Volvo C30 Didn't expect it?.

Volvo C30 Didn't Expect It?

Swedish auto industry has always kept itself apart. Volvo traditionally targeted a well-established audience, for whom not so much speed indicators matter, but comfort, impeccable protection, and that special aura inherent only to this brand. Even when the company came under Ford's management, the course didn't change — except the model range expanded, and veterans noticeably freshened up. However, as is known, nothing stands still: the Scandinavians seem to have decided to take a closer look at a younger and, probably, more profitable audience.

Perhaps soon we will see a whole line of compact Swedish models, but for now the smallest car in the lineup is the Volvo C30, a freshly baked two-door coupe, clearly designed for European youth. However, for this, you don't even need to read press releases — one glance is enough. The nose with a characteristic "beak" clearly migrated from the S40 sedan, but the rear... The back part is a real mix: there are echoes of the previous generation S80, features of the Alfa Romeo Brera, and even reminiscences from the 60s, when the Volvo P1800 sported a similar solution. It turned out, admittedly, daring and quite cute, but the signature "Volvo spirit" is not felt here. And it was precisely that special, almost druidic solidity that distinguished Scandinavian cars from the gray mass of competitors that was their calling card.

Previously, Volvo's audience was surprisingly monolithic. This is not about income — from a psychological point of view, true brand adherents were like twin brothers: calm, balanced, thorough in everything — both in everyday life and in business. The latter is important: even though the Swedish brand yielded in status and price to the likes of Mercedes-Benz or BMW, no one called its products cheap. Now the foundations that the company's management followed for many years are literally turned upside down, and this harmonious unity may be diluted (or even trampled) by a motley crowd of new fans. That they will appear — there is no doubt. A pretty appearance, a quite acceptable price tag, and, as it turned out, a very playful nature — such a car won't miss its chance, especially since the demand for such extraordinary and absolutely impractical from a family man's point of view cars is growing every year.

However, before moving on to the talk about money and temperament, let's look inside. To not shock loyal fans, the Swedes took the interior of the S40 sedan as a base, slightly adjusting it to the features of a two-door coupe. The result came out sleek and modern: a massive front panel of strict architectural forms, a flat plate of the central console (in our case decorated with a discreet but elegant matte pattern), a sporty three-spoke steering wheel with buttons on the sides. The seats also migrated from the "forty", and this is rather a plus. Firstly, in width, the new car's cabin is in no way inferior to the donor, and secondly, few of the S40's rivals can boast more comfortable and well-profiled seats. Now this statement is also true for the C30. The range of adjustments for the front seats (the rear ones, understandably, are deprived of such luxuries) can be talked about for a long time, but suffice it to say that it is more than enough. True, due to the compactness of the coupe, the adjustment of the first row directly depends on whether space is needed behind. When the front occupants are pushed all the way back, transporting passengers in the second row can be forgotten — even a child seat cannot be squeezed in there. But if people of average size sit in front, then riding in the back is not only possible but also necessary — in terms of comfort, the seats there are in no way inferior to the front ones. By the way, finishing the topic of the rear row, it is worth noting: the Swedes did not deceive either themselves or buyers, immediately stating that the car is four-seater — the middle passenger was structurally excluded by placing an armrest there.

It's a pity only that such touching care for rear passengers negatively affected the trunk. Its 250 liters, of course, will take a couple of bags from the supermarket, but something more serious will have to be carried with the seatbacks folded. And even here you need to be careful: the sill is low, and the role of the rear door is played by a rising glass, as on many full-size SUVs. So a poorly secured long item can easily deprive the owner of both the glass and, as a result, a tidy sum in the account.

By the way, about money. Despite the appearance, which immediately brings the C30 closer to such venerable premium brands as Alfa Romeo, Audi, or BMW, the price tag turned out to be quite democratic. The base version of such a hatchback will cost about $22,900, which, given airbags, auxiliary electronics, climate control, and other useful options, is not expensive at all. True, under the hood in this case there will be only a 110-horsepower engine with a volume of 1.6 liters. Why "only"? Because instead of it, there can be engines with a volume of 2 or 2.4 liters, and such modifications are noticeably more spirited. But the real highlight is the powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter T5, which, as it turned out, is in demand not only among Scandinavians but also among their colleagues at Ford — it is used to equip the "hot" Focus ST and top versions of the S-Max minivan. It was this very unit that ended up under the hood of the test car that fell to the author of these lines.

A hurricane. And this is not an exaggeration. No, specially "charged" cars like the Audi S4 go, of course, faster, but from a Volvo I honestly did not expect such temperament. And this is despite the fact that I had already dealt with this engine. Light body, smooth and powerful traction — the car reaches "a hundred" in just 6.5 seconds, pressing into the seat like an airliner during takeoff. Fuel is destroyed mercilessly, but believe me, the thrill is worth it. However, this is not the only surprise. I did not expect the chassis to undergo such serious refinement. Swedish cars have always been famous for comfort, but this one is a real tight bundle of nerves: not teeth-rattling, of course, but stiff, collected, and uncompromising. True, I have complaints about the steering settings — from a car with such manners, you expect sharper and more precise reactions. Although for calmer versions, such a steering wheel is probably ideal.

In general, the new product did not disappoint. I am sure it will also appeal to many of our compatriots — worthy cars appear on our market less and less often, and cost more and more. Thanks to this balance, the C30 is quite capable of both retaining the old guard and infusing fresh blood into the stagnant "Volvo" veins. In short, if there were a desire...

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Source – "Autoguide" magazine June 15, 2007 №20(20)