What's Good
New small premium hatchback coupe on Focus ST platform, competing against Golf and Audi A3. 4,250mm long. Stunning looks. Shown as production ready concept at Detroit Show January 2006 with 260bhp 2.4 turbo engine offering 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. Glass rear hatch like 1970s Volvo P1800ES and 480 coupe. UK sales from January 2007. Four and five-cylinder engines from 1.6 (100PS) to T5 (220PS). Surprising, but rear seats are extremely comfortable for a 5' 9" passenger to sit behind a 5' 9" driver.
Engine range:-
1.6 100PS: 0-60 11.2. top speed 115, mpg 40.4 com, CO2 167g/km
1.8 125PS: 0-60 10.2, top speed 124, mpg 38.7 com, CO2 174g/km
2.0 145PS: 0-60 8.8, top speed 130,, mpg 38.7 com, CO2 174g/km
2.4 170PS man: 0-60 7.6, top speed 138, mpg 33.6 com, CO2 200g/km
2.4 170PS aut: 0-60 8.3, top speed 134, mpg 31.4 com, CO2 TBA
T5 220PS man: 0-60 6.2, top speed 149, mpg 32.5 com, CO2 208g/km
T5 220PS aut: 0-60 6.6, top speed 146, mpg 30.1 com, CO2 TBA
1.6D 109PS: 0-60 11.3, top speed 118, mpg 57.6 com, CO2 129g/km
2.0D 136PS: 0-60 8.6, top speed 130, mpg 49.6 com, CO2 151g/km
D5 180PS aut: 0-60 7.8, top speed 140, mpg 40.9 com, CO2 182g/km
Price samples: 1.6S £14,750, 1.8SE £16,495, 2.0 SE Sport or Lux £19,995, 2.4i SE Sport or Lux 20,995, T5 SE £21,495, 1.6D S £16,795, 2.0D S £17,795, D5 Geartronic SE £22,295, most expensive D5 Geartronic SE Sport or Lux £23,795.
Electronic climate control, 16" alloys, CD player radio, alarm, electric front windows, electric heater mirrors, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, remote central locking, leather steering wheel and gearknob, folding rear seats, exterior temperature gauge, rear centre armrest. pollen filter, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, ABS with EBD and EBA, WHIPS seats, SIPS airbags, inflatable side curtains, dual stage driver and passenger airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, load cover all standard on S.
Even the 1.6 is nice to drive. And the low glass rear hatch makes it very easy to reverse park.
Hybrid 1.6 launched at Frankfurt Motor Show September 2007. Does not self-recharge. Recharged by plugging into the mains. Battery-only range of over 60 miles. 66% lower CO2 emissions than best hybrids when running on electricity alone. 1.6 Flexifuel engine provides backup and recharge power. Individual electric wheel motors and batteries. Running on both engine and electric motors has 0-60mph of 8.7 seconds and top speed of 100mph.
Powershift Automatic sequential six-speed transmission announced 11-1-2008 Twin wet clutches (like VAG DSG) for fast and smooth changes. Over 47 mpg and less than 160 g/km CO2. Optimised for powerful diesel engines. The new Volvo automatic Powershift transmission will be available to order from late February on the 136PS two-litre turbodiesel versions of the Volvo C30, S40 and V50 with a recommended retail price of £1,250. This new Powershift six-speed unit features twin wet clutches to provide the gear changing comfort of a fully-automatic transmission with the performance of a manual gearbox. Operating as two parallel manual gearboxes, Powershift has twin wet clutches that work independently of one another. One clutch controls the odd gears (1, 3, 5 and reverse) while the other handles the even ratios (2, 4 and 6). The two clutches operate alternately with one engaging while the other disengages, like a slip clutch. This means that at the same time as the engine gets full power and maximum thrust in first gear, second gear is placed ready to be engaged. And when second gear has been engaged, third gear is readied, and so on. This gives a continuous flow of power without any disruption in power delivery or any torque loss. This results in extremely fast and smooth gear changes whilst maintaining acceleration allowing 0-60mph to be reached in nine seconds in the Volvo C30, 9.1 seconds in the S40 and 9.2 seconds in the V50 and boasts a top speed of 127mph in all three models. Apart from gear changing comfort and high performance, Powershift also contributes to delivering improved fuel efficiency. The Powershift Automatic offers an impressive combined fuel consumption of 47.1mpg and a CO2 figure of 159g/km in both the Volvo S40 and V50; while it brings the Volvo C30 47.9mpg on a combined cycle and a CO2 figure of 156g/km.
From 21-3-08 R-DESIGN Sport became new entry level spec on the Volvo C30 SportsCoupe. From just £14,995 OTR for the 1.6 petrol R-DESIGN Sport. Extending the appeal even further, Volvo is also offering 0% APR typical finance over 3 years with a 30% minimum deposit and 12 months free insurance.
The R-DESIGN exterior incorporates an exclusive sports bodykit, rear spoiler, R-DESIGN logo on the grille and 17" alloy wheels. Inside, the unique interior is upholstered in off-black T-Tec fabric with contrasting cream leather embossed with the R-DESIGN logo and is complemented by eye-catching blue instrument dials, a leather sports steering wheel, aluminium ridged sports pedals and gear knob with aluminium inserts. Prices range from £14,995 for R-Design 1.6 Sport to £21,495 for R-Design T5 SE Lux.
