Volvo C30 (2006 – 2009) Review
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Volvo C30 (2006 – 2009) At A Glance
Really good looking coupe, on theme of 1800ES and 480. Best with 2.5 turbo engine and 17-inch wheels. Outstanding handling. 2.0D Powershift auto works well.
Not so good with D5 diesel and Geartronic autobox. Expensive problems with diesels more than three years old.
If the idea was to turn a Ford Focus into a rival for the Audi A3, then Audi must be worried.
First the looks. The C30 isn't just a good looking car, it's exquisite. A lot of people will buy it for the styling alone. With its simple glass rear hatch, it harks back to the 480ES of the 1980s, and the P1800ES before that.
Reviews for Volvo C30 (2006 – 2009)'s top 3 rivals
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Volvo C30 (2006 – 2009) handling and engines
As you can see from the list of engines and prices you can have a C30 with anything from a 100PS 1.6 chain-cam petrol engine to the same fire-breathing 220PS 2.5 turbo as the Ford Focus ST.
It's not adrift on price either. Giving you more car with more features than an A4 for less than an A4, a BMW 1 Series, or even a VW Golf.
And it's very sweet indeed to drive. Like a very slightly softer Ford Focus ST that gets on with the job without shouting about it.
You sit behind an unfashionably large diameter steering wheel that's pleasant to hold and informs you exactly what each road wheel is doing. On the 17" tyres of ‘our' C30 T5 SE it would understeer eventually. Though not soon enough to want to trade those 17s for the gripper but harder 18" tyres. The 220PS engine has bags of torque in the rev range you naturally find yourself, so you can use 3rd instead of 2nd and 3rd instead of 4tth and enjoy the beautifully fluid way it strings a series of tricky mountain road bends and hairpins together. Like the BMW 335i 6-speed manual, the gearing and the engine's torque curve are perfectly matched.
Despite developing more torque, the 180PS 2.4 litre D5 Geartronic auto was far less satisfying to drive. It's fast enough, and will suit some drivers looking for a potential extra 9mpg (or wanting to tow something with it). But it's far less of a driver's car and sometimes lacked the kickdown alacrity you'd expect from 350Nm torque.
Volvo predicts that most of its sales will be 1.6 petrol, 1.6 diesel and 2.0 litre diesel. I can't comment on that at this stage because none were available to drive on the launch. But the 1.6 diesel is a very sweet engine in other cars, notably the Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Peugeot 207 and Citroen C4. It offers diesel economy with the characteristics of an exceptionally torquey petrol engine. Though far torquier, the 2.0 diesel is much a gruffer engine with a more sudden torque delivery. The chain-cam Mazda derived 100PS 1.6 is a perfectly reasonable range-starting engine, kicking off at a sensible £14,750.
But I strongly suspect my favourite will remain the C30 T5 manual. A Focus ST in a terrific looking and far more socially acceptable suit of clothes, and a better car than the Audi A3 2.0T, VW Golf GTI 2.0T or BMW 120i. It's the kind of car young people can choose as a fashion statement and older people can happily drive because it's a Volvo so doesn't make them appear to be suffering some sort of mid-life identity crisis.
Volvo C30 (2006 – 2009) interior
Yet unlike those cars, it seats four of me very comfortably and even has space for our luggage. Or our golf clubs, because the Volvo designers have thoughtfully hollowed out the sides at the back of the luggage area to take a couple of bags of clubs lying horizontally. (A hard luggage cover to conceal those precious woods and irons is coming later.)
The car abounds with Volvo detailing. For example, you still get a clip in the front window frame to hold parking tickets to the screen, so you won't get done for "failing to display" when they blow off the dash top into the footwell.
It has the same ‘floating' centre dash feeding into the console as the S40 and V50. And in the C30 case has a useful cubby behind.
As an optional extra you can order Volvo's patented ‘BLIS' blindspot eliminating system that warns you if another vehicle has crept into your over-the-shoulder blindspot.
And with all the primary and secondary safety features you'd expect on a Volvo, you have a better than average chance of surviving to trade-in time.
Model History
January 2006
New small premium hatchback coupe on Focus ST platform, competing against Golf and Audi A3. 4,250mm long. Stunning looks. Shown as production ready concept at Detroit Show January 2006 with 260bhp 2.4 turbo engine offering 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. Glass rear hatch like 1970s Volvo P1800ES and 480 coupe. UK sales from January 2007. Four and five-cylinder engines from 1.6 (100PS) to T5 (220PS).
