Volvo C30 2010 Review

THE wheels are the first hint that something is different about this Volvo.  The two-door  Volvo C30 DRIVe hatch features futuristic plate-style wheel covers that are supposed to reduce air turbulence and improve fuel efficiency.

And that is what this car is all about. Economy.  It sips fuel at a claimed 3.8 litres of diesel for every 100km, giving it a conceivable cruising range of up to 1300km on a single 52-litre tank while emitting 99g of CO2.

The only car more economical on our roads is the diesel Fiesta ECOnetic. It beats any hybrid on the market and even the three-cylinder Suzuki Alto.

PRICING

So, as far as value is concerned, it's at least cheap at the fuel pump.  However, it's a Volvo so it also comes with a host of safety features, plenty of creature comforts and excellent build quality but a price tag to match.

It's about $12,000 more expensive than the Fiesta but at $36,990 it's still one of the cheapest and best-value Volvos ever produced.

TECHNOLOGY

Helping it achieve its anorexic fuel diet is the increasingly popular stop-start technology that automatically switches off the engine when the vehicle is stationary, even for just a coupe of seconds.

However, in diesel cars such as the Mini, this technology feels jerky as diesel engines shudder as they stop and start.  Volvo claims stop-start reduces fuel consumption by up to 8 per cent.

If you find it annoying, you can always turn it off with the button on the centre console. But you will have to do that every time you start the car as it defaults to being switched on.

The stop-start system's economy drive is aided by a regenerative system that charges the battery as soon as the driver brakes or lifts off the accelerator, relieving the engine of that function and therefore reducing fuel consumption.

Technology in the DRIVe isn't limited to economic gains.  There are also a lot of creature features such as Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity and surprisingly for a car made in the cold climes of Sweden, the climate-control airconditiong goes down to a chilly 14 degrees. Just what you need to beat Aussie summers.

DESIGN

Even though it's now a few years old, the C30 is still a fresh-looking design that is destined to be timeless.  Making it a little more futuristic are the wheels which are aided in their wind-cheating ways by a deflecting panel behind the grille to improve airflow around the engine and an aerodynamically smooth underbody.

Interior design is similarly practical and stylish without looking like a 1970s Swedish soft-porn film.  Take for example the innovative and stylish floating centre stack which is designed to look like a cross between a Nokia phone and Bang & Olufsen remote control.

Consequently, even though there are a lot of buttons, it is intuitive and easy to use. However, it is not without its design faults.

Because of the proximity of the centre stack to the gear shift, I inadvertently and prematurely ended several phone calls when my thumb struck the "exit" button as I engaged third or fifth gear.

SAFETY

As expected in a Volvo, safety is a major focus with six airbags, adaptive emergency brake lights, whiplash protection seats, electronic stability control and traction control, and anti-skid brakes.

Not only does the rear end have a unique look, but it is also provides good rear vision, while forward and side vision is similarly very good.

DRIVING

I tried as hard as possible to reach the claimed economy figures of 3.8L/100km and failed, but only just.  I slipped it into neutral down hills, avoided hard braking and acceleration, changed up early as directed by the arrow on the LCD screen in front of the driver, turned off the airconditioning and kept the windows up.

With just me in the car and in a mix of highway and city driving, the best I could do was 4.1L/100km.  When I gave up and drove the car as normal, it climbed to 4.9L/1200km, which is still quite respectable.

But economy is no good if the car drives like a wet dish rag. Fortunately it doesn't.  The engine has good grunt for daily driving shores and highway overtaking.

It pulls well from under 2000 revs, but runs out of breath quickly, requiring good use of the gearbox.  The clutch is light and the transmission is smooth and reliable for quick gear changes and throttling the most out of the engine when needed.

It handles nimbly around the city, isn't thrown by choppy surfaces on B roads and is stable and very quiet on the highway.  Cabin comfort and room is good despite being a small two-door coupe.

It is relatively easy to get in and out of the back with a wide opening door and front seats that quickly slide all the way forward. Even adults will feel comfortable in the two rear seats.

While there isn't much space in the cargo area with two rear passengers on board, the rear seats fold flat and provide quite a large and usable cargo area for a small car.

There are also plenty of handy cubby holes and storage areas around the cabin.

VERDICT

Economic and environmentally conscious motoring doesn't have to be boring, ugly, cheap, nasty or unsafe.  This Volvo proves it.

Volvo C30 DRIVe

Price: $36,150
Engine: Diesel, 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged, dohc; with stop-start
Power: 80kW @ 4000rpm.
Torque: 250Nm @ 1750rpm.
Transmission: Five-speed manual; front-wheel-drive.
Fuel consumption: 3.8 litres/100km.
CO2 emissions: 99g/km.
Dimensions: 4266mm long, 1782mm wide.