The Volvo C30 is a compact three-door hatch that hit Canadian shores as a 2007 model to battle the likes of the Audi A3, Mini Cooper, VW GTI, Mercedes B200 and other similar machines. Available solely as a four-seat model with front-wheel drive, the C30 brought Volvo’s reputation for safety, uniqueness and refinement into the premium hatch segment.
The C30 has just been given a mid-cycle cosmetic refresh to update its looks-- but we’ll take a look at the first four years of the Swedish brand’s entry product to see what it’s owners think of it, and how it’s panned out for the used shopper.
In the used market, shoppers can consider one of two engines for their C30 candidate. Standard was a 2.4 liter inline five-cylinder backed by a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. This C30 designation was named the ‘2.4i’, and it developed 168 horsepower.
The C30 ‘T5’ got a turbocharged 2.5 liter five-cylinder unit that was good for 218 horsepower and fitted with a six-speed manual. Newer models got a slightly-increased 227 horsepower.
Look for features like a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, a sunroof, automatic climate control, Volvo’s unique waterfall console, antilock brakes, full power accessories, a driver computer, and an 8-speaker stereo with satellite radio. Bluetooth connectivity, a universal remote and an auto-dimming rearview mirror were available, too. Numerous accessories and trim packages let shoppers fine-tune the C30 to virtually any taste-- so finding a model just right for you shouldn’t be a problem.
C30 owners taking to the internet commonly say that they love the ride and handling of their machines, using phrases like ‘fun to drive’, ‘exciting’ and ‘sporty’ to define both 2.4i and T5 models. The shifter feel, steering and solid, nicely-trimmed are commonly raved about as well. One person posting in an owner’s forum even called the C30 ‘the best car nobody’s ever heard of’.
Typical complaints tend to centre around heavy doors, a long reach back for the seatbelts, and slightly hefty fuel consumption on models with the turbo engine. Some owners do wish for an extra set of doors to ease entry to the rear seats, and others wish that AWD was available as an option.
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| 2007 Volvo C30 (Photo: Philippe Champoux/Auto123.com) |
The C30 has just been given a mid-cycle cosmetic refresh to update its looks-- but we’ll take a look at the first four years of the Swedish brand’s entry product to see what it’s owners think of it, and how it’s panned out for the used shopper.
In the used market, shoppers can consider one of two engines for their C30 candidate. Standard was a 2.4 liter inline five-cylinder backed by a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. This C30 designation was named the ‘2.4i’, and it developed 168 horsepower.
The C30 ‘T5’ got a turbocharged 2.5 liter five-cylinder unit that was good for 218 horsepower and fitted with a six-speed manual. Newer models got a slightly-increased 227 horsepower.
Look for features like a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, a sunroof, automatic climate control, Volvo’s unique waterfall console, antilock brakes, full power accessories, a driver computer, and an 8-speaker stereo with satellite radio. Bluetooth connectivity, a universal remote and an auto-dimming rearview mirror were available, too. Numerous accessories and trim packages let shoppers fine-tune the C30 to virtually any taste-- so finding a model just right for you shouldn’t be a problem.
C30 owners taking to the internet commonly say that they love the ride and handling of their machines, using phrases like ‘fun to drive’, ‘exciting’ and ‘sporty’ to define both 2.4i and T5 models. The shifter feel, steering and solid, nicely-trimmed are commonly raved about as well. One person posting in an owner’s forum even called the C30 ‘the best car nobody’s ever heard of’.
Typical complaints tend to centre around heavy doors, a long reach back for the seatbelts, and slightly hefty fuel consumption on models with the turbo engine. Some owners do wish for an extra set of doors to ease entry to the rear seats, and others wish that AWD was available as an option.
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| 2008 Volvo C30 (Photo: Volvo) |