Review of the new Volvo C30 D3

Make no mistake, the C30 was a huge gamble for Volvo. Yes, other premium manufacturers had broken the trail, cars like the BMW 1 Series and the Audi A3 having proved very profitable, but the C30 is a long way from Volvo's traditional heartland. With the 2.0-litre D3 diesel models, Volvo is injecting a little modest predictability into its boldly-styled hatch. Surprisingly, it's a combination that works very well.

Think about it. Exactly how daring are Volvo owners? When the Swedish company marketed a fire breathing turbo 850 back in the nineties, it hedged its bets by selling it as an estate car. In another smart move, Volvo let other manufacturers pour their development budgets into impractical coupe cabriolet models before launching a better looking more versatile folding hard-top car of its own with the most safety equipment of the lot. Therefore, it's perhaps not surprising that demand exists for a Volvo that's bold looking but wears sensible shoes beneath the sassy styling.

The engine is a 148bhp five-cylinder turbo diesel and very impressive it is too. The common-rail fuel injection system uses piezoelectric injectors which make multiple, precisely timed injections of fuel into the cylinders during each combustion cycle. It means that exactly the right amount of fuel is burned for optimum performance and economy. The unit serves up a combination of economy and punch that deserves serious respect. Get a bit sporty with the right boot and you'll see 60mph come and go in a mere 8.8 seconds, although you'll need to be very slick at crashing through the manual gearbox to get anywhere near this time. Most of us will have a little more respect than the professional road testers.

"The capacity to turn heads was built into Volvo's C30 from the word go"

That's not to say the C30's six-speed manual transmission is in any way obstructive - quite the opposite in fact. The gear ratios are well chosen and the action is positive and precise. As with any turbo diesel car, the strongest performance will come in the middle of the rev-range, when the torque really starts to swell at around 1,500rpm through to 2,750rpm. With a peak figure of 350Nm being asked to shift just 1,471kg down the road, you just know that you're not going to have to work this motor hard to get the best from it.

The C30 is a clever piece of engineering insofar as it is basically an S40 chassis with 22cm lopped out of the middle, reducing the wheelbase. The stylists have smartly kept the front and rear overhangs very tight to give it a foursquare, planted look unlike that which has befallen the rather lugubrious looking Alfa Brera. Despite this piece of chopwork, the C30 shares not one panel with its saloon car progenitor, instead offering a very different look and feel

Volvo is keen to stress its similarity between the C30 and the old P1800ES, although they are a little more reticent about comparing it to a model a little fresher in most customers' minds, the 480 series, built between 1985 and 1995. The design brief was formed from various customer clinics and when it took shape, it was loose and relatively easy to fulfil - customers wanted something desirable, low and wide with big wheels and four seats. They also fancied lots of standard equipment and a punchy stereo. Given that latter day small Volvos have had a rich design element to their interiors, translating that to the exterior wasn't a tough job for Volvo's stylists.

SE, SE Lux and R-Design versions of the C30 D3 are available. The basic specification of the car includes electronic climate control, DSTC stability control and a CD stereo with MP3 compatibility. To this, the SE grade adds 17" alloy wheels, cruise control, front fog lights and power folding mirrors. Advance to the SE Lux and you get part-leather trim and active headlamps but the R-Design model really plays up to the C30's sporty side. In the range-topping model, there's a full bodykit, lowered sports suspension a sports steering wheel and aluminium detailing inside.

Safety hasn't been skimped on and as well as the usual airbags and seat belt tensioners, the C30 serves up WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) and even the option of BLIS (Blind Spot Information System). This acts much like an extra set of eyes and utilises digital camera technology mounted in the door mirrors to monitor the areas 3m to each side and up to 9.5m behind the driver. If a vehicle enters this area, a symbol appears on the windscreen pillar near to warn that something's there. Active at speeds above 10km/h, this system isn't the only safety benefit buyers of the C30 enjoy. Special water repellent glass is fitted to the mirrors and side windows. Water beads up on the glass and the airstream quickly clears it, leaving unimpeded visibility

If you're reasonably restrained when it comes to flexing that right ankle, you might approach Volvo's claimed 55.4mpg figure but for most of us, an average of anything over 45mpg will be very good going. A Geartronic automatic transmission is also available and economy with this installed is 48.7mpg. Emissions for the C30 D3 manual and automatic are measured at 134 and 154g/km respectively.

The capacity to turn heads was built into Volvo's C30 from the word go and the car has steadily amassed an impressive range of engines to add extra substance to its style. The D3 powerplant could easily be the pick of the C30 range, an advanced diesel that scores highly on pulling power and running costs. Volvo's compact coupe isn't the roomiest inside but the attention to detail in its design will continue to win it admirers.

TOP 5 C30 DEALS

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Volvo C30 2.0 ES 3dr Sports Coupe
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