...and actually, anecdotally..my C30 got 'chosen' by my dog! he leaped in the boot at the dealer, and sat there, looking happy and content. Fast forward a number of years, and both my dogs love riding in it! I've furnished the boot with a large, plush, soft cushion, and the kids love it!!!
I bought a 2011 C30 R Design in the fire orange colour new. I am still driving it and will never get rid of it in spite of many offers I absolutely love this car!
These are so good I bought one, I'm a single guy with no friends so it's really the perfect car for me. I have a 2012 SE Lux w/ every option aside from BLIS/sunroof, with R-Design strut brace (which I got from a wrecker's for £20), factory lowered/stiff springs from R-Design, and DRIVe spoiler (which looks better than the R-Design spoiler imo). The ford Satnav (same system is seen in Astons, other Volvos, Jags, and some Fords of the same generation too) is actually really easy to use when you get used to it, is right in your periferal vision where you want it, and is safe since you don't need to take your hand off the wheel to set it. I also love that the Satnav will stay retracted all the time if you manually kill it (even if you turn the electrics on) until you resummon it again with the steering wheel. The center buttons aren't really used that often, and you can remember where the HVAC/heated seat buttons are pretty easily, so it's not as cluttered as it seems. The blank switch next to the BLIS button is a DRIVe button on mine, which turns on S/S and reduces the amount of hydro-electric power steering you get. The manual box is great, it's smooth, slots in reassuringly, and easy to shift very quikly. It also gets about 51 MPG on a spirited drive. The car drives very well in the twisties when you learn how to control the weight of the car and throw it around corners, provided you have good rubber, and you'd be able to drive it at 10/10ths without breaking the law too badly. Since the bodywork is aluminium, you don't have to worry about it rusting.
@@furiousdriving I mean, if I fold the rear seats and take the rubber tonneau cover out, I could fit at least six bodies in the back, maybe 9 in the C30.
I worked in a Volvo dealership in Ireland during this models lifetime. Sadly nobody wanted them as Volvo's by their definition were bought for their people and load carrying capacity. The younger generation wouldn't touch a Volvo due to the image. Eventually offloaded the necessary quota for bargain prices. I actually loved the C30
Hi Colin, I have my eyes on a 2011 d4 c30 (177 hp), and I don't know much about it in terms of reliability of the car in general and the engine. Do you have some feedback that you could share? Thank you !
The drinks holder in the centre console pulls out from the front if you just want more storage which is handy or put valuables underneath as a secret location. My C30 has firmer suspension than i noticed when i had an R-Design as a hire car. They glide along but are pretty racy and grip well when they need to. I can get a full bike in the back if i take the front wheel off as you would likely do with most cars and been away to races for weekends with plenty of space for everything.
I've always like these Volvo's. They remind me if the 480es my Uncle had in the 80s. The back seat design seems very much a nostalgic look at the 480es design. I'm so glad I am not the only one distracted by seeing other old and classic cars in the road 😉
You can tell new cars are designed by budget and not design - they are so samey and tedious. I had a V50 T5 and it was a hoot. This is a lovely example of the C30, get one with a D4/D5 engine and they are pocket rockets that do 50mpg! Great video Matt!
Another vehicle I know, and have ridden in! I know the owner of a C30, and yes, a six speed manual! Purchased brand new, T5 (I believe Volvo imported only petrol, no diesel at the time). A lower spec, as no BLIS or other safety (or ad others call it, nanny systems) equipment, and I believe no sunroof either. My only complaint is getting into the vehicle, which, for me, was difficult; stepping down, then trying to close the long door. For the short journey, it was comfortable. A stretch for the safety belt. And the seats were a beige, biscuit, leather I believe, definitely not fabric. A rare delight! And where you sat as the driver I sat as a passenger in the C30. I never knew about its history! And in the US 🇺🇸 I believe they used LED lamps, and DRL's. Another smashing video, thank you so very much!
I own one of these, it's from 2011 and it has a d2 1.6D drive-e engine which is more than enough for what need. It's a brilliant car, so comfortable to drive. The one downside if i can i say that is that parts are quite expensive but it's to be expected since it's a volvo after all. Thanks for the review 🥰
I used to be a Merc guy, but now totally a Volvo guy. I too drive a c30 1.6 D2 and absolutely love it!!! Next car will be a Volvo and am looking at a 1996 850 R estate at the moment. A lot of money though 😕
Love mine too but im looking at getting a stage 1 remap, as the DPF and EGR can be a nightmare on the 1.6 diesel. I am very tempted for a d5 or a t5 next year though.
I just got a 2013 C30 T5 R with the Platinum package and Polestar upgrade. I have been looking for this car configured this way for awhile and love it. Handles well, 250 hp and good handling but still comfortable.
I have 2009 SE Lux version of the C30. Just gone 240k miles, 200k of those put on by me since 2013. Only had scheduled service and a wheel bearing changed in that time. A truly quality motorcar.
A friend has the 5 cylinder diesel version. Bought new about 10 years ago it now has over 100,000 miles covered. Love these cars, a modern day Scimitar GTE.
As the owner of a 2010 V50 2.0e, with the 6 speed duel clutch transmission, and standard 16" alloys, I've been hoping you'd get around to driving one of the family. While it doesn't have the chuckability of its Focus cousin, it is still a forgiving and safe driver's car, and the seats are the most comfortable I've ever sat in over long distances. Being an estate, there is more room in the back, albeit, it is still a little cramped for taller people with long legs. 9:56 The 'Keyless Drive' was an option on the C30/S40/V50 series, as was the BLIS system. It's a little sad that you're no longer allowed to test the wipers, because they are some of the best in the business and a wiper connoisseur (a HubNut, for instance) would be intrigued by the multi-function wiper control wand.