Volvo C30 from May 2008
The hard load cover is now standard on all trim levels and the soft load cover is available as a no cost option. As with the S40 and V50, the C30 RTI Navigation System has also been given a new look with a recommended retail price of £1,500. 18 inch Midir alloy wheels are now available as a no cost option on the R-DESIGN SE Sport and as a cost option of £500 on the R-DESIGN Sport.
The 2.4i petrol engine is no longer available and prices remain unchanged across the range, starting at £14,995 for the Volvo C30 1.6 R-DESIGN Sport complete with sporty R-DESIGN exterior and interior styling as well as IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System), cruise control, MP3 player compatibility and steering wheel remote audio controls as standard equipment.
Volvo emblem on the tailgate larger and more wide-spread; enhancing its visibility.
Power mirrors with an autofold function now standard across the Volvo model range. Mirrors can be set to fold in automatically when the car is locked, and fold out again when the car is unlocked. Communications Pack have also revised and now includes RTI Navigation System, Keyless Drive and Bluetooth® Handsfree System.2
Bluetooth® handsfree system is also available as an individual option for a RRP of £200 on the Volvo C30, S40, V50 and C70. This handsfree system automatically recognises a Bluetooth® compatible mobile phone as it enters the car and seamlessly takes over, allowing the driver to switch freely from the mobile phone to the handsfree system. By simply touching the blue button, the Bluetooth® handsfree system will listen to commands and make calls.
A new Homelink option is available across the Volvo range for a RRP of £501 . With buttons integrated in the sun visor, Homelink® allows the occupants to operate remote controlled home appliances, such as a garage door, home alarm and exterior lighting, without leaving the car.
There are new colour additions with Savile Grey being added to S80, C30, V50 and S40. C30 looks very good in white.
C30 was first of Ford/Volvo range to get Powershift auto. Works very well indeed.
The new DRIVe range, under 120g/km, launched October 2008 starts at £15,410 OTR for the Volvo C30.
24-2-2009:
Volvo C30 DRIVEe Start/Stop 1.6D, 109 hp/240 Nm, 104 g/km, 72.4 mpg com
When the driver puts the gear lever into neutral and releases the clutch while at a standstill, the engine switches off. The next time the driver presses the clutch, the engine starts up again. This technology has reduced fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions by 4-5% in mixed driving conditions. Start/Stop technology is particularly effective in urban traffic, when the saving can be as much as 8%.
When the car is at a standstill and the engine is switched off, some electronic systems such as the air conditioning step down to standby level in order to save fuel. However, Volvo's Start/Stop system continuously monitors the comfort level and automatically reactivates the air conditioning if, for instance, the temperature increases in the passenger compartment. The system does not set any limits for comfort-focused features such as the sound system or other facilities that the occupants will want to maintain.
This innovative monitoring system has been made possible due to an additional small battery which supports the larger battery by providing extra power. Thanks to this extra battery, Volvo's DRIVe models also feature particularly quick and smooth start-up. The audio system also remains unaffected when the starter motor is activated. This distinguishes Volvo Car's solution from other systems offered by the competition. The standard larger battery has also been upgraded to handle up to 175,000 Start/Stop cycles.
The driver continuously receives feedback about system status via the in-car information display. The Start/Stop function can be engaged and disengaged via a DRIVe button in the centre console and in the default setting, the function is activated.
The second new feature in the C30, S40 and V50 DRIVe 1.6D with Start/Stop is a regenerative charge facility. This charges the battery as soon as the driver releases the accelerator or brakes while a gear is engaged. By harnessing the car's kinetic energy, the alternator does not have to use diesel fuel as a power source to recharge the car’s battery. Fuel savings of between 2 and 3% have been achieved with this function.
23-4-2009: DRIVe technologies combines with sports-inspired R-DESIGN bodykit to offer C30, S40 and V50 models with low levels of emissions and the highest levels of visual appeal. The new DRIVe R-DESIGN models are available to order now with prices starting at £17,240 for the C30 while the S40 and V50 start at £19,095 and £20,595 respectively.
2010MY changes announced 29-5-2009:
The Volvo C30 SportsCoupe, S40 saloon and V50 Sportswagon DRIVe models now all feature the intelligent new Start/Stop function which brings CO2 emissions down to 104 g/km and improves fuel consumption up to 72.4 mpg. The sports-inspired R-DESIGN specification and body styling has also been introduced to the DRIVe range offering CO2 emissions of 119 g/km and up to 62.8 mpg in all three models1.
Prices for the C30 range start at £14,995 OTR for the entry level 1.6 S. The 1.6D DRIVe with Start/Stop variants start at £15,745. The S40 and V50 ranges start at £14,745 and £16,495 OTR for the 1.6 S models with the DRIVe with Start/Stop range commencing at £17,495 for the S40 and £18,845 for the V50.
Road test at www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=251
More at www.volvocars.co.uk
Last updated 30-5-2009
What's Bad
D5 Geartronic curiously disappointing to drive.
Standard steering much lighter than Focus 'Sports' setting but may be possible for dealer to increase 'feel' via OBDII port.
Owner/driver feedback welcome.
What to Watch Out For
Owner/driver feedback welcome.
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