Volvo's Zippy C30

Volvo's sporty new front-wheel-drive compact offers speed, safety, and style in a small, fuel-efficient package

by Thane Peterson

Editor's Rating:

The Good: Speediness, safety, customizable interior and exterior

The Bad: Options jack up price, odd-looking rear end

The Bottom Line: A hip little Volvo that competes with the Mini Cooper and VW GTI

Reader Reviews

• View Slide Show

Up Front

If you're curious about the future of the American automobile, take a close look at the new Volvo C30. I suspect as gasoline prices rise inexorably to $4 or $5 per gallon, this is the type of car many more shoppers will turn to, especially if they want a sporty model that's fun to drive. In other words, more Americans are going to be buying European-style rides.

The appeal of Volvo's new front-wheel-drive entry model is that it's small, quick, and relatively fuel-efficient, yet also safe and practical. The C30 is only 167.4 in. long, almost exactly the same length as such diminutive rivals as the Volkswagen (VLKAY) GTI and Audi A3. Like those models, it's a bigger—yet still compact—alternative to BMW's Mini Cooper, which is 21 in. shorter.

Like the Mini Cooper, A3, and GTI, the C30 is very quick. The only available power plant is a mighty (for a compact car) 2.0-liter, 227-horsepower, turbocharged five-cylinder engine. As you would expect from a European car, a six-speed manual transmission is standard, but there's also an optional five-speed automatic with a manual shifting function.

The C30 only has two doors, but it's still relatively easy to get in and out of. The doors are wide, and the front seats slide forward at the flick of a lever. Unlike most small cars, the C30 has bucket-style rear seats and is designed to carry no more than four people. However, the rear seats are more comfortable than you'd expect in such a small car—slightly less roomy than in the VW GTI, but considerably less cramped than in the Mini.

The C30 comes in two trim levels, both with cutesy, software company-inspired names. Version 1.0 starts at $23,445, and comes standard with full power accessories, a tilt and telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, a CD player, and 17-in. wheels. Version 2.0, starting at $26,445, adds 18-in. wheels, a 10-speaker surround-sound audio system, extra aluminum interior trim, and sport body add-ons.

Volvo, which is owned by Ford (F), is pitching the C30 to the youth market so—like the Mini Cooper and Scion tC—it's highly customizable. For a one-time $300 charge, you can have one built to your own specs, choosing from 17 exterior colors, a dozen different interiors, and dozens of à la carte options. The downside of that is the options include stuff you'd think would already be included. For instance, a keyless starter goes for $450, cruise control for $185, a tire repair kit for $150, and a rear armrest for $40. Combine those costs with an automatic transmission ($1,250), sunroof ($1,200), and navigation system ($2,120), and the price can easily top 30 grand.

The C30 hasn't yet been crash-tested in the U.S. but, being a Volvo, it's packed with innovative safety enhancements. It has all the requisite air bags, plus seat belt pretensioners, antilock brakes with emergency braking assist, and traction and stability control. It also features VIVA (Volvo's intelligent vehicle architecture), which was first introduced on the XC90 sport-utility vehicle and provides extra protection in front, side, and rear collisions.

If fuel economy is a top priority, the smaller Mini Cooper, which is rated to get 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, does a lot better than the Volvo, though it only takes premium fuel. The C30 is rated to get 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway (28 mpg with a stick shift).