volvo-c30-2007-
DESCRIPTION
spec c30 volvoTRANSCRIPT
OverviewThe Volvo C30 lacks the practicality of most hatchbacks in this sector: it’s more about image
than utility.
Intended to go up against the BMW 1-Series, Audi A3 and Mercedes C-Class Coupe at the
‘premium’ end of the market, it’s suitably exclusively-priced - especially with the more powerful
engines, which you’ll want if performance is in any way a consideration. A car to suit the
childless, or for empty-nesters, the C30 majors on its style but it does also offer a fine driving
experience.
Choose from 1.6, 2.0 and turbocharged 2.5-litre petrol engines, or the 1.6 and 2.0-litre
diesels; models badged DRIVe are economy-optimised, and come with the option of a start-
stop system to further save fuel, whilst the R-Design models have a high level of equipment
and a full set of sporting trimmings.
Much of the Volvo C30’s mechanicals are borrowed from the tried and trusted Ford Focus,
which is no bad thing – though more humble in its image and pricing, the Focus has class-
leading ride and handling.
It’s no Focus in terms of its practicality, however; the C30 majors on style, but seats only
four, and can’t handle passengers and luggage as well as its more mainstream cousin. Think of
it as a 2+2 coupe with a little more rear headroom, rather than a small family car.
The powerful 180bhp D5 diesel we tested, with six-speed semi-automatic transmission,
returned 42.8mpg (Volvo claims 47.9mpg is possible), but was quite noisy under load.
According to our latest Which? Car survey, the C30 achieves only an average three-star
score for reliability. Its problems are most electrical, but there are also reports from Which?
members of engine and transmission troubles, plus ECU (electronic control unit) and exhaust
faults. Reliability gets significantly worse from four years old, too, when the breakdown rate
rises to 6%.
Recommended models in the range
Which? caR TOp chOice MOdel
-
New price: -
Used price: -
FasTesT MOdel
T5 R desiGN lux 3dr
New price: £24,085
Used price: -
0-62mph: 6.7 secs
MOsT eFFicieNT MOdel
d2 [115] se lux 3dr [start stop]
New price: £22,245
Used price: -
combined fuel economy: 78.5 mpg
cheapesT MOdel TO bUy NeW
2.0 es 3dr
New price: £15,145
cheapesT MOdel TO bUy Used
1.6 s 3dr
Used price: £7,275
cheapesT MOdel TO RUN (NeW)
2.0 es 3dr
New price: £15,145
Running costs: £13,674(3 yeaRs/36,000 Miles)
Looks slick, with good-quality construction.
Drives well, with some powerful engines to choose from.
Well-laid out, stylish cockpit.
Expensive to buy, for a small three-door hatchback, and costly to service.
Little boot space and limited practicality.
The ride is hard and can be unforgiving.
Which? car review
Volvo c30 (2007-)ON sale: Jan 2007 class: Medium cars
NeW pRice: £15,145 - £25,680 Used pRice: From £7,275
67%ToTal score: peRFORMaNce:
bOOT & sTORaGe:
Ride cOMFORT:
★★★★
★★ ★★★★ ★★★
★★★ ★★★★saFeTy:
haNdliNG:
ReliabiliTy:
OWnEr’s ViEWThe Volvo C30 is stylish & very pleasing to look at. The 1.6D is economical, & cheap on car tax. Driving position & handling make this car a pleasure to drive. You have many features as standard on the SE model. Heated seats, cruise control,dual climate control & on my car
Which? works for you
We use the sophisticated electronic timing
equipment to record standing-start and
in-gear acceleration, and repeat each test
several times.
Ride comfort is assessed by our labora-
tory experts who have driven hundreds of
thousands of miles in a myriad of different
models.
On the roadThe C30 drives extremely well, although some drivers might find the ride a bit on the firm side.
This is exacerbated by the sporty alloy wheel options – try a few different combinations to find
a good compromise, if at all possible.
performance ★★★★The D5 we tested is the sporty diesel option, and it certainly didn’t lack pulling power. The zero
to 60mph benchmark sprint is dispatched in just over eight seconds, which isn’t lightning-fast,
but still good.