Very good explanation of what this car is really about! I have it myself and explains exactly how it is. Many thanks 🙏🏻 I love this car. 2.0 D4 177 pk tuned up to 200 bhp and will drive it as long as possibly possible.
Wanted one when they first came out, sadly my dodgy back couldn't cope with anything behind the front seats. You're right, they're such a rare sight these days.
The interior is luscious. Like most modern vehicles though, the glove box slopes right down near the passengers feet, limiting foot room. 60's and 70's cars had so much room near the passengers feet one could put their brief case, cassette player, dog or cat.
The button cover on the right next to the BLIS is for the DRIVe start/stop system which was an option on the diesels. Sunroof controls are on the top if it's fitted.
Agree with the annoying rear compartment net. But, IF you crash around only 50-60kmh, any item over 1kg would be consider a lethal projectile. Volvo is all about being safe and I just wanted to mention benefits w it. nice channel!
Oh and that’s got the Dynaudio system, which is absolutely amazing with Dolby surround. Those buttons become easy to use once you’ve got the hang of them too lol. The door pockets and glovebox are utterly useless 😂
Great vid!! I love C30s!! Saving up for one and hoping to buy soon-ish. The only thing that irks me about them a little bit is the location of the parking brake, they seem like they’re so far away off to the left? (I’m assuming that in models sold with left hand drive it’s in the same location as such it’s much closer to the driver?) It’s fairly trivial I suppose but is this something that’s ever noticeable? No one ever seems to mention it but it always jumps out at me in photos as being in an awkward place.
I found out why the sill has a link in by chance on my 2004 S60. There are stout steel tubes like scaffolding welded across the bottom rear of the front seat bases. They align with the b post and form part of the side impact strength by making the seats frame part of the side crash stiffness. I was fishing round for a dropped coin when I saw how it was done - the seats must weigh a ton. Those clever Swedes!
I've had 3 (2 11's and my present car is a 2012 6-spd manual T5 polestar upgrade). They are awesome - yet, not very practical. Still love them though. They drive beautifully, as well. Nice review.
Being 196cm tall I prefer cars without sunroofs as they most of the time robs you of space inside the car. Also having one on my fathers old 1981 244GL... no one wanted to drive it in rain as the evacuation hoses for rainwater got clogged and you'd get a hair wash when turning right! (Left hand drive) And with aircondition, I don't see the need for a sunroof! :) Nice car and drive. I've actually sat in one at a dealer and found the front seat big enough for me! :)
The C30 shares a lot of parts with the 2nd gen focus, like the suspension, brakes, even some engines are the same found in the focus, the 2.0 gas engine is one of those. This facts make the car quite interesting if you want to drive a volvo without paying volvo maintenance!!
@@denztingz If the car had good service history and you take care of your car (Full Service every year), using once a year injectors cleaner and don't use Eco petrol (E10). They are very reliable, you can easily get 250K miles. In my opinion this is the best engine for C30 if you don't have money for T5 (which cost twice as much for facelift models). My C30 R-Design 2.0 petrol from 2011 have 87K miles and runs like new. ;)
Great video! I have the C30's older sister the 480 and that was very bold and courageous design. You can see some design flourishing in the C30, 480 and p1800es, which I think are Volvo's best designs. If you get the chance, get a test drive of a 480 and you will love the pop up head lights and electrical antenna 👌🏼👌🏼 80s and 90s coolness 😂
@@davidhall7744 when you do get one you will yourself why you didn't sooner, fellah! 😂😂 Great support network for advice and parts amongst the forums, too. Do it! 😂😂
Great review Matt! Sorry I’m 2 years late on a comment, but I’m considering buying a C30 as I love the style and the second hand market is offering fair prices at the moment. For me these reviews form part of any research in buying a car.
Excellent review Matt 😀 I’ve had my red 2007 2.0D SE Sport since 2009 and still love it and its looks as much as the day I bought it. I tested the 1.6D but was looking for a bit more grunt so went for the 2.0D which still does an avg 50mpg to this day. The last couple of years have been testing (2 complete gearbox, flywheel and clutch renewals) but the advantage of being Ford based means parts are relatively cheap and plentiful. I must be one of the few fans of the ‘flimsy’ boot cover, once you get used to it it is far easier to roll up and store or lay flat on the boot floor - you couldnt do that with the hard version 😉🚗🇸🇪 I just need to find a decent 480 to keep it company now 😀👍
I think the flexy cover is far better than the solid which is just annoying! Sorry you've been unlucky with yours, but good luck finding a nice 480, they are out there, just hard to find!
Bit late to the party, but I understood the wires in the rear side windows are not heaters, but antennas! Used to drive one of these, a 2.0 petrol R-design, marvelous car!
Actually they ARE heaters....one side is "grounded" (Connected to -VE) Aerial grounded: Is not an aerial. But, if they were simply aerials, they could use wire so thin as to be almost invisible. Think you will find the aerial is on the roof ...The "shark fin". Sorry.
@@patagualianmostly7437 No, they are the aerial for the radio. I have been driving my 2010 C30 for almost 14 years and can assure you these are not heater wires, they do not clear misting or frost on the rear side windows. What would be the point of having heater (demister) wires in just the rear third of the side windows anyway? I understand that the reason they are quite thick and visible is as a design feature. The shark fin on the roof is the aerial for the sat nav system, in non-sat nav cars (like mine) it is just a dummy.
The Thinking Man's Sports Coupe. Seats look like perfection, floating centre console is genius. 60 mpg. Bonus Sunbeam Alpine, Ford F 350 Tow Truck and Jeep Wrangler footage. Top Work That Man. 👌
You could get these with the 2.4l 5 cylinder n/a too. I also remember that the Swedes weren't too fond of these as they didn't think they were too good in the snow.
