In full-throttle acceleration however, the 2.4i has a nice throaty growl. 0 to 100 km/h takes about 8 seconds, and passing power is also good, thanks to the generous amount of torque. The clutch and shifter are particularly easy to operate.
But the C30 isn't just fun in a straight line. With a good tire size on 16-inch wheels, as well as a nicely-calibrated suspension, I can't resist throwing it through highway off-ramps and twisty roads, the car keeping its cool and with minimal body roll. And yet the suspension isn't too stiff for urban stints either. I appreciate its nimbleness.
Tight interior space
The cockpit of the C30 is the first place where we can start addressing some shortcomings. At 5-foot 10 (for now), I feel just right behind the wheel. But people bigger than me might find the inside of the car somewhat small. If you're tall, know that the addition of a sunroof cuts headroom by 23 mm, which can make a difference.
I like the Volvo's T-Tec synthetic upholstery, especially instead of leather. I liked it in the S40 I drove last year, and in this application, it's mixed with cloth accents on the seats: a nice combination, in my opinion.
In back, access is difficult, but once in place, I was comfortable. At least Volvo didn't try to install three sets of seat belts back there, since they know darn well that a car of this size will never sit as many people. So, only two passengers can sit back there, with a central fold-down armrest.
The controls are all well-placed, but a small detail bugs me; the ignition key must be inserted high on the dashboard, which I don't particularly like, especially if we carry a very busy keychain. However, I really appreciate the ventilation controls, with the illustration of a body: very intuitive to use while driving. The base sound system performs well, despite having only 4 speakers; I would've liked it being able to read MP3 files, though.
But the C30 isn't just fun in a straight line. With a good tire size on 16-inch wheels, as well as a nicely-calibrated suspension, I can't resist throwing it through highway off-ramps and twisty roads, the car keeping its cool and with minimal body roll. And yet the suspension isn't too stiff for urban stints either. I appreciate its nimbleness.
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| Interior is refined but a bit narrow. |
Tight interior space
The cockpit of the C30 is the first place where we can start addressing some shortcomings. At 5-foot 10 (for now), I feel just right behind the wheel. But people bigger than me might find the inside of the car somewhat small. If you're tall, know that the addition of a sunroof cuts headroom by 23 mm, which can make a difference.
I like the Volvo's T-Tec synthetic upholstery, especially instead of leather. I liked it in the S40 I drove last year, and in this application, it's mixed with cloth accents on the seats: a nice combination, in my opinion.
In back, access is difficult, but once in place, I was comfortable. At least Volvo didn't try to install three sets of seat belts back there, since they know darn well that a car of this size will never sit as many people. So, only two passengers can sit back there, with a central fold-down armrest.
The controls are all well-placed, but a small detail bugs me; the ignition key must be inserted high on the dashboard, which I don't particularly like, especially if we carry a very busy keychain. However, I really appreciate the ventilation controls, with the illustration of a body: very intuitive to use while driving. The base sound system performs well, despite having only 4 speakers; I would've liked it being able to read MP3 files, though.
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| The waterfall console can also be found in other Volvo products. |