Kind regards from Ford
Popularly speaking, Volvos are solid, but they also have a reputation for being a bit boring. A model that absolutely breaks with this image is the strikingly drawn C30, which the brand launched at the end of 2006. In any case, it doesn’t look boring at all, but what about that solidity? We checked no fewer than 101 user reviews.
Sifting through 101 stories is virtually impossible. That’s why we sort the cars by mileage high-low and choose the 40 cars with a mileage of more than 80,000 km. We not only select the necessary 1.6, 2.0 and 2.4 diesels, but also 1.6, 1.8 and 2.4 petrol engines. This gives a nice varied picture that not only includes ‘the original’, but also the facelift version delivered from 2009 to 2013.
How practical is this Volvo?
An unwritten law dictates that a Volvo must be practical, but at first glance this C30 also makes short work of that. “With two (gigantic) doors, four seats, minimal luggage space and only a window to access that minimal luggage space, the C30 is not suitable as a family car,” writes the owner of a C30 1.6 R Edition.
This driver is also satisfied with the trunk space, while another is slightly more critical. “The trunk is quite small and is not particularly accessible due to the high loading sill and the absurdly small opening. However, the loading floor is large and flat when you fold the rear seats forward, so traveling with two people is fine. The car was sufficient for us, although I was occasionally annoyed by the loading space (try taking an IKEA cupboard with you).” This makes the C30 one of the few Volvos that fails the litmus test called home furnishings store.
Yet it seems that Volvo has successfully tapped into a new target group, because most users openly admit that they do not find the trunk space very interesting. In addition, rear passengers appear to fare quite well: “It is better to stay in the back of the car than expected. The two separate seats also provide enough support and a recess in the roof ensures sufficient headroom. Looking at the roofline on the outside, I did not expect this,” writes a C30 1.6d driver. However, several owners complain about an inconvenient cover for the luggage compartment, and some drivers have had the rear and side windows tinted to prevent prying eyes.
C30: real Volvo seats?
We have mentioned it before in this section: Volvo chairs are generally well received. The C30 appears to be no exception. “What great seats that C30 has. The seats are adjustable in all directions and my 1.73 meter does not interfere with the relatively ‘large’ steering wheel. Thanks to the seats, you arrive at your destination very relaxed,” writes a satisfied C30 2.0 R Edition driver. A C30 1.8 Sport owner wholeheartedly agrees with this. “The seats are excellent. And I’m even doing them a disservice with that. The support in the lower back is excellent and the same applies to the lower legs. The lateral one is fine.” The owner of a 1.6d has another critical comment: “The seats are fine, but you have to tinker a lot to find your position. I am 1.93 meters tall and I just lack some length in the handlebar adjustment to really sit comfortably.”
Driving under the influence of Ford
Drivers are almost unanimously full of praise for the driving characteristics. “The car drives great and really sits like a rock on the road,” writes a driver about his C30 2.0 R-Design. “The R-Design has been lowered somewhat compared to the regular C30 and has a sports suspension. You don’t compromise on comfort at all, but you do notice that there is a sports suspension underneath. So don’t expect the (sometimes vague) comfortable behavior of, for example, a larger V70.”
“One of the biggest advantages of the C30 is the excellent chassis,” writes the owner of a C30 1.8 Sport. “I understand it is derived from that of the Ford Focus. The car is comfortable, but sporty at the same time. The chassis handles small ridges very well and larger bumps are also handled smoothly, the car does not rock at all and is not sensitive to ruts. The car also does not ‘dive’ particularly when going over speed bumps.”
A 1.6d Kinetic driver also describes the fact that you don’t need an R-Design for a sporty drive: “The driving characteristics are very good. The car steers nice and direct, the suspension is perfect (firm but comfortable). Due to the steering and suspension characteristics, the car invites you to drive briskly, but the seats invite you to sit still for a while and take it easy.”
Taking it easy turns out to be a bit more difficult for another entry-level diesel driver. “No matter how wonderful the steering is, and how beautifully sporty such an R-Design looks: it cannot disguise the fact that the performance of the D2 engine is seriously lagging behind. It is not ultra-slow: you can just keep up with everyday traffic. But especially below 1800 rpm, there is no power and especially torque. And that is just annoying, especially when driving away.”
Owners who opt for other engines do not complain about a lack of power, although several 1.6 and 1.8 petrol drivers note that the highway speed is very high. “Gear ratios are the same as those of the 1.8 and that means that approximately 2,500 rpm are rotated at 80 km/h (in 5 of course) and approximately 3,700 at 120. This, although not terribly disturbing, does increase the noise level in the car. the highway is not good for the better,” writes a 1.6 driver.
Maintenance and irritations
So far, the Volvo C30 does not appear to be a real Volvo: it is too cramped and too dynamic for that. It also lags behind its unwavering brand image in terms of (expected) quality. Several owners complain about rattling and creaking inside, and wear and tear on the seat upholstery is also often reported. This mainly concerns chairs that are covered with T-Tec artificial leather. More serious are the electrical faults that some drivers experience. For example, the wiring harness of two 1.6d drivers has been replaced.
Owners also noticeably often report problems with the air conditioning, usually caused by a leaking condenser. It is often assumed that this leak is caused by a small stone, but this driver has a different view: “It turns out that the air conditioning condenser is not directly behind the bottom hole in the front bumper. So anyone who hears the story about stones: let them explain how a stone could have hit the condenser. The condensers that Volvo uses are simply of poor quality.”
Another encouraging word from a C30 1.6d driver: “Because the C30 has not been sold new for some time, this review will mainly be read by used car seekers. I can reassure them when it comes to reliability. In the 182,500 km, the same defect has occurred twice, namely a torn hose between the turbo and the intake manifold, costing only a few tens of euros. Furthermore, NOTHING, absolutely nothing, has been broken on this car.”
Bottom line, the C30 turns out to be a rather strange Volvo. It looks flashy and drives like one too, if we have to believe its drivers. You shouldn’t expect much practicality from it, but the living space for rear passengers still appears to be quite decent. The quickly wearing T-Tec upholstery and the rattles on board detract somewhat from the quality experience, but if we can believe the users, a Volvo C30 performs very well.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl