2008 Volvo C30 Quality Review

TheCarConnection.com found that most reviewers wouldn't mind spending time in the 2008 Volvo C30--it's spacious and comfortable for its class.

Car and Driver calls the 2008 Volvo C30 an "easy-wearing runabout for two" with space for two more passengers in the back as long as "their inseam doesn't stretch more than 30 inches." The front bucket seats are firmly bolstered, which may "prompt complaints from the broad beamers among us." Shorter people might find that it seams like an unusually long reach to access the shoulder belt, especially with the seat adjusted forward. Apart from that quirk in the C30, Volvo’s two-door hatch is "a handy little mobile unit, about two inches longer than the VW Rabbit, so it's easy to park." Automobile says, “the bucket-style back seats are actually roomy enough to comfortably seat a six-footer.”

The cabin is definitively upscale with high-quality materials and all controls within easy reach. ConsumerGuideAuto notes that there's "ample headroom and legroom," and the seats "are firm yet comfortable and nicely bolstered for spirited cornering." On the other hand, legroom can be cramped in the backseats--especially if the front seats are set all the way back. "Some of the testers disliked the 2008 Volvo C30's all-glass hatch, which leaves cargo plainly visible from the outside--and no cargo cover is available."

Edmunds reports that in the C30 Volvo, there’s more room than in the Audi TT, but adults will find the rear seats "adequate for short journeys," and a pair of six-footers will "struggle to sit in tandem." Trunk capacity is modest, and golfers will have problems stowing their clubs, although the rear seats fold down to increase cargo space.

Kelley Blue Book reports that "folding the seatbacks increases cargo capacity from 12.9 to 20.2 cubic feet." But the 2008 Volvo C30's small and oddly shaped glass hatch restricts loading and unloading. Motor Trend estimates the cargo space to be smaller (8.2 cubic feet) with the seats folded up and larger (30.9 cubic feet) with the seats folded down.

TheCarConnection.com’s editors spent some quality time in the 2008 Volvo C30 and found its cabin roomy for two passengers and a good amount of cargo. It’s a small package that looks anything but cheap. The rear seats are snug, but adults won't complain if the ride is short.