Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe SE Start/Stop | New Car Review

“DRIVe Volvo’s ‘green’ C30 hard
and you won’t be sent to the naughty
corner. But do that and you’ll only
get 60+mpg. However, that’s a worst-
case result; on long runs there’s no
reason why you won’t see 85+mpg.
And all in a smart, pleasant to drive
sports hatch...”

ALL THIS FUSS ABOUT CLIMATE scientists faking figures so politicians can cynically up our taxes. But, come on now, these chaps have done us some good. After all, cars are becoming a lot more fuel efficient — which is money back in tax-payers' pockets — and of course we (importantly, that's 'we' as in the Whole Wide World) should be doing what we can to keep where we live in as good condition as possible so we'll have a nice place to live… well, at least until the end of the world in 2012 or when the next 'extinction' meteorite finds us!

To many peoples' surprise, more efficient cars can be just as, if not a whole lot more, enjoyable to drive than a 'gas guzzler'. One manufacturer doing their bit to give motorists good-to-drive, cleaner and more economical cars is Volvo.

And what better model to illustrate this fusion of DRIVing enjoyment and Economy than the aptly named DRIVe C30 (or, to give it its full name, the C30 1.6D DRIVe SE Start/Stop) — as tested here.

Designed to combine the best of hatchback and coupe qualities, this C30 starts as it means to go on with a sleek and sporty looking two-door body. Externally, it looks much like any other C30 but get closer and you'll spot some key differences: most obvious is the tailgate spoiler and, below the re-profiled back bumper, a silver rear diffuser.

Also new are distinctive alloy wheels with flush-fitting drag-reducing polished alloy covers (and very easy to keep clean they are too!) while at the front the grille is now partially blanked-off. Not so easy to spot is the 10mm reduction in ride height, 205/55 Michelin low rolling resistance tyres and the plastic panels designed to smooth the underbody airflow.

Several other important alterations include modifications to the turbodiesel engine's ECU software to optimise CO2 output and revised 3rd, 4th and 5th gear ratios, as well as low-friction oil to cut power losses in the manual gearbox.

The result of all this 'eco' tweaking is unquestionably worthwhile, particularly in the case of the Start/Stop-equipped version (there is a non-Start/Stop model) that very smoothly cuts the engine when the car comes to a stop in traffic and then, equally unobtrusively, restarts it when you pull away. Fuel economy is quite astonishing: 85.6mpg touring and 74.3mpg combined. Even our testers couldn't get below a 66.1mpg average. Going by the 85mpg extra-urban figure, you could travel around 850 miles on a single tank of fuel. And still have some in reserve. More good news is that you won't be paying any road tax thanks to the DRIVe's 99g/km CO2 emissions.

“Inside, the C30 is a
worthy competitor for the
likes of Audi’s A3 and
BMW’s 1 Series...”

Quite often 'going green' is really just a nicer way of saying 'going slow'. Not so the C30 DRIVe, which manages a decent turn of speed. The four-cylinder 1.6-litre diesel engine puts out 107bhp and 177lb ft of torque. Zero to 62mph takes 11.3 seconds and top speed is 118mph. The five gears are perfectly adequate for both town and country driving conditions and, thanks to the generous torque on tap from 1,750rpm, progress is smooth and refined and there are no problems overtaking. And unlike many similar cars, the C30 is an easy car to drive gently.

And on motorways the high top gear is fine; and with five instead of six gears, it's one less gear change to worry about while the C30 DRIVe lopes happily along at a steady 70mph with just 2,000 revs showing on the rev-counter.

Inside, the C30 is a worthy competitor for the likes of Audi's A3 and BMW's 1 Series. Climb aboard and your first impression is that it all feels very Volvo — solid and well finished with a nice mix of quality materials. Our test car's all black cabin worked especially well; and it feels airy. The instrument panel is attractive with easy-to-read graphics and restful green instrument illumination, there's a decent HiFi, the cabin is well insulated from both external and under-bonnet sounds and dual-zone climate control is a standard-fit feature.

A number of user-friendly features make the C30 an agreeable car to live with, including the amazingly useful pouch-type pockets that run the length of both front seat bases — until you've tried them you can't appreciate just how handy they are. You'll also find plenty of small cubbies throughout the cabin including a sliding-top storage box by the swan-neck handbrake and a two-tier, lidded centre armrest whose lid flips back 180 degrees to serve as a tray for rear passengers. When used as an armrest for those travelling up front it's just the right height and, unlike many, doesn't interfere with the handbrake operation. For the record, the compact handbrake works brilliantly. Also appreciated is the simple but effective parking ticked holder on the driver's side of the windscreen.