Interesting video BUT a lot of errors!! Particularly statements about difference on R-Design & R-D Lux; strut brace, textured aluminium inlays, stiffened/lowered suspension, leather seats, steering wheel, quicker steering rack etc was standard on ALL R-Design models, not just Lux. Those are not heater elements (14:28) in the rear passenger windows, they are not heated. That is the antenna for the radio. In 2011/12 there was 6 engine options, 2 petrol (T5 & 2.0) and 4 diesel (D4, D3, D2 & DRIVe).
The wheels actually really suit the car, even if they are not original to it. As many other people have said before, this reminds me ever so much of the 480, our neighbours had a black 480 Turbo in the 1990s, and it felt ever so similar to this. They also put the 1.6 diesel into the S80 of the period, and apparently it wasn't too slow either!
Fantastic car! I always loved this model, and this particular car is absolutely pristine👍🇸🇪 I have the latest V60 and a V40; they have the same mirror “turret” 😁😉👍
Happy C30 owner. Pleased to see my baby getting some love. Comfy, confident and such a looker. Mine's the DriveE, which is frugal, but a bit slow off the mark, and think its1.6 is basically a Ford/PSA unit. Was it replaced or just re-jigged as a six-speed D2?
The D2 is the PSA/Ford engine which Ford also used as the TDCi. The only difference between the earlier 1.6 diesel and the D2 is a technical update to comply with Euro 5 emission standards.
@@111999yoyoyo Performance wise they're not very different. In theory the D2 would be a little slower due to it only having 8 valves and a particulate filter, but in practice it only makes a few BHP of difference. Volvo still uses the same engine in the current V40 and it's perfectly capable of pulling such a small car.
I had a 2007 se sport 2.0d se e hi inch is roughly the same car, it was great, had a C30 1.6d as a courtesy car and was amazed at how punchy it was. That material you thought was rubbery is close to neoprene as per wet suits etc. And I think the bars in the rear side windows are the aerial as I understand it. That car looks a particularly nice one👍🏼
Hi Matt nice review on this Volvo C30,it's a nice car,never seen the inside of these til now,build quality of the car is safety as all Volvo's,a tidy example.
That 1.6 turbo-diesel engine is used by Ford, in the Focus as well as the Fiesta and Mondeo. It's badged as TDCi on Ford products, but the unit was originally a joint development by Ford and PSA. Unfortunately, the early versions of it were not very good and had a dire reputation for reliability, which resulted in an almost complete redesign and re-engineering program. The updated units appear to be more reliable, but are still prone to a variety of fairly expensive issues... Sadly for Volvo these weren't much of a sales success, worldwide the sales figures were rather dismal, which somewhat explains its' short production life. They did sell fairly well in the UK, though, but it can be a bit of a lottery buying one as they can be prone to numerous, fairly minor but expensive to fix faults, particularly in the floating centre console. These issues tend to be common to all Volvos of the period, however. Needless to say, these cars are incredibly colour-sensitive and they were available in some colours that just look awful on such a heavily stylised car, and there are some around that have very strange specifications which is only going to make them complete orphans on the market when you come to sell it on...
Nearly bought a T5 one of these, but it was Geartronic which really put me off on the test drive and the front Dynaudio speakers didn't work. Great looking thing though. The D2 is often quite a problematic engine, best off with one of the 5 cylinders.
Have to say my C30 in the R-Design with the polestar tuning is wicked. It willingly will 6 seconds to 100kph, and corners like it’s born to go round bends. Expect under steer from a FWD car, but this ha s much less than expected. Total Volvo convert.
I have driven many of the older volvo cars like the 740 and 240 saloons..I currently own an 2008 S40 1.6 petrol R-design which basically shares the mk2 focus engine and i have been pleasantly surprised..i was a little skeptical of post 90s volvos...the S40 has been a very good car to me so i ate my words.
oooh the fuel economy on this makes this really tempting... even with fuel prices as they are now! I'd even consider C30 in order to meet ULEZ... however that waterfall curved (tea shelf incompatible) dash makes one thing I want unattainable. conversion to an android auto capable head unit. got that as standard with my works van and now I'm hooked.
Spot on with the boot - I went to look at C30s when they came out, loved the inside, loved the drive nice size and power (even the base petrol) but hated the fact the boot was so small and if you wanted that hard cover it was something like £200... two hudred quid for a bit of cardboard and carpet!
Pick of the bunch are the 5 cylinders Volvo lumps, not the 4 cylinders. The d3 is a 2.0 5 pot diesel and the d5 is a 2.4. Much more reliable, powerful and sound great.
I think it's around £100 to license a real song for use on youtube that could be worth it. Not for the sake of testing stereos through a microphone though.
Bus Goman i have a 2007 2.0D and it is relatively perky and gets 50mpg. I also had the newer D3 engine in a V40 and it was a cracker and probably the version to go for 😉
Had exactly the same interior in my C70, which is basically the convertible version of this platform. The satnav was clunky even by 2008 standards in mine & it's interesting to note that the Aston Martin DB9 of the same vintage shared the same system (not surprising really when Ford owned Volvo & Aston at the same time).
cracking little cars, great lookers to, wouldn't mind one myself 👍, still think they look cool even now, and there's a fair chance, well 1 in 3 chances that I made that aluminium center console and door pulls lol (never liked that pattern though lol) some prefer the older version with the black mask on the headlights, is prefer the latter models, hard to find low miler's now though
So if you want a nicer looking Ford Focus buy the C30, Volvo had the good idea of using the Ford Focus Chassis. Still a fresh looking design even today. I think the interior door handles are Ford, brake calipers will be stamped fomoco, and the coolant tank will be Ford as well. We used to get out kill when the boys in the first gen of Focus ST in the mark 2 Focus had the engine cover stamped ford, then you lift the screen cap and says Volvo. The 1.6 Diesel is revvy but be aware it had issues with the cam sensor I think as i had the same engine in a c max and the engine cut out at 70mph on the M6! Another cracking review Matt.