Surprising, but rear seats are extremely comfortable for a 5' 9" passenger to sit behind a 5' 9" driver.
Engine range:-
1.6 100PS: 0-60 11.2. top speed 115, mpg 40.4 com, CO2 167g/km
1.8 125PS: 0-60 10.2, top speed 124, mpg 38.7 com, CO2 174g/km
2.0 145PS: 0-60 8.8, top speed 130,, mpg 38.7 com, CO2 174g/km
2.4 170PS man: 0-60 7.6, top speed 138, mpg 33.6 com, CO2 200g/km
2.4 170PS aut: 0-60 8.3, top speed 134, mpg 31.4 com, CO2 TBA
T5 220PS man: 0-60 6.2, top speed 149, mpg 32.5 com, CO2 208g/km
T5 220PS aut: 0-60 6.6, top speed 146, mpg 30.1 com, CO2 TBA
1.6D 109PS: 0-60 11.3, top speed 118, mpg 57.6 com, CO2 129g/km
2.0D 136PS: 0-60 8.6, top speed 130, mpg 49.6 com, CO2 151g/km
D5 180PS aut: 0-60 7.8, top speed 140, mpg 40.9 com, CO2 182g/km
Price samples: 1.6S £14,750, 1.8SE £16,495, 2.0 SE Sport or Lux £19,995, 2.4i SE Sport or Lux 20,995, T5 SE £21,495, 1.6D S £16,795, 2.0D S £17,795, D5 Geartronic SE £22,295, most expensive D5 Geartronic SE Sport or Lux £23,795.
Electronic climate control, 16" alloys, CD player radio, alarm, electric front windows, electric heater mirrors, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, remote central locking, leather steering wheel and gearknob, folding rear seats, exterior temperature gauge, rear centre armrest. pollen filter, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, ABS with EBD and EBA, WHIPS seats, SIPS airbags, inflatable side curtains, dual stage driver and passenger airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, load cover all standard on S.
Hybrid 1.6 launched at Frankfurt Motor Show September 2007. Does not self-recharge. Recharged by plugging into the mains. Battery-only range of over 60 miles. 66% lower CO2 emissions than best hybrids when running on electricity alone. 1.6 Flexifuel engine provides backup and recharge power. Individual electric wheel motors and batteries. Running on both engine and electric motors has 0-60mph of 8.7 seconds and top speed of 100mph.
January 2008
Powershift Automatic sequential six-speed transmission announced. Twin wet clutches (like VAG DSG) for fast and smooth changes. Over 47 mpg and less than 160 g/km CO2. Optimised for powerful diesel engines. The new Volvo automatic Powershift transmission will be available to order from late February on the 136PS two-litre turbodiesel versions of the Volvo C30, S40 and V50 with a recommended retail price of £1,250.
This new Powershift six-speed unit features twin wet clutches to provide the gear changing comfort of a fully-automatic transmission with the performance of a manual gearbox. This results in extremely fast and smooth gear changes whilst maintaining acceleration allowing 0-60mph to be reached in nine seconds in the Volvo C30, 9.1 seconds in the S40 and 9.2 seconds in the V50 and boasts a top speed of 127mph in all three
models.
Apart from gear changing comfort and high performance, Powershift also contributes to delivering improved fuel efficiency. The Powershift Automatic offers an impressive combined fuel consumption of 47.1mpg and a CO2 figure of 159g/km in both the Volvo S40 and V50; while it brings the Volvo C30 47.9mpg on a combined cycle and a CO2 figure of 156g/km.
March 2008
R-DESIGN Sport became new entry level spec on the Volvo C30 SportsCoupe. From just £14,995 OTR for the 1.6 petrol R-DESIGN Sport. Extending the appeal even further, Volvo is also offering 0% APR typical* finance over 3 years with a 30% minimum deposit and 12 months free insurance**.
The R-DESIGN exterior incorporates an exclusive sports bodykit, rear spoiler, R-DESIGN logo on the grille and 17" alloy wheels. Inside, the unique interior is upholstered in off-black T-Tec fabric with contrasting cream leather embossed with the R-DESIGN logo and is complemented by eye-catching blue instrument dials, a leather sports steering wheel, aluminium ridged sports pedals and gear knob with aluminium inserts. Prices range from £14,995 for R-Design 1.6 Sport to £21,495 for R-Design T5 SE Lux.
