2011 Volvo C30 Review

Volvo C30

The 2011 Volvo C30 is treated to a refreshed exterior, including an all-new front end. The 2011 Volvo C30 isn't your typical "hot hatch." Power comes from Volvo's familiar turbocharged five-cylinder engine, which cranks out a healthy 227 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. It certainly goes fast and handles well, but Volvo has refused to sacrifice comfort for performance, even in sport-tuned R-Design trim.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2011 Volvo C30 is a four-seat, two-door hatchback offered in two trim levels. The base T5 includes 17-inch alloy wheels, height-adjustable seats, a trip computer, cruise control, a 50/50-split-folding rear seat, full power accessories, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker CD audio system with an auxiliary audio jack. The T5 R-Design trim level adds 18-inch wheels, fog lights, a sport-tuned suspension, a quicker steering ratio, sporty exterior trim, partial leather upholstery, blue-face gauges and metallic interior trim.

The Multimedia package adds a 10-speaker Dynaudio surround-sound audio system and satellite radio. The Climate package includes heated front seats, headlamp washers, automatic climate control and rain-sensing wipers.

Power trains and Performance

The front-wheel-drive 2011 Volvo C30 is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-5 that produces 227 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy checks in at 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined for the manual; the automatic has a 21/30/24 mpg rating.

The 2011 Volvo C30 comes standard with antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, front-seat side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and front seats with whiplash protection. Volvo's Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) is optional.

Interior Design and Special Features

The front seats are exceptionally comfortable (though more side bolstering would be helpful on a curvy road), and the telescoping steering wheel accommodates drivers of all sizes.

From the front, it's easy to peg the Volvo C30 as a truncated, hatchback version of the S40 sedan and V50 wagon. In back, this truly stylish, sporty Volvo looks to Volvo's 1800ES 'shooting brake,' from the early 1970s, for inspiration, with a smaller, rounded, blacked-out hatch opening.

It's sophisticated and laid-back—a bit of a necessity, given the lower roofline—and it has the now-familiar Volvo 'floating' center stack, a thin panel housing radio and climate controls, with storage space just behind.

The interior is obviously sacrificed a bit for the style, and the low roofline. The cargo space is a bit disappointing, too.

The highlight of the lineup, at least visually, remains the style-centric R-Design model, which includes different front and rear aerodynamic work; a sport suspension; Pirelli performance tires; special 'Midair' wheel design; xenon HID headlamps with Active Bending Light; and a hard-drive-based navy system with live traffic. Options on the C30 lineup include a moon roof, leather upholstery, a climate package, and a preferred package with rain-sensor wipers and headlight washers.