The Volvo C30 - More Than Just "The Car from Twilight"?

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Today I drive for the first time the rather pretty Volvo C30. A car that has become a bit of a cult favourite - and I ask if it's more than just the vehicle of choice for a fictional vampire.
#Volvo #C30 #FiveCylinder
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[@JayEmmOnCars]

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[@fortheloveofnoise9298]

The pre-facelift version looks best IMHO. I am glad we got these in the USA, hard to find a good deal on a manual one though....fun cars like that have the "manual tax". You can get an automatic one for cheap though and I guess convert it with a brand new manual transmission and still spend less than on a factory manual one. In America, we only got the T5 engine, not even a 4 cylinder option.

[@Hermantrueman]

Cheaper options hpi check online 😮

[@chaospxl_]

i like the c30, because over time i realized that it's basically a spiritual successor of the Volvo 480, which is already one of my favourite volvos.

[@Eric_Hunt194]

"Over time..."??? How much time did it take you? It's obvious from the first sight!

[@forresttm]

1 look from behind and you can see it.

[@davidhall7744]

I have also hankered after a 480 for years - probs the main reason i’ll keep my C30 forever! 😉

[@DanPyjamas]

Ah I loved the 480.

[@richardharrold9736]

​@@DanPyjamasI used to think the 480 was so cool. Now, though, I think it looks utterly awful and has dated so so badly.

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

I was always team "Guy who nearly hit Bella with a van." He was the true hero of the series.

[@ArniesTech]

Heceven apologized.

[@carlosandleon]

He was the catalyst of the whole bullshit buddy

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

@@carlosandleon I guess there are no heroes in that story.

[@realmusicreallife]

Who cares

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

@@realmusicreallife Thanks for contributing.

[@Jamyllia]

i had a C30 D3 for 5 years, absolutly lovely car to drive.

[@Chris_UES]

My 84 year old mum is still driving her white C30 R petrol, owned from new with

[@ln5747]

The car or your mum?

[@OmgItsLeaa]

As a car girl, and especially a Volvo girl I’ve always adored these c30’s. I love the look of them, especially the facelift ones!

[@GoldenCroc]

Well get one then, if you got the space, before they are gone. The price seems low enough.

[@OmgItsLeaa]

I've got my project 2,5T v70 right now. Im quite busy. :) @@GoldenCroc

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

This is why cars are given female names.....because only women generally have facelifts...

[@mcgherkinstudios]

Bonjour. I’ve had a C30 T5 for the last 9 years. I ran it with 316bhp and 384lbft (not Nm!) for most of them, although I’m now building a 500bhp engine, and no, I never did find the limitation of the front wheel drive that the C30 has. Engine: The 2.4i is the best sounding engine you can get in a C30. Naturally aspirated 5 pots evoke the old S40 BTCC soundtrack, whereas turbo ones are more muted. However, all C30s are stupendously quiet as standard and an exhaust is highly recommended. The 2.4i does however drink like a T5 whilst lacking most of the performance. D3/4/5 are great diesel engines which all map to over 200bhp, and are a good alternative to a stock T5. T5 is pretty muted as standard but wakes up with tuning and is capable of serious performance. Floorpan is the same pretty much as a Focus, as it is with the S40, V50 and C70 of the time, which is why various things like ST exhaust centre sections and AWD from the 40/50 fit (and yes, that’s the same AWD setup the Polestar concept had) The seats in the R-Design you drove were half leather, half T-tec, which apparently is supposed to be an upgrade to the full leather seats offered in trims like the SE Lux. It also has a basic stereo trim and yes, the Dynaudio is fantastic in comparison. I’ve always said the C30 is more like a mini GT than a hatchback. The rear cargo and seating space is more akin to a 2+2 coupe like an Audi TT or Peugeot RCZ than it is a Focus etc. The T5 suits that with its midrange torque. It’s also a very good base for tuning rather than an exciting car out of the box. As a way of buyer’s advice, avoid the 1.6d, and avoid the Powershift auto gearbox. The other models range from okay to brilliant with the range toppers being the ones to have. I won’t go into detail here except to recommend visiting c30crew.com for technical info and Volvo C30 Crew UK for a great community. T5s are cheaper than that, at more like 4k for a reasonably tidy low specced one, although there’s a massive difference between that and a high specced model because of the amount you could spec (this is relatively low spec) But in all it’s a great review. I’m glad James liked it, and they really are an underappreciated car. The C30 was a genuinely good car to drive (even before you bless it with polybushed front wishbones which improve steering feel massively, and an upgraded rear anti roll bar to tame the body roll a bit), pitched at handling well in the real world rather than the track (Although if you want to see a C30 on track and in competition, there’s tonnes of videos of that and other hilarity on my channel). I’d love to have him drive mine, which he’s said he’d like to do too, but it’ll have to wait whilst I build a much spicier engine for it.

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

Good summary 👍🏻

[@Matt-go7ss]

Do those diesels have Dpfs?

[@joeshimbart4103]

While based on focus mk2 floor plan being a Volvo it had a fair bit of additional strengthening added I seem to remember it being 300kg or so heavier then an equivalent Clio !!!

[@mcgherkinstudios]

@@joeshimbart4103 They are a lot heavier than the Clio, but it’s mostly due to what is built on top of that floorpan. The stiffer crash structures were in the body, and the interior is WAY more furnished than a Clio. I had a 172 at the same time as I bought my T5. Clio was a rattly fun go kart that changed direction immediately, whereas the Volvo was a leather sofa in comparison, but even stock it would comfortably match the pace of the Clio, and all the other clios my friends drove in the Clio community.

[@mcgherkinstudios]

@@Matt-go7ss Yes, on the C30. Early P1 Volvos (S40/V50) came without, but the C30 wasn’t launched until 2007.

[@hexgraphica]

This is an example of what makes me think automotive styling hasn't moved that far since, or in the wrong direction if it did

[@GoldenCroc]

Certain amount of it is regulations, sadly.

[@jclouw321]

A few fun facts about the C30/P1 platform from a Volvo nut (have had 2 C30 T5's at the garage at one point, as well as a stupid number of various P80/P1/P2/P3 Volvos): Fact 1: The P1 platform that the C30 sits on, while often called a "Ford" platform, was largely engineered and developed by Volvo. While many people (especially here in the US where we don't get the cool Ford models) see that era of Volvo as "rebadged Fords", Ford actually did the miraculous thing of throwing money at Volvo to essentially do what they have been doing for decades. They would then take the engineering of Volvo (the 5 cylinder found in the ST/RS, various safety engineering inventions, little trim pieces like the "climate control guy", suspension technology, etc.) and put it in Ford/Jaguar/Land Rover products, basically using Volvo as the development team for the whole Ford umbrella. This is in stark contrast to Volvo's kinship company Saab, which when bought by GM was essentially stripped of all useful technology and then used as actual rebadged GM models until it died a painful death. Fact 2: The C30, while a common car in the UK/Europe, is extremely rare in the United States. Across the 5-6 years they were in our market they sold less than 20k models. The e46 M3 for example has a sales figure around 65k models. Fact 3: The C30/P1 platform Volvos were the first small car to use Boron steel as well as a revolutionary method of multiple steel types to create its chassis/crumple zones, making it one of the safest small cars ever made to this day. Fact 4: The C30 T5 is basically a turbo swap away from Ford Focus RS500 levels. There are kits that swap the stock K04 turbo for the K16 turbo and auxiliaries found in the RS500. So for around $5k use you can take a C30 from around 230hp to about 420hp. Fact 5: There are definitive guides to swap in the AWD drivetrain from an s40/v50 T5 AWD to the C30. While expensive, it is possible and not the most difficult thing to do. 2000's era Volvos really are a gem in today's car market that are being slept on, ESPECIALLY the P1's. While now overshadowed by the beautiful SPA era Volvos, the Ford era cars really combined the best of what Volvo does into one package with the P1/P2/P3 cars. Good power, reliable when cared for, simple to work on, and will last forever in the right hands.

[@EnglishTMTB]

Used to have a C30. Now doing big motorway miles, the P3 S80 with the D5 on board is as good a waftmobile as you'll find - not super thrifty, but not gutless either... And super comfortable whilst not being useless when pushed harder than you can realistically go on British roads.

[@mcgherkinstudios]

I do have to point out a couple of inaccuracies - Fact 1 is just wrong, the C1 platform is fully Ford developed including the control blade suspension, but Volvo engineered the T5 to fit within it, and of course built the bodies which are far better put together and more robust than the Focus. Fact 4 is kinda misleading, the C30 will match the RS’s power levels on the stock turbo, and the RS500’s performance too, since it’s just an RS with a remap and the RS is very heavy, but the RS K16 is popular and works well, but kinda sits in that no man’s land between having to do lots of supporting mods to support a big turbo, but also not maximise the available performance unlocked by those modifications. Also they tend to be pretty expensive. But yeah, pretty much bang on. The cooking models of C30 just weren’t sold at all in the US and I kind of get why but elsewhere where people actually would buy them they made a killing.

[@-Lucky-Six-]

@@mcgherkinstudios the last bit of "Fact 1" is not exactly factual either..... a Saab 93 owner

[@kjlav9425]

The Volvo isn't a turbo swap away from an Rs500 🤦 The standard Rs has titanium valves forged rods different ECU, turbo, intercooler throttle body, injectors, suspension, brakes stronger block & 81 hp difference between the Rs & C30/St. The Rs500 has over 120hp on the C30.

[@mcgherkinstudios]

@@kjlav9425 He said power levels, not a turbo swap away from being the same engine. The RS also has plasma sprayed liners. A C30/ST can achieve 330bhp and 400lbft on stock turbo, more power outright than an RS and the same power to weight as the RS500, with significantly more torque. Of course that’s comparing modified C30/ST to stock RS, but he’s not wrong.

[@NightfallDrives]

Glad to see you enjoyed the C30 James, I maintain you were stitched up with the DB9 swap 😉 Honoured to see it promoted above Winter Banger! A quick update - the resonator delete has not really improved things (despite seeing a convincing 'before and after' YT video 😆) Now looking at other options... The long-term mpg has improved a bit to 33mpg, the pre drive-by timing of my trip computer reset didn't help 😆 Thanks again James for a great video on what seems to be a rare addition to the garage!

[@harrysmbdgs]

Have you considered putting the back half of a T5 exhaust on it for the dual tailpipes? Not sure if it would improve the sound much, but the symmetrical tips look much better IMO!

[@ForgetfulFoot]

I had Heico exhaust on my c30. It sounded great. Heres a video of it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2XaeYqBfJ6gj7ssi=gVI96Yxkqmp86LAz

[@NightfallDrives]

Absolutely, would like to get twin pipes in there - the bumper has the required gap, just blanked off! A T5 system might work, but the bore is slightly larger so I'd need to work out how to connect it up. With the lack of any real aftermarket for this particular car, my other options seem to be either backbox surgery, or bespoke fabrication.... I'm liking the sound of the latter (no pun intended)

[@mcgherkinstudios]

The KMS Thunderstorm is very popular on the T5, good sound but not too loud. I’d be tempted to get that and then either graft on a different flange to connect to the stock downpipe or have a custom downpipe made. KMS might even do it themselves if you contact them. Also focus on induction more than exhaust, even if it means having an open cone in the engine bay, it might lose a little power but will pick up so much character.

[@NightfallDrives]

Thanks, I saw that one when shopping around, will take a closer look 👍 I was thinking of trying a K&N OEM shape filter first to see if induction noise can be improved, will see what happens..

[@sl7608]

As a current owner of a 2013 C30 this was a fantastic watch. I can confirm the upgraded stereo and leather interior really lift the overall experience. I’ve had zero issues with reliability which is a refreshing change as a previous BMW owner.

[@joshunterreiner5793]

Im Looking to buy a 2013 R-Design, I was wondering if yours ever had any issues and if they are expensive repairs?

[@algperformance6209]

We love and support the C30 platform. Theres a huge cult following for all engine and models on the pages we sponsor too. Thanks for covering such a great little car.

[@AntoniusTyas]

Volvo C30 is one of the coolest Volvo ever made. And in my book, Volvo is not short of cool cars. 850 R, S60 R, C30 and current V90 are amongst my favourite. Shame that the C30 Polestar Concept and S60 Polestar (the 500+hp ones) never made it into production.

[@tomspain6696]

"Fred was a Crip and Jason was a Blud" Just spat my morning coffee out... Thanks Jay Emm

[@marvinbenjamin9908]

Underrated comment 😄

[@1anwatson]

The R design is essential imo , loved mine when I had one a few years ago

[@walthefl]

Definitely agree, have been looking for one every in a while for a year or so now. Always filter to only see the r design ones since the normal plastic fenders are quite ugly imo. Btw you guys in the uk are pretty happy if it comes to C30s: I’ve recently found a website called “the parking” where you can find cars across all of Europe and the cheaper c30s with d3/d4 tend to be in the Uk…

[@IVIRnathanreilly]

@@walthefl I think the problem is that old people drive Dacias now and the ideal target audience see Volvo and run.

[@nboy7]

I had a Polestar edition of this car for about 7 years, no joke it was the most enjoyable daily ive EVER owned, and Ive owned a Porsche 911 Carrera 4S and a Roush Stage 3 Mustang. The Volvo had the nicest exhaust sound, it had the right amount of balance between sports, comfort and GT, its extremely easy to drive and park, and you can mod them to the moon and back. Also most importantly you feel ultra safe driving it, feels like being in protective coccoon, and mine was remarkly problem free, i had an oil filter housing leak and that was about it.

[@StrawberryFieldsUK]

I've had one for the last six years, no joke it's the best and most reliable car I've ever had!

[@potatochobit]

at 100,000 miles you should have already neeed wheel bearings and brake pads, better check again if you hear loud rumbling noises.

[@kristoffer3000]

@@potatochobit Oh no, possibly having to change wear items at 100k miles?! OH THE HUMANITY

[@krudmuphinstudioz]

I owned a Volvo S40 T5 (basically the same car) and conversely it was the most unreliable car i've ever owned.

[@princesssolace4337]

I like it too but loads of my mates got into Volvo, I've already got a 2dr hatch

[@princesssolace4337]

​@@krudmuphinstudiozmaybe it's just u ... not all cars are meant for us

[@anthonywatkins2783]

My wife had a C30 from new as a company car, it was our first Volvo, it really did not disappoint, we both loved the styling and the driving experiance, unfortunately when it came time to change cars they were no longer made so we bought a Volvo V40 which was also a great car BUT the C30 was and still my wife’s favorite car.

[@The_R_Vid]

I love my 2013 C30 T5 w/ Polestar ECU upgrade and 6speed manual (fairly rare in North America). As a daily commuter, it's fantastic. Small, nimble, massive torque at 1500rpm. Rarely ever need the rear seats, so accessibility really doesn't matter. Rarely carry stuff in the hatch, so security isn't a big issue. Factory stereo has the best audio quality of anything I've owned to date, and the Bluetooth still pairs every time to my modern phone, and steering wheel controls work just fine for audio streaming services. Factory LCD display still shows what song/podcast/audiobook is playing.

[@MiyanoShuumei]

I love the styling at the rear

[@ryannatividad3137]

I've always loved the look of these cars. This design was super iconic and love the retro touches. Volvo really made an interesting turn with design with the S60, and then the C30 around this period. I think the non-turbo five cylinders from this period are pretty reliable based on my family's experience. Here in the States, my mom is driving the 2005 Volvo S60 with the 2.4 and auto transmission to this day. They no longer use it for long trips, so it is mostly her in-town daily driver, but with over 200,000 miles, my parents have had virtually no major mechanical problems with the car. The fuel economy tracks...I borrowed the S60 last summer for a trip up to Lake Tahoe from the Bay Area where they live, and it returned around 23 MPG for a summer trip to the mountains. Mostly easy highway driving, with some incline and elevation. There are two main drawbacks with the 2.4 non-turbo that I've found (at least in the S60, which is somewhat larger/heavier than the C30): the engine felt underpowered and takes quite a bit of effort to get up to highway speed/climb a hill, and the fuel economy is quite poor for the performance, especially by modern standards. As far as I know, these engines were never really offered with the manual here in the US, I would assume the C30 chassis and manual transmission makes a significant difference in livening up the powertrain a bit.

[@mountain_walker]

Had a T5 V50, loved it. Bought a V90, love that too - I've met very people who don't like Volvo's and whilst they might always be peoples first choice, they're definitely respected.

[@cologne2792]

As I never go near the ULEZ zones, the 2.4 5-cylinder diesel has always appealed. 180 bhp / 300 lb/ft and 40+mpg with a warble.

[@EnglishTMTB]

Superb engine. Unfortunately in C30's usually mated up to a rather woeful automatic box. Great engines though - and incredible value for money used in the big old S80.

[@deadmansfire]

Mine does 37mpg on a good day.

[@EnglishTMTB]

@@deadmansfire D5?! Something's wrong with it if you're getting that little. I have to properly abuse mine to get below 40mpg, and that's in a pretty heavy S80 (P3)... 50+ combined is very much the norm, and I'm a very long way from a hypermiler 😂😂😂

[@mcgherkinstudios]

I have a C30 T5 and a V50 D5 with a remap. The D5 is as quick as the T5 was stock, but much better on fuel. I hate to use the term, but the 5 pot diesel options are the thinking person’s options for the C30 and are fantastic. T5 is fantasticer but you need a screw loose.

[@deadmansfire]

@@EnglishTMTB It's an auto and I'm rather aggressive with it. Maybe I'll try to see how economical it can be next trip. 7.7/100 ltr/km right now

[@AdmiralSym]

I have a T5 6MT in orange, I love it!

[@MartinJones123]

Same, though mine is Blue and has a Ford badge 😂

[@PriitKaru]

Had a 2006 C30 T5 manual that looked just like the example in the video as a project in the summer of 2023. I'm happy and proud to have contributed to keeping one of these rare and beautiful machines on the road. My initial small summer hobby car budget exploded though as I had to rebuild the engine, replace pretty much every bit and piece in the chassis & many more small details. It's probably on me though as I bought the car from a "Volvo enthusiast" and skimped on the initial pre-purchase inspection (just went to check the basics at an MOT place). Anyhow, the car itself was just lovely, the silky smooth 5-cylinder with the equally pleasant 6-speed, a comfy and stable ride in all conditions, just sooo nice! I just loved the unique love-or-hate look of the thing, it was just so "me", reminded me of my old E87 1-series with its divisive styling.

[@_que]

I was thinking of the 1 series 3rd hatch as well...

[@ThePapaja1996]

i have the 2.4i liter automatic

[@Balfour99]

Ohhhh super review again. I had one of these in the same lunar white, but T5 and manual. I loved it. I was pulled over by the police once in Roehampton and the officer was really enthusiastic about it, saying he missed his T5 police estate, still gave me a ticket though….. It was so swift. Such a shame Volvo don’t make an exciting hatch anymore. In fact they don’t make anything exciting anymore. C’mon Volvo !!!!

[@corneliusschmidt3549]

Bcs they the wokest of them all

[@tug1345]

The 1.6 petrol is Ford, 1.8 & 2.0 petrol is Mazda , the 2.0 is quite decent performance, the 2.4 and T5 both being Volvos 5 cylinder , the 1.6 & 2.0 4 cylinder diesels are Ford/PSA , the D5 is Volvos, the last couple of years of production they replaced the 2.0d with a 2.0 version of the 5 cylinder diesel badged D3 and D4, the S spec is lowest , SE spec is high spec, R design is the sporty one with firmer suspension, I've owned a lot of Volvos, I've been looking at these for a while now , interesting to know the lower spec stereo isn't very good, I'll be making sure I get the higher spec one, my S60 has the upgraded 13 speaker system with 4 cd multichanger in the dash, it does sound good, I like the engine noise of my S60, but my previous C70 was better

[@6ettinold]

These C30's are everything the Scirocco was trying to be. I used to own a 480 and the tiny boot with the daft cover and twin rear seat are familiar.

[@faith1980]

I currently own a 2.4i RDesign version in New Zealand, it was a Japanese import. Slightly lowered and modified exhaust. 2009 (pre-facelift) model in White. It's a great car, picked it up for $6k nzd, about £3k gbp. It came with NO service history, so I had the cambelt and water pump done, as well as a cv boot replaced. It's never let me down and puts a smile on my face every day that I drive it. Yes the fuel economy isnt great, but I dont do that many km's in it, so it's not an issue. Always loved this car and would happily have another one (preferably with a sunroof)

[@breseler]

Had a C30 T5 courtesy car from my Volvo dealer while my V50 was in for service. Thought it a good looking car with hints of the 1800 ES. Couple of design facts I was told - the shape of the floating centre console is supposed to represent a Scandinavian chair design and the keypad panel was made to look like a Bang & Olufsen hifi remote control...

[@125daxJ]

Not really a volvo guy but I like its look. Driving on old 2002 C class diesel and I have to admit that although fabric interiors aren't the best (particularly french), I find them with less negative aspects than leather woch in the summer is smoking hot and in the winter, yeah...

[@leer.2137]

Always wanted one, NEVER was able too get one 😪 {nice too travel the rural roads with you}

[@PaulHo]

Still such a looker, and a way better choice than the rest of the segment at the time.

[@spicyroo4429]

We absolutely love our 2012 t5. Drives way too smooth and quiet even at 100mph+. Feels like a little tank!

[@spicyroo4429]

oh also ours averages 18 US mpg 😅

[@breabanm]

Had a C30 as a service replacement for a few days while my V40 was being repaired under warranty at a Volvo dealership. Damn I still absolutely love the V40, but those few days with the C30 with a 5 cyl diesel were a lot of fun! I even searched for a used one here in Germany, but never found one to check all the boxes. I am now driving my second V40 with the 177 hp 5 cyl diesel and the sound of it never gets old.

[@kevinellsworth6335]

Never heard of this T5 version before ... I live in Germany ran a search a low mileage version goes for between 11 and 22 thousand here...

[@ThePapaja1996]

that existed a eletric version two

[@carguy792]

They was big over in the uk along with the ford focus fitted with the same 5cylindrr turbo

[@michaelmazani]

I owned a c30 for five years, best car ever!!!!!

[@RichieRouge206]

The whole appeal of a car like this is that it ISN’T all the predictable German fodder, some people like to be different. I had a V50 T5 which was cheaper as it was a grandad estate but it was so much fun. And yes the stereo is a nightmare to upgrade. Great review.

[@__-fm5qv]

I like that I have an excuse not to be a taxi for everyone because its impractical lol. It can take people or luggage, generally not both.

[@jukedave8836]

I bought a black 58 plate C30 T5 with 90k in 2014 and have ran her every day since. 170k on the clock now (serviced by Volvo specialist since ownership) and the engine is still really sweet, pulls strong from 3000rpm the 5 cylinder is a dream I love her. Got 18" black rims with red calipers which sets off the look great but still kinda discreet. Steering's not great - minimal feedback it does feel a bit numb, premium tyres also advised. Economy for shorter runs can be 24-27mpg but on a run at 75 she'll average 32-35mpg and 60L tank so not horrendous. Clutch went last year (the 1st one) which was about £1300 but that's the biggest bill she's ever given me in 10 years. Still puts a smile on my face and that's what all this is all about right?

[@saulmc8920]

Volvo T5s are fantastic

[@potatochobit]

until they leak oil on the floor and need a new timing chain cover for 1000$ and then another 1000$ PVC box replacement.

[@saulmc8920]

@@potatochobit never happens ... I did 6000 miles in 1 and that never happened

[@olivierb9091]

@@potatochobit It has a belt, and when buying it's a simple check to know whether it leaks oil. Turbo is the only weak point, will go out at 200-300k km.

[@mcgherkinstudios]

@@potatochobit You got screwed. PCV housing, which includes the oil filter housing and a new filter, is like £150.

[@benjaminmarriott6742]

*T5's can be fantastic. I'm not denying the other engines may well have been successful, but when you throw that extra cylinder in, especially n/a, for the driver's eargasms, no turbo chop, as a daily, it's better than that four ring coup' that flashed past 😊 You're no weirdo James, 5 bangers have the warble❤

[@litaf4889]

Ive had my C30 for half a year and it's been great. Under 100k miles, I did all the maintenance it needed after buying it. I have silver T5 Rdesign, have started modifying it to get it to 300 HP and be a fun daily driver for years to come.

[@JoshuaKoerner]

The C30 was my dream car in high school. Loved these. Having driven many many more hours than I would ordinarily in recent weeks, I don’t know if I would go for it though, just on fuel alone. Would love to have the 5 cylinder, but I don’t know if it’s still as compelling a package as it once was. Would love to have one for a week perhaps.

[@Conceptcreator]

I had the Volvo C30 and I LOVED it too bits

[@CX06]

That white and brown combination is great, a lovely looking car.

[@nickchatburn]

Great car… friend of mine had one, modified it was a proper weapon. Only thing that let it down was the brakes. But get them upgraded and some nice KW coil overs, an exhaust and tune and it’s basically an RS in sheep’s clothing. Beautiful design and bullet proof reliability. 👍

[@BrennanLetkeman]

yeah! '09 C30 T5 with the stick and I love it. it's built better than german cars a decade newer and just sort of does everything really well in an effortless understated way

[@swalmerfrompa]

I have a 09 C30 as well, had it since 2011. Over time I upgraded a few things like silicone coolant and intercooler hoses, and replaced the plastic intake manifold, thermostat housing, and coolant expansion tank with metal pieces. also, upgraded the CBV and TCV with turbosmart options and a Gates kevlar timing belt. Stage 1 Autotech remap as well, I plan to keep my C30 for many years to come. I consider it an R (Refined) model 😊

[@Mike-rk8px]

When the C30 came out here in the US I immediately wanted one. I had a few Volvo’s before and the build quality was excellent, but they weren’t lookers. The C30 is gorgeous, and considering how many cookie cutter cars are on the road, the C30 looks different from everything else.

[@autobahnproven]

I know a guy who has a T5 putting out a true 400bhp+ through the 5 speed auto transmission. It's been a few years now with these mods and no issues apart from the usual old car stuff. Important though to let everything warm up (oil mainly) before giving it welly then driving gently a few minutes before your destination to let everything cool down a bit.