Great review! Owning an XC90 Mk 1, I can spot loads of the interior features which are very familiar. Nice car. Somewhat surprised that by 2012 the satnav info isn't stored on a memory card.
Always hankered after a pre-facelift R-design. Don't know many cars that could pull off a brown bodykit. I know the facelift divided people, I think it suits the C30 far more than it suits the C70.
Back in 2010 when looking to replace a company car I was considering the C30 T5 (2.5t) , Focus XR5T and the Mazda SP25...... all shared the same chassis. In the end I narrowed it down to the Volvo and Ford..... the same chassis and same engine ...... the ford won only on price as it was a good AU$5000 cheaper. The 2.5 5 pot turbo was a fantastic engine
Iain Beard Was looking for a comment like this! Every 18ish year old I hung around with around 98-01 was drooling when Volvos and that engine came up, it was in the 850 and put to good use but, I can't remember details about what was so good about it tho, not getting my license as a 28 year old :) University studies in cycling mad Uppsala does that to you. Perhaps you can enlight us?
NirreFirre .... it was quiet, reliable, and the power output in standard guise meant that it was ripe for tinkering with/modifying. Just a shame the emissions killed it off.
Seriously on the verge of buying one of these to replace my Citroen DS3 1.6Vti. The interior somewhat lacks compared to the DS, especially the dash, though annoyingly on a DS3 the gloss dash is an absolute nightmare in the sun, it's nicer to look at than this one, when you can see. But the exterior is very much my cup of tea. Tentatively leaning towards switching to the 1.6 diesel Volvo.
All hatchbacks in Holland have to, at some point, transport a bike with the rear seats folded down and the front wheel sticking out the back. Do that on this one, and the bike handle bars knock against a rear light. Cool looking car though, a much better way to make the news than they're doing now (i.e. no diesels/180kmh limited).
So I nearly bought one of these new... I went to the volvo garage took one for a drive, discussed finance options all that jazz, on the drive home I realised that It was super safe but nowhere near as much fun as my trusty old 145 cloverleaf, so I didn't bother getting one.
...and actually, anecdotally..my C30 got 'chosen' by my dog! he leaped in the boot at the dealer, and sat there, looking happy and content. Fast forward a number of years, and both my dogs love riding in it! I've furnished the boot with a large, plush, soft cushion, and the kids love it!!!
How sweet!!
Love the individuality of Volvo and Saab. The C30, in a way, reminds me of one of my all time favourite cars, the Scimitar GTE.
Mike Ryder Well it was inspired/created as a modern replacement for the P1800E which was a Scimitar GTE clone, right down to the glass hatch...
@@lotusgroup123 thanks for that John.
Instablaster
@@lotusgroup123 .....p1800e > 480 > c30
I've got a C30 with that 1.6D. Excellent engine, low fuel consumption, 950km on 52 liters!
Hi mate are the Diesel engines quite noisy I’m going to see one a 1.6d but is fairly noisy sounding
I bought a 2011 C30 R Design in the fire orange colour new. I am still driving it and will never get rid of it in spite of many offers I absolutely love this car!
They’re lovely cars - my dad had one. Small boot aside, it was quite roomy inside, and went well. One of the best rear ends ever!
These are so good I bought one, I'm a single guy with no friends so it's really the perfect car for me. I have a 2012 SE Lux w/ every option aside from BLIS/sunroof, with R-Design strut brace (which I got from a wrecker's for £20), factory lowered/stiff springs from R-Design, and DRIVe spoiler (which looks better than the R-Design spoiler imo).
The ford Satnav (same system is seen in Astons, other Volvos, Jags, and some Fords of the same generation too) is actually really easy to use when you get used to it, is right in your periferal vision where you want it, and is safe since you don't need to take your hand off the wheel to set it. I also love that the Satnav will stay retracted all the time if you manually kill it (even if you turn the electrics on) until you resummon it again with the steering wheel. The center buttons aren't really used that often, and you can remember where the HVAC/heated seat buttons are pretty easily, so it's not as cluttered as it seems. The blank switch next to the BLIS button is a DRIVe button on mine, which turns on S/S and reduces the amount of hydro-electric power steering you get. The manual box is great, it's smooth, slots in reassuringly, and easy to shift very quikly. It also gets about 51 MPG on a spirited drive. The car drives very well in the twisties when you learn how to control the weight of the car and throw it around corners, provided you have good rubber, and you'd be able to drive it at 10/10ths without breaking the law too badly. Since the bodywork is aluminium, you don't have to worry about it rusting.
Now you have a Volvo youre part of the big Volvo family so lots of new friends...you'll need a 7 seater!
@@furiousdriving I mean, if I fold the rear seats and take the rubber tonneau cover out, I could fit at least six bodies in the back, maybe 9 in the C30.
The drivE spoiler definitely does look more the part than the r design one !
I worked in a Volvo dealership in Ireland during this models lifetime. Sadly nobody wanted them as Volvo's by their definition were bought for their people and load carrying capacity. The younger generation wouldn't touch a Volvo due to the image. Eventually offloaded the necessary quota for bargain prices. I actually loved the C30
Hi Colin, I have my eyes on a 2011 d4 c30 (177 hp), and I don't know much about it in terms of reliability of the car in general and the engine. Do you have some feedback that you could share?