However, the turbocharged petrol T5 really impresses in more typical driving situations:
the huge amount of torque on offer means that strong acceleration is always available. We
tested the six-speed automatic (‘geartronic’, to use Volvo-speak) gearbox, which shifted very
quickly and smoothly, and was well in tune with the engine’s characteristics.
Model tested acceleration (37-62mph) Rating
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) 7.0 secs ★★★★diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door
(2010)
7.1 secs ★★★★
diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) 5.5 secs ★★★★★diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) 4.7 secs ★★★★★petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door
(2007)
6.1 secs ★★★★
Ride comfort ★★★The sporty suspension of the C30 makes for a hard ride, but provides great road handling.
Over most surfaces this small Volvo will remain composed, only getting uncomfortable over
severe bumps.
Model tested Rating
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) ★★★★diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) ★★★diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) ★★★diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) ★★★★petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) ★★★★
how we test
performance
Ride comfort
Which? car review
Volvo c30 (2007-)Medium cars
On the road continued...
handling ★★★★Overall, the C30 drives pretty well. The steering is responsive, precise and full of feel, and
if you take too much speed into a corner, the understeer is easy to control. The standard-fit
electronic stability control (ESC) keeps everything in check.
Hard acceleration in the speedy D5 we tried made itself felt through the steering wheel,
which meant a firm grip was required. While this isn’t ideal, this ‘torque-steer’ is likely to happen
in a car which channels a heavyweight 235 lbs/ft of torque (pulling power) through its front
wheels.
Model tested Rating
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) ★★★★diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) ★★★★diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) ★★★★diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) ★★★★★petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) ★★★★★
brakes ★★★★The C30’s brakes are very effective at bringing it to a rapid halt, but the pedal also has plenty
of feel, allowing the driver to slow down smoothly when required.
Model tested braking distance (62-0mph) Rating
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) 38.0m ★★★★diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door
(2010)
38.0m ★★★★
diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) 35.7m ★★★★★diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) 37.5m ★★★★★petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door
(2007)
37.5m ★★★★★
Refinement and noise ★★★When starting from cold, the engine makes a rattling sound, but this soon disappears when
it gets up to temperature. There is also a slight lorry-like noise under hard acceleration, but
otherwise the engine note is subdued. Wind noise is low and the well-constructed interior is
free of any squeaks or vibration.
Model tested cruising noise Rating
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) 70dB ★★★diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) 70dB ★★★diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) 68dB ★★★★diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) 67dB ★★★petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) 69dB ★★★★
Which? car review
Volvo c30 (2007-)Medium cars
On-the-limit handling is explored well
away from public roads to ensure a fair
test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of
the harshest tests in the industry..
The Which? Car braking test measures
stopping distance from 62-0mph and is
repeated ten times in quick succession to
highlight any brake fade issues.
The Which? Car experts use a decibel
meter to record interior sound levels
at common UK motorway speeds, and
combine this with subjective assessments
to arrive at an overall score.
how we test
handling
brakes
Refinement and noise
On the road continued...
cabin and controls ★★★★The Swedes have a reputation for clean, user-friendly design, and the Volvo C30’s cabin lives
up to this expectation. All of the main controls fall easily to hand and are logical to use, while
the instrumentation is clear to read. A trip computer is standard.
It’s not quite an ergonomic masterpiece, though. Some of the buttons for the climate
controls on the centre console are a bit small, and there isn’t a great deal of storage space for
small objects.
Model tested Rating
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) ★★★★★diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) ★★★★diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) ★★★★diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) ★★★★petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) ★★★★
Visibility and parking ★★★★All-round visibility is good in the C30. There’s no problem seeing out of the front, and the
view rearwards to either side is clear. The low edge of the back windscreen aids parking
considerably, while the sharply cut-off tail means the driver can judge distances easily. Rear
parking sensors are optional, and you can also specify Volvo’s blind spot information system
(BLIS), which uses sensors to warn you of cars approaching from beyond your rearward field of
vision. Rain-sensing wipers are fitted to upper-end versions.
