While the Volkswagen GTI, Mini Cooper, Audi A3 are America's most fun-loving sports hatchbacks, the 2008 Volvo C30 provides adequate competition in the unique, niche market. WRTV's own beauty, Jessica Rayanne, and Larry B. showcase the car and breakdown the interior, exterior, and on-road performance.
The chassis of the Volvo C30 is the same as the Ford Focus', but Volvo has integrated more safety features and continues to build it's safety-first vehicles. Side-curtain airbags, reinforced beam doors, and special crumple zones protect all passengers of this low-riding sports hatchback. The stylish of the C30 is a modern rendition of the Volvo P1800 ES from the early 1970's and Volvo's 2001 Safety Concept Car. History always seems to repeat itself. The rear of this vehicle closely resemble the rear of Volvo's V70 model with the signature wraparound taillights and diffusers. The C30 sports a chin spoiler, pooch rocker panel, and classic Volvo grill any motorist can identify. The front of the vehicle is very similar to a typical Audi's front side and similar to the Volvo S40's. The headlights are simple and conservative and the main focus is in the typical Volvo-style hood and grill.
The most affordable of the Volvo's models, the C30 (starting at around $22,700) comes with a 218-horsepower turbocharged 5-cylinder engine equivalent to the engines in Volvo's S40 and V50 wagon. Transmission options offer a manual mode to the driver and the well-positioned steering wheel column comes complete with a satisfactory finish and design that blends with the rest of the C30's functional interior. It comes equipped with a technologically advanced hand-free cell phone integration unit that prohibits usage during extreme conditions. Driving 100mph and operating a Blackberry just down mix well. Bluetooth integration is becoming an industry standard in response to government prohibition of mobile device usage while operating a vehicle. The large gauges include a set of equally large tachometers and speedometers.
Volvo has done a great job with its first entry into the compact sports hatchback market of the new millennium. An Edmunds.com comparison test between the C30 and Mini Cooper revealed that overall performance, quality, and testing scores of the two competitors are virtually equal. On a highway test, the C30 out dueled the Mini with a more flexible suspension that allowed for a more controllable and comfortable experience. While the C30 takes a back seat to the Mini's performance on an open, windy road, the C30 is a more practical car for everyday transportation of people and goods. While the Mini offers parking convenience, the smaller cabin make the C30 more appealing for couples and families who don't always fly solo.