May 2008
The hard load cover is now standard on all trim levels and the soft load cover is available as a no cost option. As with the S40 and V50, the C30 RTI Navigation System has also been given a new look with a recommended retail price of £1,500. 18 inch Midir alloy wheels are now available as a no cost option on the R-DESIGN SE Sport and as a cost option of £500 on the R-DESIGN Sport.
The 2.4i petrol engine is no longer available and prices remain unchanged across the range, starting at £14,995 for the Volvo C30 1.6 R-DESIGN Sport complete with sporty R-DESIGN exterior and interior styling as well as IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System), cruise control, MP3 player compatibility and steering wheel remote audio controls as standard equipment. Volvo emblem on the tailgate larger and more wide-spread; enhancing its visibility.
Power mirrors with an autofold function now standard across the Volvo model range. Mirrors can be set to fold in automatically when the car is locked, and fold out again when the car is unlocked. Communications Pack have also revised and now includes RTI Navigation System, Keyless Drive and Bluetooth® Handsfree System.2
Bluetooth handsfree system is also available as an individual option for a RRP of £200 on the Volvo C30, S40, V50 and C70. This handsfree system automatically recognises a Bluetooth® compatible mobile phone as it enters the car and seamlessly takes over, allowing the driver to switch freely from the mobile phone to the handsfree system. By simply touching the blue button, the Bluetooth® handsfree system will listen to commands and make calls.
A new Homelink option is available across the Volvo range for a RRP of £501 . With buttons integrated in the sun visor, Homelink allows the occupants to operate remote controlled home appliances, such as a garage door, home alarm and exterior lighting, without leaving the car. There are new colour additions with Savile Grey being added to S80, C30, V50 and S40. C30 looks very good in white. The new DRIVe range, under 120g/km, launched October 2008 starts at £15,410 OTR for the Volvo C30.
February 2009
Volvo C30 DRIVEe Start/Stop 1.6D, 109 hp/240 Nm, 104 g/km, 72.4 mpg. When the driver puts the gear lever into neutral and releases the clutch while at a standstill, the engine switches off. The next time the driver presses the clutch, the engine starts up again. This technology has reduced fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions by 4-5% in mixed driving conditions. Start/Stop technology is particularly effective in urban traffic, when the saving can be as much as 8%.
When the car is at a standstill and the engine is switched off, some electronic systems such as the air conditioning step down to standby level in order to save fuel. However, Volvo's Start/Stop system continuously monitors the comfort level and automatically reactivates the air conditioning if, for instance, the temperature increases in the passenger compartment. The system does not set any limits for comfort-focused features such as the sound system or other facilities that the occupants will want to maintain.
This innovative monitoring system has been made possible due to an additional small battery which supports the larger battery by providing extra power. Thanks to this extra battery, Volvo's DRIVe models also feature particularly quick and smooth start-up. The audio system also remains unaffected when the starter motor is activated. This distinguishes Volvo Car's solution from other systems offered by the competition. The standard larger battery has also been upgraded to handle up to 175,000 Start/Stop cycles.
The driver continuously receives feedback about system status via the in-car information display. The Start/Stop function can be engaged and disengaged via a DRIVe button in the centre console and in the default setting, the function is activated.
The second new feature in the C30, S40 and V50 DRIVe 1.6D with Start/Stop is a regenerative charge facility. This charges the battery as soon as the driver releases the accelerator or brakes while a gear is engaged. By harnessing the car's kinetic energy, the alternator does not have to use diesel fuel as a power source to recharge the car’s battery. Fuel savings of between 2 and 3% have been achieved with this function.
April 2009
DRIVe technologies combines with sports-inspired R-DESIGN bodykit to offer C30, S40 and V50 models with low levels of emissions and the highest levels of visual appeal. The new DRIVe R-DESIGN models are available to order now with prices starting at £17,240 for the C30 while the S40 and V50 start at £19,095 and £20,595 respectively.
May 2009
2010MY changes announced. Volvo C30 SportsCoupe, S40 saloon and V50 Sportswagon DRIVe models now all feature the intelligent new Start/Stop function which brings CO2 emissions down to 104 g/km and improves fuel consumption up to 72.4 mpg. The sports-inspired R-DESIGN specification and body styling has also been introduced to the DRIVe range offering CO2 emissions of 119 g/km and up to 62.8 mpg in all three models.
