2008 Volvo C30 Review

The C30 is quite a dramatic car. First, it's a Volvo, which means quality, and lately, style as well. It's got an exciting range of engines as well. So, love or hate looks, sportiness, and style. Let's see what we can conclude about this new hatchback from Sweden.

First thing's first - I like this car a lot. I don't mind the look of it from the rear, although I would like to look at the front of it all day. It's gorgeous! It's got presence, and it doesn't look like a brick from a castle. Actually, it's very aerodynamic and sleek. It's not a big Volvo either. It's a rather small one. Quite a competitor for the Golf GTI.

The C30 has a few options for you to choose from when it comes to power. The bottom range is a 1.6L engine producing a not at all exciting 101 horsepower. The 1.8L engine gives you 125 horsepower. Still sort of Prius numbers. Things do pick up though, with a 2.0L engine you get a decent 145 horsepower, and the one you really want is a 2.5L 5-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower. But, if that's not enough, you can also get that 2.5L with a turbo. Then you'll have 220 horsepower at your disposal! Sounds exciting.

It's even more exciting when you sit into your very own C30 because the interior is a thing of beauty. Just look at it! Look at that center console made from a strip of aluminum. Look at the buttons! Everything just seems so classy! That's what I love about the Volvo C30 - it gives you style, comfort, and performance. A rare combination these days because if you really want style, in many cases you'll have to give up comfort and performance. And if you want performance, you'll often need to give up comfort, and sometimes style. But to get all three in one is something rather special.

The C30 is a front-wheel drive car, but still it's a pretty agile car to drive. Volvo haven't just fitted it with some drivetrain that they didn't bother to tweak to make sure it can actually put all that power. This is for a front-wheel drive car, a great car! I would take one of these over a Golf GTI anytime. The Golf doesn't have that presence about it. Neither does it have the performance. You get a 210 horsepower engine from a Golf GTi that will do 0-60 in about 7 seconds, while the Volvo C30 does that in mid 6 second range.