Model tested Turning circle Rating
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) 11.0m ★★★★diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) 11.5m ★★★★diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) 11.1m ★★★★diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) 11.0m ★★★★petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) 11.0m ★★★★
Which? car review
Volvo c30 (2007-)Medium cars
We penalise cars with difficult controls,
and we look for things like backlit light
switches and easy-to-use heating and
ventilation adjustments.
Visibility is a major issue for motorists
today, so each car gets a 360-degree
swivel view test to reproduce the driver’s
eye view and any obscured areas.
how we test
cabin and controls
Visibility and parking
We take measurements all around the
driver and passenger’s door apertures
and note the height of the seat, door sills
and step down onto the car floor. The
best cars don’t require too much bending
or stretching to get in and out.
We assess seat comfort subjectively,
using our road testers’ expert knowledge
and experience from thousands of differ-
ent cars. And we measure the head-, leg-
and elbowroom on offer in every seat, to
see how well the car caters for people of
all shapes and sizes.
how we test
Getting in and out
seat space and comfort
comfort and practicalityVolvo refers to the C30 as a ‘sport-coupé’, not a hatchback, and there’s a reason for this - it’s
less than accommodating in the rear, with just two seats, and a fairly small boot. The pay-off is
in its sleek exterior looks.
Getting in and out ★★★★The C30 is only available as a three-door coupe, so you might have expected that getting into
the back would be difficult. In fact, it’s actually not that hard, thanks to the combination of very
wide doors and sliding seats. Getting in the front is easy, although the wide sills mean you
might pick up dirt on your clothes when getting in and out.
Model tested Rating
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) ★★★★diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) ★★★★diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) ★★★★diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) ★★★★petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) ★★★★
seat space and comfort ★★★The relaxed driving position and large, comfortable front seats (the driver’s is fully adjustable)
mean the spacious fore-cabin of the C30 is a nice place to be. The back is rather cramped,
though: most adults will find their knees up against the seat-backs, and the two individually-
shaped rear seats mean that the C30 will carry four people and no more.
Model tested Rating
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) ★★★diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) ★★★diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) ★★★diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) ★★★petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) ★★★
Which? car review
Volvo c30 (2007-)Medium cars
Carmakers give official stats for boot
space, but our tests are more realistic. We
load the boot up with measuring blocks
only as far as the rear window line, so
that luggage is well secured and won’t
obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test
with the rear seats up, and folded down
(where possible).
Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm
each car up from a frosty -10 degrees in
our climate chamber. Starting with a cold
engine, we measure how long it takes to
warm up the front and rear of the cabin.
Diesel cars usually take longer. We also
check the effectiveness of air condition-
ing, where fitted.
how we test
boot and storage
heating and ventilation
boot and storage ★★With just 200 litres of storage on offer, boot space is not the C30’s greatest strength, although
an extra 310 litres is released by folding down the rear seats. The space is easy to access
thanks to the large tailgate opening, though the load lip is rather high. The boot is a practical
shape, free from annoying protrusions.
Model tested boot space (seats up/down) Rating
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) 200 litres / 510 litres ★★★diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door
(2010)
200 litres / 510 litres ★★
diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) 200 litres / 510 litres ★★diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) 200 litres / 510 litres ★★★petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door
(2007)
200 litres / 510 litres ★★
heating and ventilation ★★★★The C30’s powerful heating system has no problem warming the cabin on cold days. The air
conditioning system is good, too. The rear passenger windows don’t open fully, though, which
restricts access to fresh air.
Model tested Rating
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) ★★★★diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) ★★★★diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) ★★★★★diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) ★★★★★petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) ★★★★
Which? car review
Volvo c30 (2007-)Medium cars
comfort and practicality continued...
