German Car Zone

Last night, my dad and I were privileged to be given the opportunity to try out the new C30 and C70 from Volvo.

C30

Looks

The C30 is a really good car and gives the GTI a run for its money, to sum it all up. My first impressions from the inspection in the showroom already gave very positive indications. Firstly, the exterior is very sleek, very low and very coupé-like. I like how it looks more so than the GTI. Maybe it was the sports package that was included that made it looked better, but I saw the stock version (test drive car) and it was really attractive as well. However, if I were to buy this car, I’ll want the sports kit. The rims are very well done. The interior is also spice up a little with some flower embroidery in the centre console trim.

The rear may draw a lot of controversy but I think it looks great. Especially with the taillights on, you’ll see nothing like it on the roads. The rear glass tailgate is intriguing, and for practicality sake, offers great visibility.

The two-tone exterior choice also makes a for an interesting alternative to the staid one-colour scheme of most cars.

Interior

Before getting into the car, opening the chunky doors gave a very nice tactile experience. It’s very much what you may feel in a 3-door GTI, because those huge doors sure are heavy and massive. The seats really impressed me. They were snug and yet very comfortable. They didn’t feel as supportive as those in the GTI though. Touching and feeling the interior, I felt the quality was much better than the GTIs. Instead of the hard plastic the GTI uses for its door panels, the Volvo’s one is softer and more pleasant to the touch. However, the C30’s interior isn’t luxurious by any means. But it does offer a really good experience. The gauges glow greenish-blue and the control panel green. It looks very nice at night.

The rear seats are spacious enough, but nowhere as spacious as the 4-door GTI. Plus the hassle of needing to move the seats forward really made me think twice of 2-door 4 seaters. However, they are individual seats and not a bench, so support was good as well. For some reason the seat belts at the back seem to be stucked, so we didn’t use them for the test drive.

Comfort and Ride

The car was immediately apparent to me that it’s very comfort-oriented. Moving off, you don’t get the drone you hear in the GTI. Engine noise is muted and noise is well-insulated away from the cabin. At speeds above 100km/h, I started to realize that the car bounced a lot. Although this meant that the ride is very forgiving, I can imagine passengers getting queasy over a long period of time from all the bobbing. I was rather surprised that the suspension was so soft.

My dad pushed the car and the car redlined a few times above 6krpm, and the car pulled very well, as good as the GTI as far as I can feel. However, it was all done without much drama and the car was very good at putting down all of that power.

Verdict

The C30’s for the comfort-oriented buyer who wants a little of fun. GTI purists who swear by DSG and sheer sports car performance need not look here. That said, I can say with certainty that a lot more people will go for comfort over sport, especially in Singapore.

C70

Looks

The C70 looks a little ungainly with its top down but with the top up, it looks rather elegant. The long body is accentuated by the long roofline traced by a retractable hardtop.

Interior

The interior is very much like the C30’s, except now the rear space is further compromised.

Comfort and Ride

It was my first time in a convertible so I was really excited and thrilled to try it. I sat at the back and it was tight, but manageable. I can’t imagine one to be sitting at the back for long-haul trips up to Malaysia though.

The wind in your face was a very different experience. Immediately you feel very much in touch with the car, not inside it. You can hear everything and feel the car better. The exhaust note was a little disappointment though; I really couldn’t hear anything at all throughout the test drive.

Cruising the roads at 60km/h was a good feeling. However, as we approached 100km/h the back passengers started to experience a lot of wind hitting their faces. The front passengers however are well-taken care of and the experience isn’t much different from a normal car (my dad said).

My dad also said the car felt more sluggish than the C30 due to its weight.

Again, the car bounced a lot at high speeds and it was a little nerve-wrecking.

What was interesting is that one could feel the aircon blowing to their faces with the roof off – and my companion at the back and I tried to find the aircon holes, but we couldn’t find it. Anyway, I think that would be very useful for afternoon drives and it was smart.

Halfway through the test drive we closed the roof. And the engine actually sounded louder – possibly through resonance in the cabin.

Verdict

Since it was my first time in a convertible, I can’t say much other than I enjoyed the experience.

Some pictures from my hp camera (sorry forgot to bring my point & shoot):

I tried the C30 as well but not the T5 version. The car handles good and I pushed the car on really curvy roads and its enough for majority of the drivers.
Gearbox, steeringfeeling and the engine was a disappointment to me and Im not completly sold on the design yet but the car looks a lot better in T5 version.

Volvo has certainly impressed me. I also sat in the S80 - a second time - last night, and I came out impressed. I don't know why I didn't like it the first time, but I like it now. Interior's simple, no-nonsense and yet luxurious. It feels confident of its merits.

Awesome review as usual. Last June I got a chance to cruise in an C70 T5 on my graduation, thanks to my buddy who has a brother who works at Volvo, so he managed to pull out a test for us to use before the car was even out. So it was a great feeling to have lots of people staring at us. Even though i was under the influence on alcohol on that day I remember that the front passenger seat was just as comfortable as any other Volvo seat. As you mentioned the backseat isn't the biggest in the world, especially considering that the car is based on the S40 but I thought it was pretty alright.
As for the bouncing Volvo cars have very soft suspension which give them a tendency to bounce when driving on uneven roads.

Just a week or so before I left Sweden earlier during the year I was invited for a test drive but will have to test drive it when I'm back home. It is nice to see that someone here has recognized it's beauty, though I have to say that it doesn't look that nice at all without sports package. Here is a nice one for ya.

I really love the C30's looks, I only wish that they would sell it over here in the US im sure it would sell pretty well

IMO, Volvo is doing great the last few years. Even though i don't have tried the C30 and C70 yet, i have driven the rest of the Volvo line-up and also mind that we have two Volvos in the family, and i think that those cars have something special.

What is see, is that Volvo makes some of the most comfortable cars money can buy. You sit in a Volvo seat and you pray that your drive will be as long as possible, so that you can enjoy the great seats. The soft suspension combined with the feel of the steering wheel, the gearbox and the pedals, make the car so relaxing to drive, and also great for long cruising. What is interesting in recent Volvos, is the fact that you can actually have fun. They may not have the best handling in their class, nor the best engines, but if you press the car a bit, you will end up with a huge smile.

Personally, i have cought myself, in both my S60 and dad's new XC90, both doing 80km/h in a 120km/h road, relaxing in a great car, but also doing 200km/n in a 80km/h road. IMO, Volvo has found the perfect line between sport oriented and comfortable and relaxing as paradise cars.

I have not regret getting a Volvo over a BMW even for a single momment!

SP. I think that i should add a third Volvo in the family soon

Upon some reflection of my C70 experience, I've grown to like its coupé looks when the roof is up. Together with the Volvo engineering it's a very 'safe' car to buy - in the sense that you'd probably have it for life, and grow to love it along the way. What an apt motto Volvo has.

Yeah, I think the suspension should be firmed up just a little bit, the bouncing is quite ridiculous if you ask me! We were only going at 100km/h or so... I'd think it will be far worse at say, 200km/h.

Thanks for the C30 picture... Volvo has been making good looking rims of late.


Volvo. For life.

Actually, yes

thanx 4 da review, very informative as my father currently owns the older S40 T4 and a new Facelift S60, And i must say i have been impressed..

The C30 Looks very interesting...