New VOLVO C30 review at a glance:
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Advantages: A rewarding drive, contemporary, well-bolted together interior, no major depreciation worries, raft of extras as standard, legendary manufacturer safety

Disadvantages: Compromised rear passenger leg room, uninviting boot space, not much leeway in ride quality, more expensive than a VW Golf

Summary: The Volvo C30 is a neat, well presented and thoroughly modern coupe package that will appeal to a lot of people and deservedly so. If you’re in the market for a sophisticated, urbane two-door, four-seater with good looks and tried and tested Volvo breeding together with peace of mind motoring, you’re search ends here

New VOLVO C30 Review:
Clearly the spiritual successor to the Volvo 480 coupe first seen in the late 1980s – yet vanished without trace in 1996 (whether the Scandinavian car manufacturer likes to admit it or not) - the Volvo C30 follows in the same rich vein of Swedish coupe styling form in our book.

Five petrol engines that encapsulate everything from the entry-level 99bhp 1.6-litre through to the 217bhp 2.5-litre T5 variant, the Volvo C30 range also adds a further three oil-burners ranging from a 108bhp 1.6-litre iteration up to a 178bhp 2.4-litre D5.

Volvo’s short-travel suspension holds a firm grip over any potential body sway, which is welcomed if you don’t mind the compensation of an uncharitably stiff ride. Although this does self-correct and settle into a less hostile intrusion at speed. Balanced steering with nimble feedback it may have, but we felt it had was a tad limp-wristed overall.

The C30 is an unbridled joy to direct at the corners, going wherever you take aim and never demanding that you hold on to your nerve – or dinner – when approaching the more savage A-road layouts. Some background noise creeps in to the drive, with the wind being the main culprit, while the more treacherous of surfaces navigated lend their own irritating sound effects, but on the whole the lid’s kept on too much else.

Although the Volvo C30’s price tag reflects well against the traditionally expensive Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series, the VW Golf turns the tables making the C30 appear a tad on the costly side. Having said that though, the projected running costs are kept in check – so long as you avoid the money-pit T5 version – while residual remain buoyantly optimistic.

One of the most striking features of Volvo’s smallest model in its current crop is the interior. Normally in junior members of car manufacturers’ families cabins can appear to have been an afterthought, however the C30 is a comfortable, relaxing and stylish place to find yourself regardless of the length of the journey you have ahead of you. Supple, tactile fabrics and materials lend themselves perfectly to the feel and ambience of a well-built environ.

Borrowing heavily from the S40, V50 and C70 dash layouts, the C30 displays the same efficient and minimal virtues and ‘floating’ centre console as its brethren. So-called as it’s connected top and bottom yet has the freedom of movement behind. Sadly for all its Swedish cool the switchgear is pedantic and bordering on irritating. On the plus side driver’s seat and steering wheel positions are all fully adjustable.

Occupants can twist and turn to their hearts content as well as there’s generous leg and headroom. If the music stops whilst you’re in the front that is. Otherwise it’s a bit too cosy for some people’s liking and immediately means three’s a crowd which just isn’t going to happen. The boot is neither here nor there, whilst the luggage cover is a chore too far.

Of course, turning to the matter of safety there’s no unpleasant surprises or oversights here, as after all we’re discussing the merits of a vehicle embossed with the Volvo insignia. And like having our very own guardian angel watching over us every time we turn the ignition, Volvo has again pulled out all the stops. So much so that the Scandinavians claim that the C30 can sustain just as much impact as the larger S40 saloon in a rear-end shunt without flinching, despite its far more tapered derriere.

This aside, the C30 is further bolstered by the inclusion of stability control, an even spread of six airbags and active anti-whiplash front head restraints. Which goes some way to prove that their crash test dummies didn’t give their thankless lives in vain.

Finally, and the equipment count provided a ‘Brucie Bonus’, harvesting as it does, climate, electric front windows, MP3-compatible CD and alloys in standard get-up. Check out the SE Lux and it’s more a case of off the above and steering wheel-mounted stereo controls, even more sumptuous fabrics and cruise. Then the C30 R-Design Sport and SE assimilations add a bodykit and aluminium trim to finish things off.