Volvo C30 And C30 DRIVe Review

Volvo has unveiled its revised C30 and C30 DRIVe models this week showing all-new frontal styling, interior upgrades and a new look rear on both exciting models.

he “bold is beautiful” C30, as Volvo calls it, offers more dramatic styling with cleaner, more fluid lines thanks mostly to its all-new front end. Since going on sale in Australia in 2007, the Volvo C30 has become a favourite niche model for buyers keen on the car’s distinctive styling, bold looks and signature rear end – itself sculpted to recapture the striking glass tailgate of Volvo’s own P1800 model of the 1970s.

Upfront, the revised C30 boasts a larger Volvo iron mark in the new honeycombe grille, the bumper too now colour coded lower to emphasise the car’s “visual volume”.
The new look brings the C30 in line with other models in the latest generation Volvo range, including the strong selling Volvo XC60 SUV, Volvo S80 sedan, Volvo V70 wagon and Volvo XC70.

“By integrating greater depth into the design language, the front has become more dramatic and expressive,” explains Volvo’s exterior chief designer, Fedde Talsma.
“Along with the angled lines of the front bumper, new headlamps, drawn offset and up, reinforce the impression of speed and sportiness.”

The all-new headlamps Mr Talsma refers to are now gracefully upswept into the front guards with larger air vents contributing to a more extroverted look.

Complimenting the exterior changes, two new alloy wheel designs are also offered including 16-inch ‘Convector’ and 17-inch ‘Styx White’ wheels, the latter a throwback to the 1980s.
Additionally, two new colours join the palette, Orange Flame Metallic (pictured above and below) and Lime Grass Green, taking the total number of available colours to 13.

Retaining C30’s iconic rear end styling, changes here are simple and few. A revised rear bumper featuring lower-set black panels aim to bring the body closer to the road surface (as at the front) while LED brake lights are now also included.
The new C30 range also gains Volvo’s Emergency Brake Light (EBL) system. Active at speeds over 60km/h, EBL pulses the brake lights at a rate of five times per second if the brakes are applied forcefully, such as during an emergency stop. Once the vehicle’s speed is reduced to 10km/h, the brake lights stop flashing and the hazard lights are activated. The hazard lights can then be manually deactivated, or will cancel themselves once the vehicle speed again reaches 10km/h.

Inside, the C30’s revised cabin offers buyers a infinite range of colour combinations, including the new Oyster Burst Deco texture for the centre stack and door panel inlays.
This new, distinctive grey/white finish replicates the classic Swedish Hagstrom guitars, as made famous by the likes of Jimmy Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Elvis Presley. The finish is darker on the edges than it is in the middle giving a feeling of depth (a little hard to see in the photo provided).

New surfaces are also found through out the C30’s cabin including a honeycombe-style aluminium trim that adds greater visual depth and contributes to scratch resistance.
A new rear luggage compartment cover also includes new material and new graphic pattern. The split panel allows easy access to the cargo area for small parcels and can be fully opened or even removed when carrying larger items. Split fold rear seats are also included as standard.

Maintaining Volvo’s strong reputation for safety, the revised C30 range includes as standard dual front and side airbags, full-length curtain airbags as well as the WHIPS whiplash protection system for front seat passengers.
The SIPS Side Impact Protection System is also featured, acting in unison with side and curtain airbags to protect occupants in the event of a side impact.
ABS braking with EBA and EBD plus ESP with Traction Control are also offered as standard, earning the Volvo C30 a maximum possible five-star ANCAP safety rating.

The new Volvo C30 range offers customers a range of engine choices including the new 1.6-litre turbo-diesel DRIVe variant, which we’ll touch on in a moment, a 2.4-litre five-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol verion, 2.0-litre) turbo-diesel, and 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo-petrol (as pictured below).

The top-shelf performance enhanced T5 range is now headed by the new T5 R-Design model (as pictured) that evolves the sporty character of the C30 thanks to revised suspension and steering settings.

Powered by a turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engine (169kW/320Nm), the T5 models also feature Volvo’s Sport Chassis as standard. The chassis offers 30 per cent stiffer springs, firmer monotube shock-absorbers and stiffer stabiliser bars, the C30 T5 R-Design also gains faster-ratio steering and new 17-inch ‘Cratus’ alloy wheels.

As well as the Sport Chassis, which is available as an option throughout the C30 range (for $800), the Volvo C30 T5 R-Design also includes colour-coded front and rear spoilers and side skirts, plus chrome-plated 90mm exhaust outlets.

