2010 Volvo C30 R-Design Hatchback
2010 was Volvo’s last model year under Ford’s ownership. Their decade-long partnership was mutually beneficial. It helped Volvo modernize their exterior designs, while giving Ford more insight on making their cars safe.
The 2010 Volvo C30 R-Design Hatchback is a 2-door hatchback, and the higher of two trim levels. It has a 2.5 liter, turbocharged inline 5-cylinder engine that produces 227 horsepower. It has 18-inch alloy wheels, front-wheel drive, and a 6-speed manual transmission. It is rated at 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, and goes from zero to sixty in 6.4 seconds.
The C30 R-Design comes with a leather-wrapped, tilt-telescope, alloy steering wheel with audio and cruise controls. It has front bucket seats with height and lumbar support, leather and leatherette upholstery, folding rear bucket seats, full power accessories, air conditioning, a rear defogger and rear windshield wiper, automatic headlights, foglights, and a trip computer. The audio system has Bluetooth, 8 speakers, AM/FM radio, a CD/MP3 player, an audio jack, and a USB/iPod port.
The C30 also has stability control, traction control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags, front whiplash protection, and antilock brakes. No test scores are available, but Volvo’s internal standards are higher than the standard testing agencies. That is why Volvo has had a reputation for years as one of the safest cars on the road.
Conclusions and driver feedback:
The interior is still standard Volvo. There is plenty of chrome trim, and a quirky but prosperous look. The cabin is fairly spacious for a smaller car. There is plenty of headroom and legroom in the front seat. While the rear seats have a lot of headroom for a hatchback because of the taller than usual design, legroom could be a bit better, especially for taller passengers.
The C30 has great handling. The steering is very responsive, and the suspension is tweaked a bit toward sport. The ride is a bit on the sporty side, with plenty of road feel, but it isn’t as stiff as the standard sport ride. The cabin is quiet, with road noise and wind noise kept to a minimum. The engine has enough power for good acceleration and smooth cruising at highway speeds.
All in all, the experience is very positive. The C30 may be a hatchback, but it has acts a lot more like a sport-tweaked sedan than a full-blown sport car or hot hatch. The only real quibble here is that it only seats two adults comfortably because of the lack of legroom in the rear seats.
The verdict: this would make a great car for a single, couple, or small family who wants a safe car with a touch of attitude.
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