I expect most CC readers are familiar with the Volvo C30, which was more than ‘just’ a cut-down S40 sedan because Volvo dug into their heritage to produce some characterful styling and the all-glass tailgate that drew heavily on the 1800ES and 480ES. Most enthusiasts would have paid attention to the T5 R-Design versions, this DRIVe version (not a typo) is as interesting.
The C30 was previewed by the very Volvo-sounding Safety Concept Car at the 2001 Detroit auto show, which was memorable for having a ‘lattice’ A-pillar with Plexiglas panels for improved visibility. I wonder what compromises were required for this arrangement; in any case while it got the desired media attention, the production C30 would be conventional in this regard. The car prioritised style over practicality with the tapering roofline that reduced cargo volume to just 233 L (8.2 cu ft) and meant the rear seat was only suitable for two.
After launching in Australia with Volvo’s 5-cylinder engine in standard, turbocharged and diesel versions, the 2010 facelifted model would see Volvo join the ranks of “eco-cars” that were becoming popular with the DRIVe (a similar ‘Efficiency’ version was sold in Europe from the C30’s debut). This included a stop/start system, smart charging of the battery, optimised gear ratios, aerodynamic body pieces, aerodynamic alloy wheels, low rolling resistance tyres
The 1.6L turbodiesel engine was combined solely with a manual transmission and produced 84 kW (112 bhp) at 4000 rpm and 270 Nm (202 lb-ft) from 1750 rpm, which was regarded as just adequate (0-100 km/h in 11.3 secs) but did achieve a combined fuel economy rating of 3.8 L/100km (61.9 mpUSg) and saw the grams of CO2 per kilometre figure limbo under the magical 100 barrier at 99. This was better than even a 3rd-gen 2010 Prius, thanks to the remarkable 3.3 L/100km (71.3 mpUSg) highway fuel economy, but not as good on the carbon dioxide front.
However this type of car has not sold too well in the Australian market, eg Ford dropped the Econetic version of the Fiesta after three years on the market and Volkswagen the Golf Bluemotion after two. When a total of just 2900 C30’s were sold in Australia, the DRIVe has to exist in very small numbers. Nevertheless, it may be just the car that someone will be looking for and I would assume that a lot of owners will be hanging onto their unique machines.
I will be doing regular posts in the coming weeks of the less-common car sightings I have been finding.
Further reading:
Ebay Find – 1989 Volvo 480 Turbo: Volvo Looks Forward And Backward
Curbside Classic: 1973 Volvo 1800ES – Most Beautiful Volvo Ever!
What a Yaris might look like if Volvo
had built it instead of Toyota.
I actually looked at one of these back in 2012 when I was considering replacing my 2004 Impala.
There are several of these in my area, but that’s probably because we have a Volvo dealer in the community.
These are nice-looking cars, but all that fixed side glass with no venting would require A/C much of the time. I needed a sedan, anyway, but as a third vehicle – well, that would be nice.
The C30 does remind me somewhat of a P1800…
My nephew had one of these, as a single guy it was perfect….up to a point. He quickly realized it didn’t have enough storage room for a budding graphics artist, and what storage room it had wasn’t all that secure. He traded it for a Honda Element.
I never got to drive it, he never offered and I never asked.
The problem with these otherwise nice cars (at least in the US) was the cost and whether these were worth paying extra for the Volvo name. The starting price for a C30 was more than the cost of a loaded Civic Si, which is of similar size.
That’s certainly a special find. The C30 didn’t become the success Volvo had hoped for, in contrast to their current successful C-segment model, the V40. The Opel Kadett among Volvo’s line-up these days, if you know what I mean.
Pretty little car, I like the glass tailgate as an homage to the P1800ES.
Like all newer Volvos, a lot of money for the car…I looked at an S60 in the showroom of my local dealer…cloth seats, no sunroof, basically a stripper, with a window sticker around $33k…why get that when a similarly equipped Accord is $24k…if you are going to pay for a luxury brand, at least get luxury equipment levels, etc.
I do find it mildly entertaining that the dealer is across the street from Ikea, there is some sense of symmetry to have Swedish style on both corners.