Inside the revised cabin a leather wrapped steering wheel, leather/aluminium gearknob, aluminium sport pedals, embossed R-Design seats and distinctive blue instrumentation are included.

A wide range of individualisation is also extended to the R-Design model with a large selection of colour and trim options available.

Two added option packages are also available with the Teknik Pack and Komfort Pack.

Teknik Pack ($3700):

• Satellite Navigation
• Blind Spot Identification System (BLIS)
• Active Bending Lights (Dual Xenon)
• Rear Park Assist
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• Headlamp Washer System

Komfort Pack ($2275 on T5 / $2600 on 2.4i and 2.0D):

• Keyless Entry
• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Auto Dimming Mirror
• Laminated Side Windows
• Heated Front Seats
• Electric Drivers Seat or Passenger Seat

“The Volvo C30 has always been a car with a destinct personality,” says Volvo Car Australia managing director, Alan Desselss.
“The new range offers more choice than ever before in a refreshed package that reinforces the vehicle’s visual and emotion appeal.”

In a move to offer buyers a more environmentally-friendly C30, Volvo has also introduced the C30 DRIVe to its revised lineup. The new model featuring a frugal 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine developing 80kW/240Nm.
The best-in-class fuel economy and CO2 emissions see C30 DRIVe deliver combined cycle fuel consumption of just 3.8L/100km while emitting just 99 grams of CO2 per kilometre. Volvo says the result are enough to net the car a 1300-kilometre range from a single 52-litre tank of diesel fuel.

Including ‘Stop/Start’ technology, which switches the engine off when the car is at standstill, the C30 DRIVe also includes a regenerative recharge system to charge the battery as the vehicle brakes, low rolling resistance tyres and fuel saving aerodynamic alloy wheels.
As well, a wind-deflecting panel behind the car’s grille improves airflow around the engine. Wind deflectors are also fitted forward of the car’s front wheels.
Underbody panels and a revised front and rear spoiler also help improve the car’s aerodynamics.

To assist the engine in achieving better fuel economy when cruising, transmission ratios for third, fourth and fifth gears have also been altered. The Volvo C30 DRIVe is only available with a five-speed manual gearbox. Volvo said it has now plans to offer the car with an automatic transmission at this stage.
Like the rest of the range, the Volvo C30 DRIVe also includes a high level of safety features for a five-star ANCAP safety rating. The interior trim materials are all selected to comply with strict Oeko-Tex Standard 100 guidelines, an international benchmark for human ecological safety of textiles.
CarAdvice will bring you a full road test of the new C30 models over the coming weeks. Stay tuned.
Volvo C30 DRIVe specifications:

• Engine: 1560cc DOHC four-cylinder turbo-diesel (16 valve)
• Power: 80kW @ 4000rpm
• Torque: 240Nm @ 1750rpm
• Fuel Consumption: 3.8L/100km (Combined)
• CO2 Emissions: 99g/km
• 0-100km/h: 11.3 seconds
• Top Speed: 190km/h

Volvo C30 2.4i S specifications:

• Engine: 2435cc DOHC five-cylinder petrol (20 valve)
• Power: 125kW @ 6000rpm
• Torque: 230Nm @ 4400rpm
• Fuel Consumption: 8.4L/100km (Combined)
• CO2 Emissions: 200g/km
• 0-100km/h: 8.1 seconds
• Top Speed: 220km/h

Volvo C30 2.0D specifications:

• Engine: 1997cc DOHC four-cylinder turbo-diesel (16 valve)
• Power: 100kW @ 4000rpm
• Torque: 320Nm @ 2000rpm
• Fuel Consumption: 5.9L/100km (Combined)
• CO2 Emissions: 156g/km
• 0-100km/h: 9.5 seconds
• Top Speed: 205km/h

Volvo C30 T5 & C30 T5 R-Design specifications:

• Engine: 2435cc DOHC five-cylinder turbo-petrol (20 valve)
• Power: 169kW @ 5000rpm
• Torque: 320Nm @ 1500-5000rpm
• Fuel Consumption: 8.7L/100km (Combined)
• CO2 Emissions: 208g/km
• 0-100km/h: 6.7 seconds
• Top Speed: 240km/h

Volvo C30 Pricing:

• Volvo C30 1.6 DRIVe: $36,150 (M)
• Volvo C30 2.4i S: $34,950 (M) / $36,450 (A)
• Volvo C30 2.0D Powershift: $37,950 (A)
• Volvo C30 T5: $43,450 (M) / $44,950 (A)
• Volvo C30 T5 R-Design: $47,150 (M) / $48,650 (A)