Probably one of the toughest markets to compete in is the hot hatch field. And if you are stuck asking "Why," think about it.
You are stuck building a car that is relatively small for the U.S. market, which is still stuck in "Bigger is better" mode. There is a ton of competition, whether it is a "premium" or an entry-level entrant. Buyers of this segment typically want mind blowing MPG figures. And, consumers want these cars as cheap as they can get them, which means even lower return on investment -- for the dealers -- on already low profit margin cars -- for the manufacturers.
To give you a bit more perspective, I once had a Mazda salesman mention to me he only took home $100 dollars on any Mazda3 he sold.
But in order to keep up with the Joneses, Volvo decided to give the market a run for its money with its C30. This makes sense since BMW had the 1-Series, Mercedes-Benz had its C-Class compact and Audi started up its poor-man's car, the A3. Don't forget, Audi is also rolling out the A1 soon.
Hell, even Lexus has a small compact coming to the market in form of the CT200h.
Say what you will; although Volvo is a quirky, low-volume producer, it needed to bring something to the table. Even if it is a low-volume car -- the latest monthly sales figures indicate that the XC60 is its largest volume seller -- the brand seems as though it has been attempting to shed its stuffy image. Case in point: Volvo has had some involvement with the Twilight series of films.
If Volvo can net a bunch of Twi-Tards driving C30s and XC60s by all means, get them.
But back to the C30; is it good or what?
Starting with its newly refreshed look, it has a softer "face" than the aggressive, original C30. It seems that Volvo is moving in this more fluid look for 2011 and going forward. Pre refresh, it boasted blackened eyes like Gossip Girl's Taylor Momsen; it was not the prettiest looking car ever produced. Although, I think it is safe to say that no one could denounce the C for being unoriginal and it looks pretty badass in Polestar Concept form.
Designed with profound hips and a large rear window, I cannot think of another hot hatch that even looks somewhat comparable to the C30.
Moving inside, the interior is a bit tight for someone that is 6'8. Unlike the GTI and Mazdaspeed3, which had spacious accommodations compared to the C30. The seat bottom does not slide very far back, so, I wind up putting the backrest down to get a lean that would put Fat Joe's to shame. Is it a bit of a squeeze? Absolutely. Is that going to change the outcome of the review? Not really, but if you are tall, be forewarned.
What is pretty astonishing is the attention to detail, build quality and materials used within the cabin. It is all top-notch. It is definitely better than the GTI and I would say it is on-par with the Audi A3. The difference is its vibe, which is contemporary and very minimalist. I feel like I am in Ikea, which is not necessarily a bad thing, it is just a bit stagnant.
The cool looking floating center stack makes yet another appearance and it clearly shows that Volvo has been shedding its "function over form" appeal from the late, boxy 1980s cars it produced. My only beef with the center stack is that its buttons are quite small and it takes some getting used to.
Like the Porsche Panamera's button-centric and hectic looking interior, there is a learning curve. But, if you've purchased this car, it will not take very long to get the hang of it. If you can get over that, you're gold.
Now that we know the car does a damn fine job of providing a pleasurable cockpit, let's get to what really counts; the driving experience.
Armed with a 2.5L five-cylinder, forced induction motor, the C30 puts out a respectable 227-horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. Its soundtrack is not riveting but I noticed when you get a bit more enthusiastic with the pedal, it seems to have this Gallardo-esque hum.
By the end of the test I find myself trying to convince everyone I know that there is "A little Gallardo," coming from the engine bay. Surprisingly, I actually managed to gain a couple of believers.
It seems that it is common for inline five-cylinder motors to have this hum. I noticed this after driving the C30 and a base VW Golf, both of which feature a 2.5L inline five-cylinder engine.
Power comes on quick and is accompanied with a tad bit of torque steer if you jam the accelerator down. If you train yourself to relax at first but then gently dial in the power, the C30 becomes a blast to drive -- without the dreaded torque steer. Make sure to keep an eye on the dials because when at speed with that turbocharger working, the needle on the dial can ratchet up quite fast.
Paired up with this amusing powerplant is a five-speed transmission. In the world where just about every automobile comes with a six-speed autobox, it is disappointing. Although I know in the world of autos that every piece of a car is put there with a reason in mind, I cannot help but wonder if the MPG would be better with a six-speed automatic tranny. The six-speed manual loses 1 MPG on the highway, wompwomp.
While putting the C30 in "Manual" mode, I figured it would give me some entertainment, as the cabin became a bit cold after a few days. I was mistaken. Shifts are a bit sluggish; if you want to get the most out of the C30, it is best to keep it in its full automatic mode.
But do not be fooled. Although its automatic transmission is not the best, that does not mean that it is a total fail. Remember, it does come with an optional six-speed manual.
And, in the corners this car has a surprising amount of grip.
So much that you can forget that it is front-wheel drive going into a nice, sweeping bend. Probably what aids the hatchback V-car is the well-tuned suspension. While it leans towards the stiffer side of the equilibrium, it does not become abrasive. It feels a bit tighter than a VW GTI without drinking too much of the kool-aid. Very impressive work from Sweden.
Complementing the suspension is the heavy steering feel. It is not quite as hardcore as the XC60, which can -- at times -- feel a bit overkill. The steering is weighted on the heavier side, which for my driving style, is just right so that it demands a driver to put some effort when going into a turn.
If you have been keeping score, it would seem as though the C30 is a good pick. But, with the good obviously comes the bad. And with the teeny Volvo, the bad lies in its price.
Our test car, optioned with quite a bit of kit, came in at a staggering $34,090. That's some seriously abrasive pricing.
After pricing out something a bit more acceptable, this is what I think the perfect C30 would come in like:
C30 T5, six-speed manual transmission....$24,600
Metallic paint.....$500
Sirius satellite radio......$400
Dual Xenon w/ Active Bending.....$$800
Total price: $27,200*
*Including $850 destination charge
From my perspective, it is still an expensive vehicle. But, when you consider its premium competition it is not that bad of an entrance fee.
Without question, it is better than a VW GTI and probably on par with the Audi A3 simply because it is lacking in interior space.
Here's who the C30 would be perfect for: someone who appreciates a unique, minimalist design; doesn't mind spending a bit more than a GTI but doesn't want to go quite as high as say an A3 or 128i; and is on the shorter side.
For the taller lads like me, it probably wasn't in the cards for us.
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