We test fuel economy under strict lab
conditions – using realistic test cycles – to
reveal the facts behind the figures. Our
figures rarely match manufacturer claims
as, unlike the official mpg test, we mea-
sure economy with both a hot and cold
engine, and on the motorway.
how we test
Fuel consumption
Running costs and depreciationAs a ‘premium’ product aimed against Audis and BMWs, the C30 is no bargain: if value for
money’s your priority, best check out the related Ford Focus or other mainstream small family
hatches. The C30’s basic equipment is sparse, and Volvo hopes to do well from the myriad of
option packs on offer. However, it does hold its value well.
Servicing isn’t cheap, and though insurance starts from group 7, the T5’s in group 16 and
the more powerful models are in rather high tax bands.
.
Fuel consumption The C30 is pretty economical overall. The sporty D5 delivered 42.8mpg in our test, which was
up on Volvo’s claimed 40.9mpg, and impressive for a car capable of travelling at nearly twice
the speed limit.
If such pace doesn’t interest you, then the most fuel-efficient model is the 1.6-litre diesel,
which gave us 54.3mpg (Volvo reckons 57.6mpg); in DRIVe form (now the standard-issue 1.6D
version) it’s said to return 62.8mpg, and with the start-stop system, which automatically cuts
the engine when idling and then restarts, 74.3mpg.
At the other end of the scale, the high-performance 220bhp 2.5-litre T5 only manages
31.0mpg (the official figure is 32.5mpg) with a manual gearbox.
petrol (combined mpg, claimed) 30.1 mpg - 40.4 mpg
diesel (combined mpg, claimed) 40.9 mpg - 78.5 mpg
Model tested Urban (claimed/tested)
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) 45.6 mpg/47.1 mpg
diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) 61.4 mpg/57.6 mpg
diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) 37.2 mpg/37.7 mpg
diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) 29.7 mpg/32.1 mpg
petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) 28.0 mpg/19.5 mpg
Model tested extra urban (claimed/tested)
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) 67.3 mpg/67.3 mpg
diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) 85.6 mpg/83.1 mpg
diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) 57.6 mpg/65.7 mpg
diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) 52.3 mpg/54.3 mpg
petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) 49.6 mpg/32.5 mpg
Model tested Motorway (measured)
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) 47.1 mpg
diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) 56.5 mpg
diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) 46.3 mpg
diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) 42.2 mpg
petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) 26.4 mpg
Model tested combined (claimed/tested)
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) 57.6 mpg/54.3 mpg
diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) 74.3 mpg/65.7 mpg
diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) 47.9 mpg/49.6 mpg
diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) 40.9 mpg/42.8 mpg
petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) 38.7 mpg/26.2 mpg
Which? car review
Volvo c30 (2007-)Medium cars
While testing fuel economy, we also
collect exhaust gases to enable us to
measure the amount of carbon dioxide
(CO2) emitted. We also check whether
particulate filters are effective at removing
sooty emissions from diesel engines.
We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP
crash test scores (where available),
alongside our own comprehensive safety
checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results
from our accident avoidance test – after
all, it’s far better to steer around a crash
than rely on the airbags...
Security scores come from the security
experts at Thatcham, who break into
hundreds of cars each year. Most modern
cars are very difficult to drive away, but
are still too easy to steal from.
how we test
emissions
safety
security
emissions
A humble 1.6-litre petrol C30 emits 167 g/km of carbon dioxide; the 1.6 DRIVe diesel, on the
other hand, emits a much more environment- and tax-friendly 119g/km, and with the start-stop
system, 99g/km, which qualifies it for Band A and free annual VED. However, at the other end
of the line-up, the T5 emits 203g/km with the manual gearbox and 211g/km with the Geartronic
‘box (earlier examples were even higher-CO2).
petrol (CO2, claimed) 167g per km - 224g per km
diesel (CO2, claimed) 94g per km - 182g per km
Model tested emissions (claimed/tested)
diesel 1.6D (109bhp) manual 3-door (2008) 129g per km/134g per km
diesel 1.6D DriVe (109bhp) manual 3-door (2010) 99g per km/113g per km
diesel 2.0D (136bhp) automatic 3-door (2010) 156g per km/151g per km
diesel 2.4D5 (180bhp) automatic 3-door (2007) 182g per km/175g per km
petrol 1.8F FlexiFuel (125bhp) manual 3-door (2007) 99g per km/181g per km
safety and securityHere are the videos of the 2007 Volvo C30 hatchback Euro NCAP frontal, side and pole crash
tests.
euro Ncap score ★★★★★
Adult occupant ★★★★★Child protection ★★★★Pedestrian protection ★
Which? safety rating ★★★★
Active (crash avoidance) 58%
Passive (crash safety) 77%
Child 70%
Pedestrian 24%
security
Theft of car: Theft from car:
★★★★★ ★★★★
Which? car review
Volvo c30 (2007-)Medium cars
Running costs and depreciation continued...
Everyone who takes part in the Which?
Car survey tells us about their car and
the dealers who sell and service it. We
analyse this feedback across all cars to
give top-level satisfaction ratings for each
brand, including the brand’s reliability
record over the last eight years. All star
ratings are out of five.
These show how owners score this car
in 12 different areas, from performance to
heating. Owners’ ratings are subjective –
so may differ from Which? Car test scores
– but they give a good idea of what the
car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars
are scored against other cars in the same
class (e.g. for space).
about our survey
brand ratings
Model ownership ratings
OWnEr’s ViEWA very good car to drive - good for long-distance driving, strong performance, good handling. Feels very solid and secure, but still feels lively in driving.
OWnEr’s ViEWBadly designed instrumentation, especially heating/ventilation controls which are really fiddly to find on the move. Terrible built-in sat nav - cannot see it, awkward controls - a real waste of money. Enormous running costs (fuel,
Which? car survey resultsThe Which? Car Survey is the UK’s biggest and best reliability and owner satisfaction survey.
In 2013, drivers told us about 57,182 cars, covering more than 450 million miles in the previous
12 months (that’s equivalent to driving 18,398 times around the world). This unique feedback
allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars.
Note Star ratings below are from 1-5 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages shown
under ‘Most common faults’ indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem in the
past 12 months.
brand sample size: 1,691 people
Volvo ratings
Overall owner satisfaction for this brand 79%
Brand reliability -
Dealer sales service ★★★
Dealer servicing & repair ★★★
Which? car review
Volvo c30 (2007-)Medium cars
Model: Volvo C30 (2007-) sample size: 134 people
Ownership ratingsOverall owner satisfaction for this range 75%
Driving enjoyment ★★★★
Ease of driving ★★★
Comfort ★★★★★
Dash layout and controls ★★★
in-car technology ★★★
styling ★★★★★
Build quality ★★★★
Practicality ★
Value for money ★★★
We split reliability into breakdowns (in-
cluding failure to start), faults (where parts
need replacing) and problems (minor is-
sues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where
the car has been on sale for some time,
and we have numerous survey responses
from owners, we also split scores by the
age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are
out of five – the more stars, the more reli-
able the car.
Want to know what’s most likely to go
wrong as the car gets older? These are
the five most common faults reported by
owners, grouped by age into new, recent
and older cars. A score of 40% means
four out of 10 owners reported problems
with that part of the car over the previous
12 months. Engine electrics and non-en-
gine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause
more headaches than mechanical parts in
most modern cars.
about our survey
Reliability ratings
Most common faults
Which? car survey results continued...
Reliability ratingsOverall Reliability ★★★
Up to 3 years old 3-8 years old
petrol cars Reliability - -
breakdowns - -
average annual repair cost - -
diesel cars Reliability - -
breakdowns - -
average annual repair cost - -
all cars Reliability ★★★ -
breakdowns 1% -
average annual repair cost £18 -
breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months
average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12
months
Most common faults
Up to 3 years old
Engine electrics - Other 6%non-Engine electrics - Other 4%Transmission - Other 4%Engine - Other 4%ECU 3%
3-8 years old
- -- -- -- -- -
Failure rate: The proportion of owners reporting this problem in the last year
Which? car review
Volvo c30 (2007-)Medium cars