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By 
Rex Roy, Editor
TheCarConnection.com's resident car enthusiasts researched the new 2008 Volvo C30 to write this conclusive review. Experts from TheCarConnection.com also drove the Volvo C30 in Europe and the United States, and have included their insights to give you a definitive opinion on this practical and sporty car. This review also compares the 2008 Volvo C30 with other vehicles in its class to give you the best advice even when other reviews present conflicting opinions.
Likes:
- Handsome, substantial style
- Solid build quality
- Torquey acceleration
- Secure handling
Dislikes:
- Handling too staid?
- Smallish rear seat
- Radio and HVAC controls
For Volvo, 2008 marks the Swedish manufacturer's first modern foray into the world of premium compacts with the 2008 C30. Volvo's start is solid, and it's a wedgy, hot-looking hatch with a unique rear end and lots of personality--the opposite of what TheCarConnection.com's team usually finds from Volvo products.
The 2008 Volvo C30 rides on a truncated Volvo S40 sedan chassis (shortened by eight inches), and includes the S40's proven 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder in-line engine that produces a healthy 227 horsepower. There is no turbo lag, and the engine always feels at ease delivering its power. Handling is solid and secure, but the C30 drives "bigger" than it is. Volvo tends to engineer the edginess out of its suspensions, and this seems to be what members of TheCarConnection.com team perceived.
In typical Volvo form, safety equipment is abundant, with side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, and stability control standard. Volvo's lane-departure warning system is optional.
This equipment is housed in a small package that looks anything but cheap. The nose looks like a current S40 or V50, but it's the unique hatch glass and the broad shoulders of the rear fenders that give the car its distinctive stance. Inside, much is shared with the S40, including the floating center stack where the radio and climate system controls are located. They take a little getting used to--not unlike reading directions on a shelving unit from IKEA. The rear seats are a snug, but adults won't complain if the ride is short.
The Bottom Line:
The 2008 Volvo C30 is a satisfying, high-quality hatchback that connects "small" and "premium" in all the right ways.
Other Choices:
If you’re interested in the 2008 Volvo C30, also consider:
- Audi A3
- Audi TT
- BMW 1-Series
- MINI Cooper
- Volkswagen GTI
Experts from TheCarConnection.com have extensive experience with each of the competitors facing off against the 2008 Volvo C30. To a car, they are all good choices. The pair of Audis lead in interior style, with the A3's wagon four-door body style offering greater practicality than the Volvo C30 (interior volume and access to that space). Both Audis are can be more expensive than the hatchback Volvo.
The new BMW 1-Series stands out as this group's only rear-wheel-drive entry. As you might expect, the BMW is dynamically superior to the Volvo, but it is a different and more expensive animal.
The two most relevant competitors to the 2008 Volvo C30 are the MINI Cooper and Volkswagen GTI. Both are two-door hatchbacks that have sporty yet practical personalities. The Cooper is the extrovert of the group (it always seems to be yelling, "Look at me, I'm cute!"). Setting its style aside, the turbocharged Cooper S will run circles around the C30 in terms of outright performance. The GTI is certainly more Germanic in character, and it handily outperforms the C30 dynamically and in straight-line acceleration. However, living with the GTI means you also have to like its derivative Volkswagen Rabbit styling, which is less distinctive and appealing than the 2008 Volvo C30.
Buying Tip:
For 2008, Volvo isn't planning on bringing too many C30s to the United States, so this hatchback may be hard to get a deal on earlier in 2008. Don't worry, though--the 2009 model year is just around the corner, and just when the 2009s are arriving is the right time to buy a 2008.
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