions to preserve battery life.
The changes give the DRIVe impressive economy – in our hands, it returned 44.6mpg, which was nearly 4mpg better than the Audi. Yet that’s still some way short of the 74.3mpg combined claim.
The diesel powerplant is slow to rev, although refinement is generally good. Peak torque is delivered at 1,750rpm – that’s 250rpm higher than the Audi – and you need to keep the engine on song as power delivery drops off outside the powerband. Still, performance is adequate and you are rarely left wanting. The five-speed manual gearbox is the only option, and its longer ratios mean motorway cruising is relaxed, yet the shift action is notchy if you try to hurry changes. Other dynamic flaws include the steering, which could do with more feedback and weight, but is otherwise responsive and precise.
Although there’s plenty of grip through corners, the suspension allows too much body roll for our liking. And the ride is crashy over broken road surfaces, which is at odds with the otherwise soft damping – possibly due to the DRIVe model’s lower suspension.
Completing the package are brakes that are effective, but short on initial bite. Take a more relaxed approach, though, and the C30 is a pleasant car to drive, as the whole experience adds up to more than the sum of its parts. The Swedish model is an even better ownership proposition, mainly thanks to its £20,365 list price. That’s £1,040 cheaper than a manual A3 and nearly £2,500 less than our S tronic model.
And after the initial outlay, superior economy and lower emissions mean it will cost less in terms of fuel and tax. However, annual insurance and servicing bills are higher than the Audi’s.
Our experts predict residual values of 41.7 per cent, which in isolation are impressive.
But they don’t look quite so strong when compared to the rock-solid A3. Over three years, the C30 will lose £468 more – wiping out its price advantage. Will that prove to be a key factor in our overall verdict?
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WHY: There wasn’t much wrong with the styling of the original C30, yet a new look brings it bang up to date. The question is, does the Volvo reign supreme in the green compact exec class?