Thank you !
You are right ! It's why nowadays in Sweden they barely cost 3000€ and most are low mileage
The drinks holder in the centre console pulls out from the front if you just want more storage which is handy or put valuables underneath as a secret location. My C30 has firmer suspension than i noticed when i had an R-Design as a hire car. They glide along but are pretty racy and grip well when they need to. I can get a full bike in the back if i take the front wheel off as you would likely do with most cars and been away to races for weekends with plenty of space for everything.
Under rated car and I'd take one over any ford focus.
I've always like these Volvo's.
They remind me if the 480es my Uncle had in the 80s. The back seat design seems very much a nostalgic look at the 480es design.
I'm so glad I am not the only one distracted by seeing other old and classic cars in the road 😉
You can tell new cars are designed by budget and not design - they are so samey and tedious. I had a V50 T5 and it was a hoot. This is a lovely example of the C30, get one with a D4/D5 engine and they are pocket rockets that do 50mpg! Great video Matt!
Another vehicle I know, and have ridden in! I know the owner of a C30, and yes, a six speed manual! Purchased brand new, T5 (I believe Volvo imported only petrol, no diesel at the time). A lower spec, as no BLIS or other safety (or ad others call it, nanny systems) equipment, and I believe no sunroof either.
My only complaint is getting into the vehicle, which, for me, was difficult; stepping down, then trying to close the long door. For the short journey, it was comfortable. A stretch for the safety belt. And the seats were a beige, biscuit, leather I believe, definitely not fabric. A rare delight! And where you sat as the driver I sat as a passenger in the C30.
I never knew about its history! And in the US 🇺🇸 I believe they used LED lamps, and DRL's.
Another smashing video, thank you so very much!
I own one of these, it's from 2011 and it has a d2 1.6D drive-e engine which is more than enough for what need. It's a brilliant car, so comfortable to drive. The one downside if i can i say that is that parts are quite expensive but it's to be expected since it's a volvo after all. Thanks for the review 🥰
the parts from mk2 focus's usually fit and theyre much cheaper too
Love my C30 1.6d R-Design after never owning a Volvo and this being my first, A Volvo will be my next car.
I used to be a Merc guy, but now totally a Volvo guy. I too drive a c30 1.6 D2 and absolutely love it!!! Next car will be a Volvo and am looking at a 1996 850 R estate at the moment. A lot of money though 😕
Love mine too but im looking at getting a stage 1 remap, as the DPF and EGR can be a nightmare on the 1.6 diesel. I am very tempted for a d5 or a t5 next year though.
I just got a 2013 C30 T5 R with the Platinum package and Polestar upgrade. I have been looking for this car configured this way for awhile and love it. Handles well, 250 hp and good handling but still comfortable.
I really like the C30 when it came out but the pre facelift version this and the C70 looked much better. The T5 version sounded great too
I have 2009 SE Lux version of the C30. Just gone 240k miles, 200k of those put on by me since 2013. Only had scheduled service and a wheel bearing changed in that time. A truly quality motorcar.
A friend has the 5 cylinder diesel version. Bought new about 10 years ago it now has over 100,000 miles covered. Love these cars, a modern day Scimitar GTE.
Very classy looking hatchback. Having the Ford Focus as the chassis is a good place to start, and Volvo gave it a very nice finish.
Amazing how many times on different models that Volvo have referenced the P1800s for design features but it is one of their best ever looking cars
Love it! These Volvo dashboards were great. The V50/C30/S40 of that era have fantastic tracking and steering, making country road hoons a real blast.
What a car!! Beautiful styling and great engines, reminds the spectacular 480. We had a white C30 and it was amazing
As the owner of a 2010 V50 2.0e, with the 6 speed duel clutch transmission, and standard 16" alloys, I've been hoping you'd get around to driving one of the family. While it doesn't have the chuckability of its Focus cousin, it is still a forgiving and safe driver's car, and the seats are the most comfortable I've ever sat in over long distances. Being an estate, there is more room in the back, albeit, it is still a little cramped for taller people with long legs. 9:56 The 'Keyless Drive' was an option on the C30/S40/V50 series, as was the BLIS system. It's a little sad that you're no longer allowed to test the wipers, because they are some of the best in the business and a wiper connoisseur (a HubNut, for instance) would be intrigued by the multi-function wiper control wand.
Very good explanation of what this car is really about! I have it myself and explains exactly how it is. Many thanks 🙏🏻 I love this car. 2.0 D4 177 pk tuned up to 200 bhp and will drive it as long as possibly possible.
Wanted one when they first came out, sadly my dodgy back couldn't cope with anything behind the front seats.
You're right, they're such a rare sight these days.
The interior is luscious. Like most modern vehicles though, the glove box slopes right down near the passengers feet, limiting foot room. 60's and 70's cars had so much room near the passengers feet one could put their brief case, cassette player, dog or cat.
I really love the C30!! Thank you for doing this review 😊
The button cover on the right next to the BLIS is for the DRIVe start/stop system which was an option on the diesels. Sunroof controls are on the top if it's fitted.
I'm buying a 2009 C30 T5 R-Design tomorrow and am so excited!
The interior is smart especially the console, a different sort of Volvo. A good insight into this rarely seen car now a days.
Agree with the annoying rear compartment net. But, IF you crash around only 50-60kmh, any item over 1kg would be consider a lethal projectile. Volvo is all about being safe and I just wanted to mention benefits w it. nice channel!
Oh and that’s got the Dynaudio system, which is absolutely amazing with Dolby surround. Those buttons become easy to use once you’ve got the hang of them too lol. The door pockets and glovebox are utterly useless 😂
The Dynaudio speakers are fantastic 👍
I love how passionate you get about ordinary cars. Sign of a true petrolhead
The c30 was one of the first cars I thought I could buy new. Last car I got that fizz with was the 75 tourer
Great vid!!
