If you've seen Volvo's C30 on the road yet, it's not likely you've seen two alike. The new C30 is Volvo's smallest car, but the Swedish carmaker also calls it the most "expressive'' of the lineup.
That's because for a one time charge of $300, one can buy into a Custom Build order, offering 17 exterior colors and 12 interior color combinations, plus 30 other options. Just try and find another like yours.
Pretty cool system and, by no accident, similar to the multitude of customizing options offered by friendly competitor Scion.
I liked this little Volvo. It doesn't pretend to be anything more than it is: a sassy, fun-to-drive little hatchback that handles cleanly and is quick, while not exactly full of punch.
It has long windows at the rear sides and bulky rear panels that remind me a bit of Porsche and also the old 1971 Volvo P1800 ES.
Both versions -- basically named Version 1and Version 2 -- get a turbocharged five-cylinder engine that puts out 227 hp and 246 pound-feet of torque. Not bad, you may say, considering the Mini Cooper S gets only 172 horses. Yet, because of it's hefty 3,198 pounds, don't expect to see the Mini S in your rear-view mirror. Automobile mag does say it is a tick quicker, however, than the Honda Civic Si and the VW GTI.
A six-speed manual is standard but a five-speed automatic with manual shifters is smooth-shifting and accurate.
The c30 is quick enough to be fun, zips through the city streets with ease. Steering is precise and responsive but corners do not come without some torque steer. Brakes are a bit spongy for my liking.
The C30 borrows a lot from the S40 sedan, including its front end, suspension and drivetrain. And it's the S40 contributions that make the C30 surprisingly roomy inside.
Visibility is excellent from all directions and seats are comfortable and supportive. And bucket-style back seats are roomy enough for sizable adults. And the seatbacks can fold flat, leaving space for your surfers to slide a board back there. The Volvo fact sheet says 32 cubic feet of space resides there.
Up front, the center stack is easy enough to use but I found the navigation screen one of the more difficult to see and read. Of course, I only get a week or less with these vehicles and you should get used to the system.
Volvo is hoping the younger set -- that is, the twenty- and thirty-somethings -- will go bonkers with the list of customizing options. There are more than 5 million combinations from which top choose, including a power sunroof and even blind-spot system. Just keep an eye on the bottom line; the little bugger can climb well over $35,000 in no time.
One can't talk Volvo without mentioning safety, the hallmark of the brand. Volvo says four grades of steel are used, with outer body designed to take the blow of an impact and steel closer to the cabin tougher and stronger to protect the occupants.
This time Volvo is thinking outside the box. It is not the swiftest of the hatch segment, but it is a hoot to drive and offers plenty of space for this, the smallest of Volvos.
MSRP: $22,774 (Version 1)
$26,445 (version 2)
