Not just a sexy body
When I first saw the C30 Concept at the Detroit Auto Show in 2006, it was love at first sight; a beautiful Swede, svelte and sexy, yet muscular and sophisticated. Clearly, this car wasn't solely conceived to gather dust on auto show floors.
It's now arrived on our streets, virtually unchanged. That's good news.
Sporty looks
Okay, we're already quite used to the look of the C30's front end, since it bares a strong resemblance to the S40 sedan and V50 wagon. But the design of its hindquarters draws the stares, with its climbing taillights and inclined hatchback.
In addition, the car doesn't seem to pack on any excess weight or love handles. The designer of the car deserves a good glass of Absolut vodka to salute his work. But wait! This designer is a Quebecker that goes by the name of Simon Lamarre. Okay then, someone get him a Molson Canadian, he deserves it.
The C30 makes me remember about the 480ES, a car that I saw in automotive magazines when I was young, but was never sold in America. It also carries family traits with the P1800ES, a hatchback version of Volvo's famous small coupe. So, a nice tradition continues for the Swedish brand.
The tested 2.4i model has a sporty and aerodynamic look; the T5 gets more-aggressive bodywork, though. Let's just say that the base model is fine for me: it modestly and discreetly draws attention.
An engine that's up to the task
The 2.4-liter 5-cylinder is pleasing. It seems that an engine with an uneven number of cylinders is hard to tune, since the lack of balance causes vibrations. However, Volvo seems to do wonders with their little motor, as the 2.4i has a smoothness that impresses me. This 168-hp and 170-lb-ft engine is as responsive as Volkswagen's 5-cylinder, but the former's soundtrack is more pleasing, especially at idle.
When I first saw the C30 Concept at the Detroit Auto Show in 2006, it was love at first sight; a beautiful Swede, svelte and sexy, yet muscular and sophisticated. Clearly, this car wasn't solely conceived to gather dust on auto show floors.
It's now arrived on our streets, virtually unchanged. That's good news.
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| The C30 sports a definite family look. |
Sporty looks
Okay, we're already quite used to the look of the C30's front end, since it bares a strong resemblance to the S40 sedan and V50 wagon. But the design of its hindquarters draws the stares, with its climbing taillights and inclined hatchback.
In addition, the car doesn't seem to pack on any excess weight or love handles. The designer of the car deserves a good glass of Absolut vodka to salute his work. But wait! This designer is a Quebecker that goes by the name of Simon Lamarre. Okay then, someone get him a Molson Canadian, he deserves it.
The C30 makes me remember about the 480ES, a car that I saw in automotive magazines when I was young, but was never sold in America. It also carries family traits with the P1800ES, a hatchback version of Volvo's famous small coupe. So, a nice tradition continues for the Swedish brand.
The tested 2.4i model has a sporty and aerodynamic look; the T5 gets more-aggressive bodywork, though. Let's just say that the base model is fine for me: it modestly and discreetly draws attention.
An engine that's up to the task
The 2.4-liter 5-cylinder is pleasing. It seems that an engine with an uneven number of cylinders is hard to tune, since the lack of balance causes vibrations. However, Volvo seems to do wonders with their little motor, as the 2.4i has a smoothness that impresses me. This 168-hp and 170-lb-ft engine is as responsive as Volkswagen's 5-cylinder, but the former's soundtrack is more pleasing, especially at idle.
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| Under the hood you will find a smooth yet performant engine. |