[@JD-qd1bp]

Had one of these back in 2008 as a company car, one of my favourite cars and I’ve had many cars before and after. Was a D5 and even sounded great for a diesel. Felt very quick at the time and was 100% reliable. Loved it…

[@EnglishTMTB]

Heck, a D5 sounds better than most similar powered petrols on the road (most of them being fairly unspectacular 4-cylinder affairs). Really enjoyable in a P1, and equally also the best all-rounder in the bigger P3 platform cars... Economy of a diesel but without sounding like a tractor? Winning formula in my book.

[@Rich.Aardvark]

Thank you sir for getting this beautiful car on your prestigious show. 😁 I love my C30

[@matthewbarrett348]

It's interesting what you say about T5 insurance. I had a T5 at 18 years old, and it was cheaper to insure than any equivalent with a similar engine/power. My brother has a MK5 Golf GTI (I'm an identical twin) and his insurance is double the price the T5 is! It's nice to see someone reviewing the C30, they are definitely underrated 👌

[@paulrobinson3528]

A good friend of mine in Texas has bought a C30 for his daughter as a first car, yep, the T5 version. Teens in this country can only dream of a 6 odd seconds to 60 car without paying massive insurance. Oh and his other daughter has a C70, yep, the T5 version

[@allylovespendulum]

Finally. Glad to see you have a go in one of these.

[@douglasvalade]

I own a c30 2.4i 2009 .. l love the car good pick-up nice model and fun to drive . Coming up to 200,000 miles. Yeah l'm from north America, Canada to be exact

[@lostinbluespace5210]

Great engines, father in law had a V70 with the 2.4i in it. Was still going strong with 170k miles on it. C30 is great little car with some big engine options for its size I always thought.

[@joeshimbart4103]

Thanks for the review Jay really enjoyed this one I did around 140k miles in my C30 T5 - I really miss the car while not perfect it was great and always drove like a larger car. The vibration issue could well be feathering on rear tyres common issue the camber was fixed but very variable from the factory I replaced mine with an adjustable item and helped eek more life from rear tyres with no detriment to road holding. I also found the standard suspension under damped and destroyed itself over time - replaced it with a Bilstein kit that improved handling but ruined the ride!!! It did have lots of silly faults and Ford bits that broke and the engine despite 230bhp never felt like it was as fast as it ought to have been but was creamy smooth and cruised beautifully. The seats were great so comfortable on long drives. For all it’s imperfections I shouldn’t have liked it as much as I did but great car it kept me happy and safe for many years - thanks Volvo :-)

[@cammyd7514]

Great video as always! . I had a 2011 C30 D3 R-Design (facelift) when I was 18 with the same pop-up sat-nav as the astons of the time, the car I had was a 2.0 5-cyl Turbo Diesel. It was fantastic on fuel and had good performance especially with that mid-range diesel torque, averaged around 45mpg and could hit 60mpg on a motorway run, sounded great, looked great (in white) and was a fantastic second car for me at the time. I miss the quirky design and comfy R-Design seats, so much in-fact that I have turned one into a heated desk chair. I miss my C30 but have an 320Ci e46 now which i equally enjoy for its own reasons.

[@richardbroom4324]

I do have a soft spot for a c30. Always loved the 480, so only to ge expected

[@xskeetskeetskeetx]

I've always loved the way this thing looks.

[@adamcarolan5884]

I’ve got 3 P1 Volvos currently. A 1.6d C30, 1.8F C30 and T5 C70. They’re cracking cars and depending on the spec some are extremely well handling, absolutely love these cars and they allow you to soak up the miles! Plan on always having a C30 as a daily until I need to upsize

[@Isaki138]

Sorry but an Mk1 Yaris handles better than even a heavily modified P1 Volvo. They understeer way too much and the weight balance...

[@adamcarolan5884]

@@Isaki138 focus ST/RS has the same platform/ configuration and nobody complains about them. Only thing they lack is steering feel. The duratec cars are actually really light on there toes and much lighter in the front. I’ve got 235 tyres on my car with the sport pack suspension and it handles windy irish roads really well.

[@Isaki138]

@@adamcarolan5884 ST/RS don't have the C30's super heavy doors and other penalties from Volvo's safety. The weight balance in the C30 is definitely awful. Suspension setup can be fixed with mods but you can't fix the weight. For whatabout people complain, you mustn't forget every brand fan lives in his own bubble. I have switched torquey power for lightness and that's what fits me.

[@jaspal666]

Oh, a NA 5cyl has my heart. Had 2 non turbo Audis. Both were lovely.

[@Manoah.]

I own a 2008 C30 D5, awesome car.... Lovely 5 cilinder sounds even for a diesel, good looks, good MPG, decently quick and very reliable

[@robertcraparotta]

After a long search I found an '09 T5 manual in white...such a sweet car and yes it's looks hold up in todays market. There's something nostalgic about a 6 stacker CD and not having bluetooth reminds me of a quieter time when answering your phone was something you did when you got home. It's hot ass, waterfall console and auto folding mirrors gives this car just enough uniqueness and you don't see many on the road here in Sydney Australia. Thanks for the cool video mate.