I love C30s!! Saving up for one and hoping to buy soon-ish. The only thing that irks me about them a little bit is the location of the parking brake, they seem like they’re so far away off to the left? (I’m assuming that in models sold with left hand drive it’s in the same location as such it’s much closer to the driver?) It’s fairly trivial I suppose but is this something that’s ever noticeable? No one ever seems to mention it but it always jumps out at me in photos as being in an awkward place.
I found out why the sill has a link in by chance on my 2004 S60. There are stout steel tubes like scaffolding welded across the bottom rear of the front seat bases. They align with the b post and form part of the side impact strength by making the seats frame part of the side crash stiffness. I was fishing round for a dropped coin when I saw how it was done - the seats must weigh a ton. Those clever Swedes!
Added steel for added safety!
I've had 3 (2 11's and my present car is a 2012 6-spd manual T5 polestar upgrade). They are awesome - yet, not very practical. Still love them though. They drive beautifully, as well. Nice review.
Being 196cm tall I prefer cars without sunroofs as they most of the time robs you of space inside the car. Also having one on my fathers old 1981 244GL... no one wanted to drive it in rain as the evacuation hoses for rainwater got clogged and you'd get a hair wash when turning right! (Left hand drive) And with aircondition, I don't see the need for a sunroof! :) Nice car and drive. I've actually sat in one at a dealer and found the front seat big enough for me! :)
The C30 shares a lot of parts with the 2nd gen focus, like the suspension, brakes, even some engines are the same found in the focus, the 2.0 gas engine is one of those. This facts make the car quite interesting if you want to drive a volvo without paying volvo maintenance!!
Is 2.0 gas from ford reliable?
@@denztingz If the car had good service history and you take care of your car (Full Service every year), using once a year injectors cleaner and don't use Eco petrol (E10). They are very reliable, you can easily get 250K miles. In my opinion this is the best engine for C30 if you don't have money for T5 (which cost twice as much for facelift models).
My C30 R-Design 2.0 petrol from 2011 have 87K miles and runs like new. ;)
The C30 1.6 D Lux was the only car I bought brand new in 2008. I just cheched and it's still on the road. Good times!
Had my 1.6 diesel remapped by superchips 140bhp and 320Nm of torque 😊 made it a completely different little beast, I loved that car.
That's what I've got with my S40 1.6D
Love these, prefer the pre-facelift though
Just sold my 2006 S40 1.6 petrol after 4 years of driving. Great car (apart leaking sunroof), very quiet interior. Great test 👍
Great video! I have the C30's older sister the 480 and that was very bold and courageous design. You can see some design flourishing in the C30, 480 and p1800es, which I think are Volvo's best designs. If you get the chance, get a test drive of a 480 and you will love the pop up head lights and electrical antenna 👌🏼👌🏼
80s and 90s coolness 😂
Ive been hankering after one since they came out in the 80’s however the 3 pillars of price, condition and confidence havent aligned for me as yet...
@@davidhall7744 when you do get one you will yourself why you didn't sooner, fellah! 😂😂 Great support network for advice and parts amongst the forums, too. Do it! 😂😂
Had one the only downside was the rust😱 got it for the pop up light's,such a cool car😎
Great review Matt! Sorry I’m 2 years late on a comment, but I’m considering buying a C30 as I love the style and the second hand market is offering fair prices at the moment. For me these reviews form part of any research in buying a car.
Excellent review Matt 😀 I’ve had my red 2007 2.0D SE Sport since 2009 and still love it and its looks as much as the day I bought it. I tested the 1.6D but was looking for a bit more grunt so went for the 2.0D which still does an avg 50mpg to this day. The last couple of years have been testing (2 complete gearbox, flywheel and clutch renewals) but the advantage of being Ford based means parts are relatively cheap and plentiful. I must be one of the few fans of the ‘flimsy’ boot cover, once you get used to it it is far easier to roll up and store or lay flat on the boot floor - you couldnt do that with the hard version 😉🚗🇸🇪 I just need to find a decent 480 to keep it company now 😀👍
I think the flexy cover is far better than the solid which is just annoying! Sorry you've been unlucky with yours, but good luck finding a nice 480, they are out there, just hard to find!
Bit late to the party, but I understood the wires in the rear side windows are not heaters, but antennas! Used to drive one of these, a 2.0 petrol R-design, marvelous car!
Actually they ARE heaters....one side is "grounded" (Connected to -VE) Aerial grounded: Is not an aerial.
But, if they were simply aerials, they could use wire so thin as to be almost invisible.
Think you will find the aerial is on the roof ...The "shark fin". Sorry.
@@patagualianmostly7437 No, they are the aerial for the radio. I have been driving my 2010 C30 for almost 14 years and can assure you these are not heater wires, they do not clear misting or frost on the rear side windows. What would be the point of having heater (demister) wires in just the rear third of the side windows anyway? I understand that the reason they are quite thick and visible is as a design feature. The shark fin on the roof is the aerial for the sat nav system, in non-sat nav cars (like mine) it is just a dummy.
The Thinking Man's Sports Coupe. Seats look like perfection, floating centre console is genius. 60 mpg. Bonus Sunbeam Alpine, Ford F 350 Tow Truck and Jeep Wrangler footage. Top Work That Man. 👌
Packing it all in there!
You could get these with the 2.4l 5 cylinder n/a too. I also remember that the Swedes weren't too fond of these as they didn't think they were too good in the snow.
