Volvo Introduces Production Version of C30 Hatchback

C30 Photos

Volvos smallest car should be a lively ride, with decent power and a nimble, short wheelbase. (Photo: Volvo Cars of North America)

The all-glass hatch bordered by the cool looking taillights that also accentuate the Volvos strong shoulders. (Photo: Volvo Cars of North America)

A short rear overhang and wide stance makes the C30 look muscular; an impressive feat on a car this small. (Photo: Volvo Cars of North America)

The now-trademark Volvo floating center stack and upscale interior should make the C30 a very worthwhile competitor to the other hot hatches available. (Photo: Volvo Cars of North America)

Volvos Own Hot Hatch?

Hatchbacks are more popular than ever. With more people seemingly crowding our cities every day and less gas then ever before, the small and practical three- and five-doored cars simply make sense. And with predictable offerings from Volkswagen in the shape of the newly renamed Rabbit and legendary GTI, plus the upcoming Honda Civic hatchback bolstering the so-called hot hatch segment, the small-car scene is rife with offerings that are both sensible and fun. But surprise, surprise… now theres another one from a very unlikely source: Volvo.

Known for producing some of the safest cars on the planet, most of Volvos offerings havent been exactly thrilling. Even their most performance-oriented models; the R series, arent designed to go directly up against the uber-cars produced by their German competitors and their various tuning branches. But while Volvo may never build an M5-beater, they may now have a real honest-to-goodness hot hatch contender on their hands with the introduction of the new C30 hatchback.

Based on the C30 Design Concept, the new hatchback looks the part. Starting with the traditional Volvo rectangular grille that takes up a prominent position on the cars front end and is flanked by a pair of low, wide angled headlights that make the car look both unique and yet distinctly sporty, not to mention European, a steeply raked windshield leads to the very graceful sloping roofline (arguably the best in the business), and provides a frame for the upside-down-boat shaped windows. Below those windows on each side is the traditional Volvo shoulderline; aggressive, wide and very pronounced on the C30, they end abruptly at the tail, forming the majority of each taillight. The effect is awesome, and when combined with the all-glass rear hatch, the back end looks stunningly sporty, with dual exhaust finishing off the look.

Of course, no hot hatch would be complete if it only looked fast, therefore Volvo has given the C30 a little eco-friendly muscle to back up its styling. While the base 2.4L 5-cylinder may not be a fire-breather at only 168 horsepower, the optional 2.5L turbo five should make for an exciting ride, given its rating of 218 horsepower. And while Volvo has yet to supply any performance figures for the smallest model in its lineup, the C30 Design Concept on which the production model is very closely based (sporting a 260 horsepower version of the same 2.5L turbo five-cylinder motor) managed to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 6 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. Combine that impressive performance with four full-sized seats, luxurious appointments (not to mention Volvos very stylish signature interior design), plus the brands legendary high levels of safety, and the C30 should be a popular model.

Volvo hopes to sell 65,000 C30s per year, making up a large portion of the Swedish brands goal of 600,000 cars annually. As the President and CEO of Volvo Cars; Fredrik Arp commented, “The new C30 is a cool car.” We agree.

Recently Added To Our Network

2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Port Richey, FL	Price: $24,711
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Cherry Hill, NJ	Price: $24,998
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Cherry Hill, NJ	Price: $24,998
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Vienna, VA	Price: $16,999
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Canonsburg, PA	Price: $22,812
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Colorado Springs, CO	Price: $24,888
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Ballwin, MO	Price: $22,995
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Ballwin, MO	Price: $22,995
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Denver, CO	Price: $21,944
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Denver, CO	Price: $25,744
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Marietta, GA	Price: $25,595
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Marietta, GA	Price: $26,995
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Saint Paul, MN	Price: $24,900
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Salt Lake City, UT	Price: $20,995
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Silver Spring, MD	Price: $24,995
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Falls Church, VA	Price: $22,100
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Wilton, CT	Price: $20,995
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Dallas, TX	Price: $22,993
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Culver City, CA	Price: $23,495
2008 Volvo C30 T5 Version 1.0		Cherry Hill, NJ	Price: $26,398
2009 Volvo C30 T5		Augusta, GA	Price: $28,990
2009 Volvo C30 T5		San Jose, CA	Price: $29,991
2009 Volvo C30 T5		San Jose, CA	Price: $30,991
2009 Volvo C30 T5		Layton, UT	Price: $22,963
2009 Volvo C30 T5		Denver, CO	Price: $25,999
2009 Volvo C30 T5		Marietta, GA	Price: $26,895
2009 Volvo C30 T5		Marietta, GA	Price: $25,595
2009 Volvo C30 T5		Hurst, TX	Price: $25,973