[@Matt-go7ss]

These remind me of the 480 coupe

[@Dan23_7]

I saw one just last Saturday at our local Morrisons, a white one. ES 480… cheese wedge

[@liamholcroft7212]

they were designed to to be similar/ took design cues from the 480

[@saxon-mt5by]

@@liamholcroft7212 I was running a 480ES when the C30 was announced; Volvo made plenty of references in their publicity to the P1800 but chose to ignore the 480 completely.

[@Matt-go7ss]

I love these cars, especially in the brown

[@arturasvalaitis4702]

Oh man, I was waiting for this video for a long time. I had this T5 while I was living in UK 10 years ago. And what a car. Writing this comment before watching video. I trust your judgement.

[@LucaDavies]

Glad to finally see you in a C30! I've got a 2010 facelift, base spec, 1.6L diesel, DrivE variant. Not your performance or greatly luxury vehicle, but still has the outstanding looks, is very comfortable, and is as firm and safe on the road as you could ever be. And without too much effort, it averages 62MPG reported, which, when you actually do the maths on fuel usage, comes to an actual 55MPG - in a 13/14 year old car! And the DrivE variant also pays £0/year road tax. It's still a Volvo, so repairs can cost, but daily running is virtually pennies.

[@keithgilbert9240]

Kinda reminds me of the 480, especially the rear tailgate. I had a white 480 Turbo back in the day, enjoyed it immensely.

[@bradfoster8146]

I've had my 2011 C30 T5 R-design for 1 year, and i can say, it's been wonderful! I've taken it on so many trips with my wife and dog, and with a roof box on top, we can fit all we need! It also sounds great with an aftermarket exhaust

[@jimbob2405]

I had this engine in a V50. Sounded incredible. Absolutely bags of torque. Used to drag itself around small roundabouts in 5th without ever feeling stressed.

[@mrradman2986]

Back in the day I was one of those who thought Volvo made cars for OAPs. Lancia Beta Coupes and Audi Quattros were more my thing. A year ago I finally bought one, coincidentally as I entered my 60s. It s a V60 recharge and it is a bit of a Q car. Performance would make my 3.2 Boxster work hard to keep up but what really impressed me is the chassis engineering. It is well balanced easily coping with instant changes from FWD to RWD as you switch from IC to battery modes with good turn in and well controlled roll given the extra weight of the battery.

[@mrkevinmurphy]

Had a 2007 one of these for several years, great car. The original front design was much better looking than the refresh.

[@davemoth52]

I’ve got a face lifted, 2010 C30 T5R manual, had it 8 years now and no plans to change it. Only issues I’ve had was the air con condenser failed, a common fault, but an upgraded replacement part has been fitted. Electronic steering lock gave up when the cars was 8 years old,other than that just routine maintenance. It’s fast, comfy and different, I love it. Mine has the upgraded sound system which sounds great and I’ve fitted an aftermarket Pure DAB radio as an improvement. Check the windscreen seal, many Volvos from this era suffer with water leaks, but this is likely to have been sorted by now. Mixed driving sees about 30mpg for me, which I can live with.

[@roundlake96]

In Sweden the NA 2.4 5c still is a very common everyday engine. Most seen in the v70 and v40 it did get much attention but in the C30 it really stood out.

[@alanaldous5736]

The wobble on acceleration is an aftermarket driveshaft..

[@ca9968]

I had a 2L petrol in manual for a short time as a "Company Car" when I worked in a used car dealer in Johannesburg in 2015...not the fastest thing around but very comfortable and easy to drive, the black leather seats in it were amazing when stuck in the notorious peak hour traffic on Johannesburg`s highways...

[@__-fm5qv]

Yup I own the 2L petrol, I'd describe the pace as "adequate", it'll merge and overtake just fine as long as you're willing to rev it out, and theres enough low down torque to potter about town in 4th and 5th with no issues. I am tempted to see what can be done with the engine though to boost its performance.

[@tomthompson7400]

ive had two ,,, frankly they dont go as well as you would expect them to , and they are prone to running bearings , but they are very comfy , very very quiet and overall not a bad seat to be sat in , they are under the radar but missing 30 horses at least .

[@chestnut01111]

My late father's V70 has the same engine as this. Not fast, but distinctive and very good overall. 2000 W, he had it new and only 50,000 miles

[@stuggyg01]

I have had my 2009 2.0d non dpf C30 prefacelift since 2020. A good work car, pulls well and good torque power. I have went through 2 wheel bearings front in 10k miles and the c30 can be heavy on the front axel and cv boots will go. Over all a great car its just very unique and one of the last 'shooting brake' design hatches.

[@TheKatWeasel]

I had a c30 2l diesel as my first “proper” car, and I absolutely adored it. Sunroof, heated seats, mid spec audio, cruise, 50+mpg, it was an early model sport pre r design and if my e36 lets me down anytime in the future a d5 c30 would be atop the list to replace it!

[@jellepetje]

I'm currently the owner off a C30 2012 (D2 with a stage 1 chiptune and a lot of options) for the last 3 years, bought it at 160.000Km's and are currently on 300.000Km's. I am convinced that for me personally this is the best 'normal' car i will ever drive (apart from a replacement C30 with better engine). It feels so unique, is a lot of fun to drive when you push it and it always gives me te feeling that I can trust on it during. I am convinced that i will always own a C30 for the rest of my life, even if it's as a garage princess and a different car as a daily.

[@stevesteve1965.]

I had the S40 T5 which quite frankly was rapid,an astonishingly fast in a solid planted way rather than flighty. Great engine.