Interesting video BUT a lot of errors!! Particularly statements about difference on R-Design & R-D Lux; strut brace, textured aluminium inlays, stiffened/lowered suspension, leather seats, steering wheel, quicker steering rack etc was standard on ALL R-Design models, not just Lux.
Those are not heater elements (14:28) in the rear passenger windows, they are not heated. That is the antenna for the radio.
In 2011/12 there was 6 engine options, 2 petrol (T5 & 2.0) and 4 diesel (D4, D3, D2 & DRIVe).
We have a c30 2012 r design. It's only showing just under 20k on the clock. We have had it for 7 yrs now it's a great car and so comfy.
I loved your reference to product placement. It certainly worked on me - I've loved Volvo's since Gerry Leadbetter drove a 144 in The Good Life!
The wheels actually really suit the car, even if they are not original to it. As many other people have said before, this reminds me ever so much of the 480, our neighbours had a black 480 Turbo in the 1990s, and it felt ever so similar to this. They also put the 1.6 diesel into the S80 of the period, and apparently it wasn't too slow either!
They should have offered these wheels as an option, they look fantastic on it
@@furiousdriving, indeed, sir!
Good video! I bought a 2.0 R-Design after watching this - I'm pretty happy with it as well!!
Love the shape of these.
Great review.
Fantastic car! I always loved this model, and this particular car is absolutely pristine👍🇸🇪 I have the latest V60 and a V40; they have the same mirror “turret” 😁😉👍
Good to see you driving another Volvo C30 I love it thanks for another video to do with a Volvo
Happy C30 owner. Pleased to see my baby getting some love. Comfy, confident and such a looker. Mine's the DriveE, which is frugal, but a bit slow off the mark, and think its1.6 is basically a Ford/PSA unit. Was it replaced or just re-jigged as a six-speed D2?
The D2 is the PSA/Ford engine which Ford also used as the TDCi. The only difference between the earlier 1.6 diesel and the D2 is a technical update to comply with Euro 5 emission standards.
Stoney3K which engine model I be looking to pick up performance wise?
@@111999yoyoyo Performance wise they're not very different. In theory the D2 would be a little slower due to it only having 8 valves and a particulate filter, but in practice it only makes a few BHP of difference. Volvo still uses the same engine in the current V40 and it's perfectly capable of pulling such a small car.
I had a 2007 se sport 2.0d se e hi inch is roughly the same car, it was great, had a C30 1.6d as a courtesy car and was amazed at how punchy it was. That material you thought was rubbery is close to neoprene as per wet suits etc. And I think the bars in the rear side windows are the aerial as I understand it. That car looks a particularly nice one👍🏼
Hi Matt nice review on this Volvo C30,it's a nice car,never seen the inside of these til now,build quality of the car is safety as all Volvo's,a tidy example.
That 1.6 turbo-diesel engine is used by Ford, in the Focus as well as the Fiesta and Mondeo. It's badged as TDCi on Ford products, but the unit was originally a joint development by Ford and PSA. Unfortunately, the early versions of it were not very good and had a dire reputation for reliability, which resulted in an almost complete redesign and re-engineering program. The updated units appear to be more reliable, but are still prone to a variety of fairly expensive issues...
Sadly for Volvo these weren't much of a sales success, worldwide the sales figures were rather dismal, which somewhat explains its' short production life. They did sell fairly well in the UK, though, but it can be a bit of a lottery buying one as they can be prone to numerous, fairly minor but expensive to fix faults, particularly in the floating centre console. These issues tend to be common to all Volvos of the period, however. Needless to say, these cars are incredibly colour-sensitive and they were available in some colours that just look awful on such a heavily stylised car, and there are some around that have very strange specifications which is only going to make them complete orphans on the market when you come to sell it on...
My Alfa got written off a couple of days ago, just stumbled across this video and it looks like I'm now gonna be shopping for a C30 :D
Nearly bought a T5 one of these, but it was Geartronic which really put me off on the test drive and the front Dynaudio speakers didn't work. Great looking thing though. The D2 is often quite a problematic engine, best off with one of the 5 cylinders.
Have to say my C30 in the R-Design with the polestar tuning is wicked. It willingly will 6 seconds to 100kph, and corners like it’s born to go round bends. Expect under steer from a FWD car, but this ha s much less than expected. Total Volvo convert.
I have driven many of the older volvo cars like the 740 and 240 saloons..I currently own an 2008 S40 1.6 petrol R-design which basically shares the mk2 focus engine and i have been pleasantly surprised..i was a little skeptical of post 90s volvos...the S40 has been a very good car to me so i ate my words.
oooh the fuel economy on this makes this really tempting... even with fuel prices as they are now! I'd even consider C30 in order to meet ULEZ... however that waterfall curved (tea shelf incompatible) dash makes one thing I want unattainable. conversion to an android auto capable head unit. got that as standard with my works van and now I'm hooked.
i just like the interior of this it's simple and moder just a nice place to be
Spot on with the boot - I went to look at C30s when they came out, loved the inside, loved the drive nice size and power (even the base petrol) but hated the fact the boot was so small and if you wanted that hard cover it was something like £200... two hudred quid for a bit of cardboard and carpet!
Pick of the bunch are the 5 cylinders Volvo lumps, not the 4 cylinders. The d3 is a 2.0 5 pot diesel and the d5 is a 2.4. Much more reliable, powerful and sound great.
There were 2.4i and 2.0-litre D3 / D4 & 2.4-litre D5 five-pots too!
When showing off the sound system why don't you just put some TH-cam audio library music on a cd/phone or a memory stick to use?
Good idea!
I think it's around £100 to license a real song for use on youtube that could be worth it. Not for the sake of testing stereos through a microphone though.
Cool and unique little car, and yes I’d prefer it to an A1 or 1 series too 😎👍🏼
Haven't even gone halfway through the video and I'm loving your channel already!
