Sporty looks? Yes. Sporty drive? Hmm...
Within the first block or two of the C30 T5 in motion, both commonalities and differences from the S40/V50 siblings start to become obvious.
As with the compact Volvo sedan and wagon, the C30 T5's blown mill is smooth and eager. The turbo kicks in around 4,500 rpm and there's that distinctive five-pot warble. It also comes with the same gooey throttle response, clutch take-up that is noticeably late, and a gearbox that is relatively notchy--especially the 2 to 3 throw.
As with the S40/V50, the base 2.4i and five-speed stick may not accelerate as quickly, but it's much a more refined package, all-around.
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| The steering could be more communicative. |
Also unchanged from its compact siblings, the C30 T5's electro-hydraulic steering is accurate. But it's not all that quick, and there's little feel coming back to the driver.
Having much experience with an '05 V50 equipped with a sport suspension and 17-inch wheels and tires with its less than forgiving ride over bad pavement, the test car's optional 18-inch Pirellis and a lowered sport chassis had me leery.
But once the road starts to twist and turn, the C30 feels a lot more nimble than the S40/V50; like jogging without a knapsack.
The Volvo 2+2's generous track width and a relatively long wheelbase deliver a well-planted feel. And Volvo's done a better job with the C30's suspension, combining near-flat cornering without beating you up.
Nonetheless, take a corner hard, encounter a sharp bump, and the C30 T5 tends to skitter through instead of providing resiliency to the road situation.
Where things get interesting is in the C30's backseat
Volvo is being honest in that most C30 customers will rarely try and stuff three passengers in the back.
To this end, the two rear seats are closer to the centre line for more elbowroom. Room between the seats looks ready to accept hockey sticks, snowboards or skis. The rear side glass has been pulled back not only to give rear occupants something to look out of, but also give the driver visibility where normally a wide C-pillar sits.
Despite being 216 millimetres shorter in overall length, the C30 shares the same wheelbase as the S40/V50, claiming it's just as safe as its sedan sibling, even with respect to rear impacts.
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| The S40 and V50 are sharing their wheelbase with the C30. |