[@dodgycurry]

I really miss my C30, was the best car I ever had!

[@tokmindegy8976]

After the 480 Turbo ;)

[@joegoodsell]

I like to imagine a dystopian time fork exists somewhere, where Rover became modern / cool with young people and Volvo died out

[@ogearhead2426]

Well, I’m 22 and I’ve had a Range Rover and a Volvo. Best cars in the world. Plan to keep buying them.

[@timsyoutube6051]

​@@ogearhead2426Rovers aren't quite Range Rovers.

[@ogearhead2426]

@@timsyoutube6051 cheers. Stupid moment, sorry 😂😂

[@janstaes2172]

Great vid, i had one of those facelift version. i loved this car, mine had a 5 cilinder. bought it from new R line edition: this had a lowerd susspention, had bigger anti roll bars, skirts, sport steeringwheel and a spoiler and sport seats. The front axle was quickly overpowerd under fast acceleration. only had one big issue with it, the pcb of the motherboard burnt out and left me stranded. after i got i fixed a fine fellow thought it was a good idee to drive into my car in a corner hitting me in the front. that was it for one of my favorite cars... i still mis my 5 cilinder

[@benjaminmoncrieff3499]

Fred, Jason, Cripp and Blood…. Yes, Jay! 😂 I’ve got a C70 Polestar…. So underrated. Those who know

[@TenScaryMonkeys]

I’ve had 2 of these - a 2008 and my current 2012. They’re broadly reliable for the first 150k miles, but be aware that the belt and tensioner change at 120k is going to be extremely expensive, and in my experience, the AC compressor will eventually give up and die. Post-facelift, the radio got a bit of added functionality and can pair to your phone over Bluetooth or USB, so it’s a bit more usable. I personally find that little Gameboy-esque graphic on the startup screen to be impossibly charming and have no desire for a bigger screen. If you’re primarily using dealerships for service, remember that a lot of components were shared with Ford, and Ford has been generally less expensive than Volvo for stuff I can’t fix myself.

[@alexandregeracao6345]

I've had one for nearly 2 years and although its only a D2 diesel, its a facelift which in my opinion aged better and it has much more kit and a nicer interior. I've had 0 issues, and the rear seats are actually quite spacious and confortable for the size of the car. As a daily driver, its a great begginers car, maybe a bit slow (116hp), but very fuel efficient (around 58 mpg)

[@mcgherkinstudios]

Facelift interior was available in the prefacelift C30. I’d much rather the two comfy armchairs in the back than a 3 seat bench!

[@ollyharris9438]

We had a c30 D5 with a manual 6 speed box and it was fantastic. Very comfy, way more grunt than the car ever needed, and cruise on the motorway at 50+mpg. Miss it!

[@arokgod]

I've had the T5 and 2.4i albeit in the V50 and found the 2.4i almost more enjoyable than the T5. Had no issues apart from leaking air con drain into the cabin. Great handling with the focus derived suspension too such a great handling chassis and I've had many different cars over the years.

[@Mickhanic-garage]

I bought a 2011 facelift D3 manual, black SE Lux.. good car heated seats are brilliant. 106k miles I think it was.. 1500 quid but was a cat D in the past.. Mrs loves it and it does everything we need, I agree with the load cover though..

[@sva60_cyyz59]

Volvo makes some seriously underrated driver’s cars, and they come alive with only a few mods. Our 2013 XC70 T6 AWD is a blast to drive with Bilstein struts, Eibach lowering springs, IPD sway bar, and Focus ST rims + sticky rubber. With 300+ bhp it surprises many BMW/Audi/Mercs!

[@Steve-pp9ig]

wow your friend got one hell of a deal on that car. Where I live that would be a 7 to 9 thousand dollar car. I like that 2.4 engine. I find the turbo fives to be oil burners as the kilometers pile up. Just tell him to keep an eye on the accessory belt and tensioner. If the tensioner fails the broken accessory belt can break the timing belt. We changed an engine last month because of this.

[@NightfallDrives]

Thanks Steve, timing belt is on the 'soon to do' list and will add the accessory belt/tensioner too. It was advertised for what seemed a very reasonable £2500 but managed to get a bit off due to a 3 year gap in the service history. Got lucky with this being available at the right time and slightly overlooked!

[@foz775]

Always preferred the pre-facelift front end

[@chrisbolton5461]

Cracking video. Super stylish car. Love my V50 T5 AWD 6 speed manual. Practical and nippy.

[@ollyharris9438]

Mega rare too Chris... Always wanted one and could never find one for sale!

[@ccampbell1117]

My wife had a 58 reg 1.6D turbo , the R design model in white with leather seats . We loved it and had few problems other than having to replace the dpf but got a focus one off eBay and job was done for half of what Volvo wanted . As you say it’s still a very attractive car when there is so much sameness about . Of course being a “ coupe “ and relatively compact it stands out from the hordes of SUVs and drove very well . Increasing numbers of grandchildren meant regrettably it had to go

[@TimChump]

I had a 2012 C30 R Design loved it

[@GMT439]

A friend of mine had a C30 T5. It was a pretty quick motor. It's not a car that handles like a Hot Hatch does though. Well not in stock form anyway.

[@Kaisersozze]

Still looks good today.

[@allansr100]

I have been waiting for this 👍

[@tokmindegy8976]

Yeah, this was superior, however I would really enjoy a Volvo 480 Turbo show! :)