Wow, thank you!
A good review of a really underrated car. There were two other diesel engine options the 2.0 and a 2.4 (178bhp).
Yep had the 2.4 D5 engine in my C70, it's a great engine, even sounds good for a diesel.
I always liked the looks of these cars. The boot opening size and small boot space is a drawback and why I went for a Civic instead.
I’m thinking about picking one of these up, is the difference in performance large between the diesel and petrol?
Russell the Chemist n
Bus Goman i have a 2007 2.0D and it is relatively perky and gets 50mpg. I also had the newer D3 engine in a V40 and it was a cracker and probably the version to go for 😉
Had exactly the same interior in my C70, which is basically the convertible version of this platform. The satnav was clunky even by 2008 standards in mine & it's interesting to note that the Aston Martin DB9 of the same vintage shared the same system (not surprising really when Ford owned Volvo & Aston at the same time).
cracking little cars, great lookers to, wouldn't mind one myself 👍, still think they look cool even now, and there's a fair chance, well 1 in 3 chances that I made that aluminium center console and door pulls lol (never liked that pattern though lol) some prefer the older version with the black mask on the headlights, is prefer the latter models, hard to find low miler's now though
So if you want a nicer looking Ford Focus buy the C30, Volvo had the good idea of using the Ford Focus Chassis. Still a fresh looking design even today.
I think the interior door handles are Ford, brake calipers will be stamped fomoco, and the coolant tank will be Ford as well. We used to get out kill when the boys in the first gen of Focus ST in the mark 2 Focus had the engine cover stamped ford, then you lift the screen cap and says Volvo.
The 1.6 Diesel is revvy but be aware it had issues with the cam sensor I think as i had the same engine in a c max and the engine cut out at 70mph on the M6!
Another cracking review Matt.
My dream car. I just love it. Only issue for me is , having only passed my test a few yrs back, I can't park for s**t without cameras haha.
Quality content as always mate! A good friend of mine also drives a C30 lol.
Excellent got me tea just sitting watching the vlog before I jump on me projects 😎🤙
Sorry Matt
It does not have heated side windows.
Aerials and or glass break sensors in the side windows
Really? Looks just like the element in my Merc and bigger Volvos
@@furiousdriving Yeah just like an E39. Radio aerials.
I had one for a year and really liked it. Bit impractical in the boot but for general shopping it’s just fine. An IKEA wardrobe, not so! 😂
The C30 is a design classic both inside and out, shame they stuck a SilverCrest universal remote to the dash board to act as phone and HVAC controls.
Im looking for a 2-5 T in automatic , quite rare, really want one, good review thanks 👍🏻
Great review! Owning an XC90 Mk 1, I can spot loads of the interior features which are very familiar. Nice car. Somewhat surprised that by 2012 the satnav info isn't stored on a memory card.
so was I, the owner corrected me when I first said it was a CD changer!
Always hankered after a pre-facelift R-design. Don't know many cars that could pull off a brown bodykit.
I know the facelift divided people, I think it suits the C30 far more than it suits the C70.
Back in 2010 when looking to replace a company car I was considering the C30 T5 (2.5t) , Focus XR5T and the Mazda SP25...... all shared the same chassis. In the end I narrowed it down to the Volvo and Ford..... the same chassis and same engine ...... the ford won only on price as it was a good AU$5000 cheaper.
The 2.5 5 pot turbo was a fantastic engine
Iain Beard Was looking for a comment like this! Every 18ish year old I hung around with around 98-01 was drooling when Volvos and that engine came up, it was in the 850 and put to good use but, I can't remember details about what was so good about it tho, not getting my license as a 28 year old :) University studies in cycling mad Uppsala does that to you. Perhaps you can enlight us?
NirreFirre .... it was quiet, reliable, and the power output in standard guise meant that it was ripe for tinkering with/modifying. Just a shame the emissions killed it off.
Love the content. Have been binge watching the videos all day.
Seriously on the verge of buying one of these to replace my Citroen DS3 1.6Vti. The interior somewhat lacks compared to the DS, especially the dash, though annoyingly on a DS3 the gloss dash is an absolute nightmare in the sun, it's nicer to look at than this one, when you can see. But the exterior is very much my cup of tea. Tentatively leaning towards switching to the 1.6 diesel Volvo.
Both engines are shared the 1.6 d 110bhp 240nm used in alot of cars Peugeot citroen Ford etc and this one which is the 1.6 8v 115BHP with 270NM
We have these come in quite often as part ex’s and to auction with 2-300 thousand miles on them. They cover big mileage those diesels
The rubbery material you mentioned in the interior Matt is apparently known as FlexTech.
thanks, Ill try to remember that!
We've got one and it seems someone chose a base spec SE and then ticked all the options. Bonkers!
That must have been more expensive than going for the next model up!
From 2010 to 2013 they were not peugeot diesel units, they were a volvo d4162t block.
Out of curiosity how tall are you? I have a family of borrowers so I'm wondering if the back seat is suitable.
Always wanted one of these... bought an A2 instead. You should definitely do one of those!
but its not a Rover! Always liked the look of these in the day.
480 lol
i have a c30, it's my 2nd one and i love it.
All hatchbacks in Holland have to, at some point, transport a bike with the rear seats folded down and the front wheel sticking out the back. Do that on this one, and the bike handle bars knock against a rear light. Cool looking car though, a much better way to make the news than they're doing now (i.e. no diesels/180kmh limited).
So I nearly bought one of these new... I went to the volvo garage took one for a drive, discussed finance options all that jazz, on the drive home I realised that It was super safe but nowhere near as much fun as my trusty old 145 cloverleaf, so I didn't bother getting one.