The local Volvo stores are owned by the same company, but the tone could not be more different…one is a Volvo-Porsche-Maserati store, staffed with pompous buttheads. The store I prefer is in West Chester OH, it’s Volvo-only, and the staff is much easier to get along with.
“The store I prefer is in West Chester OH, it’s Volvo-only, and the staff is much easier to get along with.”
Thank you, Sir.
My pleasure Zackman!
These are actually strangely common in Vancouver BC, I see them parked around West End fairly often.
I rented a C30 T5 in 2010 to drive from Vancouver to Calgary and back. Nice enough, but like many modern cars, it just had no personality. I wasn’t particularly impressed.
I always have liked the C30 a lot. Volvo has never had a big concentration on three door compacts, but this car managed to be unmistakably Volvo out of the gate. Gosh a 70mpg highway diesel sounds fantastic and Volvo’s great seats and relaxed highway demeanor sounds like a great package for me.
I doubt we would have ever got the diesel in the states, but there was a mistake in late 2000’s Volvo powertrains. The wagons early in the decade were the only way to get three rows and 30mpg highway. Then around 07-08, just as gas goes to $4-5 a gallon, here comes a 3.2 transverse inline six with 10% worse mileage. This threw out the window a major selling point. It also happened on the C30-S40-V50 where the 5 replaced the turbo 4 in earlier versions. The turbo 4 should have been updated and spread across the line as it is today.
Volvo is now probably to iffy to buy. At the local Volvo dealer recently there were 2 new S60s side by side. One was a 2015 made in Gothenburg with 42% Swedish parts, 28% German parts and an Aisen Japanese transmission. The 2016 next to it was made in Chengdu China with a Chinese engine and 60% Chinese parts. Volvo did not even wait for a change of style to move production.
John, just FYI, the only model made in China exported to the US is the S60L model with the longer wheelbase – all other Volvos, to include all other S60s, are still made in Ghent Belgium and at the main factory in Gothenburg.
While I was initially skeptical, I have to admit that Geely has been a much better owner of Volvo than Ford ever was. Ford mostly starved the brand of any development money while taking bits of it technology to use in Ford models. Volvo is really looking strong with the new XC 90 and S90 – with many new models to be introduced over the next several years.
And nice article John – I have a C30 T5 – a love it.
Thanks for clearing that up Lincolnman, I was wondering about that! Actually I don’t think I would have a problem with a Chinese-built Volvo because I’m sure they would be on top of quality, unlike say the Great Walls etc that have been sold here.
I was totally unaware of this variant of the C30 – great find!
If Minis are too common in your neighborhood, these are a distinctive alternative, evoking Volvo’s past without being as retro as the New Beetle ,the Mini or the
Fiat 500.
Very good-looking little car – one of the few of that size that I’d consider owning. Wasn’t aware of the DRIVe version, although I’ve seen a few around with those wheels on them, so assume we got them.
These are surprising common in Columbia, SC.
We have a longtime Volvo dealer, but other than the C30 our market seems to prefer the XC90/XC70 and V60s. Which is a challenge for me because I prefer the V70 turbowagons which are thin on the ground in the used market here.
61 MPG US! Wow. It’s a shame we get so few turbodiesels–seems like this could have been a nice alternative to a Prius or an Insight, albeit for a bit more money.
These were actually a couple of grand cheaper than what a Prius sold for here ($35k vs $37k), the Insight was $30k. The VW Golf Bluemotion was $29k, but the most economical car was the Ford Fiesta Econetic (1.6TD) at $25k.
Old gearheads are probably tired of engine compartments that feature a big, grey panel of PLASTIC!
Where’s the ENGINE?
In the case of common rail diesels the plastic cover is used for noise insulation as much as cosmetics, those injectors can be pretty noisy. Not surprising when you consider they run at around 26,000 psi fuel presssure!
Having a thing for hatchbacks, I checked out the C30 at the Detroit auto show every year.
Could not get past the restricted rear quarter visibility, the dinky hatch that made it difficult to load, and the price. No contest compared to a Golf.