The C30 information screen keeps the driver well informed with readouts that include range to empty, the external temperature and the average mpg. Cruise control buttons sit on the spokes of the leather-wrapped steering wheel as do those for the remote audio controls. Front windows are electric one-auto shot items.

Automatic drive-away central locking is another boon, as is the ability to easily customise a good number the lighting, locking and window settings. And on those occasions you don't wish to use the Start/Stop, a push of a button will disengage it. Drive along less well-travelled roads and you'll find the compass integrated into the rear view mirror comes in useful; again, if you don't need it you can always turn it off.

“The DRIVe’s turbodiesel
is a fairly sweet natured
unit, letting you trickle
along at low town speeds
without complaint...”

Space in the front cabin is fine — there's certainly more of it than appears from outside, especially if you've been admiring the C30's tapered tail treatment. Along with good headroom and lots of legroom, the driving position — made better by the fact that you sit square on to the wheel; something that's crucial to genuine long-distance comfort — is first rate. The headrests are, as you'd expect, anti-whiplash. The well-shaped seats provide good lateral support and are both supportive and comfortable plus there's adjustable lumbar support.

The C30 has four seats and can accommodate four adults but rear passenger over 5' 11" will find headroom tight. Access to the inviting rear seats is okay because the front seats fold 'n' slide forwards out of the way. The rear seatbelts can occasionally get in the way of rear passengers entering or leaving but once settled in the back the individual seats — separated by a centre armrest — proved to be as comfy as those in the front and with good shoulder support. Outer armrests are built into the side panels and there's a neat flip-up bottle holder. Thanks to the long side rear windows, the view out is good.

Accessed through the easy-rising glass tailgate, the 433-litre boot is a reasonable size for a sporty hatch although this is not a regular Volvo estate so don't expect to bring a washing machine home in it. Fold down the pair of rear seatbacks and you have a 947-litre load bay and it's fair to say that for what it's intended, the C30 is perfectly fit for purpose.

Beneath the sturdy boot floor is a space saver spare — and yet another thoughtful touch is the pair of catches that hold the opened boot floor section in place. Oh, nearly forgot: there's also a small load-through hatch between the rear setbacks. In place of the usual roller blind, you get a rigid, pre-formed luggage cover that clips into place and which features a lidded rear section for loading shopping and smaller objects. The entire cover is easily removed and stored on the boot floor should you need to carry larger items — and it is a lot less fiddly to use than many roller blinds. Yet another clever touch.

The DRIVe's reduced ride height doesn't harm the C30's composed ride one jot. Quite the opposite, in fact: our test car felt notably sharper than the standard C30 going round corners. It drives well with a roll-free attitude and well-mannered dynamics. It's grippy, too, and feels predictable even when pressing on. And while it makes no allusions to being a hot hatch you can nevertheless have some fun chucking it about. For the record, the DRIVe makes use of electro-hydraulic steering and we had no issues with it at all, either in the city or out on the open roads.

The 1,560cc turbodiesel is a fairly sweet natured unit, letting you trickle along at very low town speeds without complaint. And when you need to get a move on, the throttle response is nice and crisp. Adding to its easy usability is the brilliant gear change quality and action of the five-speed 'box — it really is a delight to use. Selecting reverse is easy with no tricky indents, and the instant you select reverse gear it beeps and activates the audible Park Assist.

Volvo enjoys a well-earned reputation for safety and, as you'd expect, the five-star Euro NCAP-rated C30 is packed with safety kit starting with the obvious: six airbags, Follow Me Home headlights, audible and visual 'seat belt not buckled up' warning, anti-whiplash front head restraints and ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and EBA (Electronic Brake Assistance).

Added to this is SIPS (Side Impact Protection System), DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) and Volvo's Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) which detects and warns of vehicles in either rear blind spot.

The C30 DRIVe does it all and does it well: it rides well, handles well, is a pleasure to drive and is quiet at speed. Add in the distinctive sports coupe styling and the impressive fuel consumption and it's hard to think of a reason not to DRIVe one. — lfs+mw

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