Prices for the C30 range start at £14,995 OTR for the entry level 1.6 S. The 1.6D DRIVe with Start/Stop variants start at £15,745. The S40 and V50 ranges start at £14,745 and £16,495 OTR for the 1.6 S models with the DRIVe with Start/Stop range commencing at £17,495 for the S40 and £18,845 for the V50.
What to watch out for
ESP warning light can indicate Fault Code "Boost Pressure Sensor G201". This is embedded inside Teves Mk 60 ABS systems and requires replacement of ABS control unit/pump. Seems to be age-related, occurring mainly in 3 - 5 year old cars. Does not necessarily lead to an MoT failure. If car has been Volvo maintained, Volvo will usually meet 70% to 100% of replacement cost. Bosch ABS systems do not have the problem. Only affects cars up to 2007 model year. Does not affect S40s fitted with Bosch ABS units. Cheapest cure £225 by www.sinspeed.co.uk
01-01-0001:Dodgy dealers and unscrupulous private vendors are now unplugging the ECU as no warning then shows on the dash. Replace the plug and the light 'ECU off' appears permanently whether you switch it on or off.
2010 TSB related to rising sump oil levels in D5 Diesel engines with a DPF which is caused by excess fuel entering the engine sump via cylinders during DPF regeneration cycles. The solution is to reprogram the engine management software to reduce the volume of fuel used during the regeneration cycle and drain the excess oil back to midway between the min/max levels on the dip stick, then keep an eye on it. Really, any engine that has had its lube oil contaminated by diesel needs a lube oil change.
25-10-2011:Timing belt tensioner of 2.5 litre Volvo engine can fail in as little as 50,000 miles, flinging off the belt and wrecking the engine, then landing the owner with a £6,000 bill.
16-01-2012:Turbo problem on 1.6TDCI/1.6HDI DV6 appears to be getting worse: Reader reports 1.6TDCI at 56,000 miles: "Car lost power plus growl/whine indicating turbo trouble - drove gently 3 miles to local garage where tech confirmed - pulled inlet rubber pipe and demonstrated wear in turbo bearings. He is quite clued up and knows a lot about this problem. There is a huge amount of evidence of similar cases in the Backroom forum and others, and there is clearly a serious problem affecting this engine. The cure is not just a new turbo, but new oil pipe, pump, pick-up, etc etc. Ford dealer prices for repairs are £1,200 for parts alone. There was a Ford TSB45/2008 about this. Newer engines (2008+) have modified parts. Apparently you can get a new turbo for £350 plus £120 for a "kit" of modified pipes/pick-up unions etc. from Transitpartsuk (International Parts Ltd) to fit next week. eBay supplier TransitpartsUK
07-09-2012:A/C condenser is a leaf trap that collects corrosive road salt leading to failure. Volvo is routinely replacing these FoC on cars up to 5 years old.
18-05-2015:Airbag 'SRS Airbag Service Urgent' warning light cam on in 2007 Volvo C30 1.6 diesel at 26,393 miles. Diagnostics of the Error Code revealed that the ‘Warning Symbol on the Combined Instrument Panel’ is faulty, i.e. the bulb/led has failed. To rectify the fault a new Combined Instrument Panel will be required at approx £700. Ridiculous so recommended airbagman.co.uk
02-11-2015:Two readers quoted daft amounts of money for the routine "necessary replacement" of the DPFs on their low mileage 4 and 6 year old C30 1.6 diesels that were running fine. One quoted £350 "for a new DPF". The other quoted £1,000+. Might be that Volvo used PSA's old Eolys system for the DPFs and this needed replanishing or replacing, not the DPF itself.
24-10-2016:Main bearing shells failed in 1.6 diesel engine of 2009 Volvo C30. Quoted £1,995 for a replacement engine.
21-01-2019:Problems reported qwith 2009 Volvo C30 1.6 diesel at 50,000 miles. For last 3-4 years mileage has been c4,000 a year. A forced re-gen (£241) was carried out in March 2018 and then a replacement DPF (£745) fitted in June 2018. Following a routine service in November 2018, an engine management warning light came on permanently. To correct this, apparently, requires replacement of the Eolys reservoir and a module damaged by fluid leakage from the reservoir. Estimated cost is approx. £1,000.
