2008 Volvo C30

The main comment I hear about the C30 is just how much the glass hatchseems to have been inspired by the classic P1800ES from the era in which I was born, which makes me part of the target market that this new entry-level Volvo is aimed at. The only wrinkle is that my wife and I have a child and Volvo feels that young urban couples sans children are the target market. Which shouldn't be the case...

Highs: Sweet six-speed, slick clutch action, clever graphics in the dash display—nice butt, too. Lows: Heavy doors swing way out when you park, oddly color-uncoordinated inside. The Verdict: A Swede to be seen with. If a new model looks like fun—and this sparky little Volvo bobtail surely does—then its maker is figured to be shining up to the Hip, Hop, 'n' Kickin' generation, those active...

Overview A halo car is an automaker's most desirable model. It's meant to bring new customers into dealerships with the hope that they'll buy another car in the lineup. It's often a test bed for performance technology, and it's usually inserted at the top of the company's lineup. A halo car shows what a company is capable of, and it can change an automaker's overall reputation. With the release...

KBB Editors' Overview A compact front-drive two-door that interweaves unique Volvo styling cues with well-proven mechanicals from the S40/V50 lines, the new C30 is designed to blur the established line between a conventional hatchback and a station wagon. It's also the first Volvo sold here to offer buyers enhanced personalization potential through the factory's Custom Build individualization...