2011 Volvo C30

Rating from C30 Convert

(4)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		3 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		3 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"As an auto enthousiast the Volvo is an intriguing and infuriating machine. Volvo would have you believe they are a luxury brand, but that is a pipe dream for them. With this, the Volvo "entry-level" vehicle, you will find that commonly accepted options are lacking in many of the cars. Pay attention to the left side of the steering wheel, make sure that the cruise control functions are there. I still can't believe that volvo would allow some C30's to go out without it, the worst part is that all these cars are electronically controlled (fly-by-wire), it is just one module, a dealer-only computer download, and your VISA card away. I had to add the "Trip Computer" functionality at the dealer for about $100 so that I could evaluate the fuel mileage, great upgrade, but why would I have to do this on a 2008 vehicle? Gripes aside, I bought the car because I was going to be doing a lot of driving between Norfolk and Groton, CT. After I made my choice, I found the C30 in the top spot of a top 10 road trip car list. There can be no doubt that this is the right place for it, and it makes sense because the C30 is effectively a Ford Focus that was put together with the right engine and wheels and creature comforts. The long haul mileage of 28 MPG is good; this car should be in the 30's but for the improved noise isolation and interior materials. Not a bad tradeoff, if I'm honest. As an enthousiast I find parts harder to find than my old Golf TDi. Additionally, this vehicle is not as well documented with How-to's and shade-tree knowledge because of its' rarity. On the other hand I find it extremely easy to work on and wouldn't hesitate to replace brakes, suspension components, alternator, filters, etc."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from C30 Girl

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I love this Volvo. It is fast, comfortable, cute, sporty, and there are very few around because they are so hard to get. I love Volvo's maintance free program and believe that along is worth buying the car for. The seats are very comfortable and I like the memory seats. I love the "high perfomance sound system." The only reason I gave the interior design 4 stars instead of 5 is because I have the aluminium trim package and the shifter gets very hot if the car sits out in the sun, making it a little hard to shift until it cools down. I love the way the sunroof has a built in wind deflector and it works. If you can find a Volvo C30 I recommend that you buy it."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from EMMA

(4)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"I love this car. I'm an empty-nester who did not want a predictable Honda or Toyota. I do not need to ferry kids around anymore. It's small, nimble, easy to park and I love the pick-up and the styling. This car just makes me smile!"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from Sports Car Enthusiast

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I love this car. And my boyfriend is wild about it! He loves driving it. He is like a kid in a candy store when he gets to drive it."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: Used

Primary use for this car: Work

Rating from Want value for money!

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Since my car got totaled in a hail storm I have been test driving a number of them. Notably Scion TC, Volvo C30, VW GTI, Audi A3, Subaru WRX, MazdaSpeed3 and Mini Cooper S (I might have missed one or two, oh yes, the Miata, but certainly cross-shopped more on paper). BMW 128 and 135 were considered but not found to be good value or reliable. I narrowed it down to two ... Overall, my perception is 1) that both cars are equally quick (C30R 5AT); 2)their handling is not terribly different (the C30R IS more planted; the GTI MIGHT be more nimble); 3) the GTI can be more fun due to its dollop of wallop at higher RPMs meaning you have to row the gears, while the C30R has a continuous and more powerful band; 4) the C30R is far more luxurious and inviting for commuting; 5) the GTI sucks in the city while the C30R does not; 6) the GTI's breaking is more positive but choppy compared to the C30R - same stopping distance from what I read; 7) they both look great while the C30R also looks like a work of art inside and out; 8) the C30R has a lower cost of ownership and is far more reliable; and 9) the Volvo will still be on the road long after the GTI has gone to automobile heaven. So updating on this post ... I now have 10K miles on the C30R and am very happy with the purchase. The 6MT is much better than the 5AT."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from Car Driver

(5)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		3 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		5 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"I tried several before settling on the C30, Honda SI, Mini, Subaru WRX. No comparison. The best value in automobiles if one is in the market for a cheap, fun to drive rocket."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from Gary from Jersey

(4)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		5 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"My 2011 C 30 is a really good little car, but it needs some help. The good points: great seats, good seating position, well designed instrument panel, very good handling, mostly good visibility. Suspension is compliant and direct, damping out most road imperfections while keeping the car well planted. NO torque steer! The brakes are just OK. Too much pedal travel makes them touchy to modulate but they grab well. The not-so-good points: Needs a sixth gear and wider dead pedal. Weird electronics. The climate control won't turn off by pushing the button. Not good at highways speeds. I use the instant mileage message to modulate the throttle to improve economy (I'm getting 25.6 mpg. at the moment) but there are maddening inconsistencies: driving range after fill-ups runs from 415 to 365 miles on the same amount of fuel. The number rises or drops quite a bit after short jaunts. MPG numbers are not reliable, either. I can drive highway miles for days without seeing improvement (it takes three days to rise a tenth) but then drops a couple tenths in a few short blocks. Then it takes days to recoup the losses. That said, I'm getting good economy from such a heavy (4,300 pounds!) car but I have to sacrifice a lot of driving fun to not feed OPEC."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from m'lou

(4)
Comfort:		4 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		3 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"I like the styling of my new (well, new since Nov. 10) Volvo C-30, and its comfort. Like driving on silk (most of the time). Salesman told me that the tires had hydrogen therein (?) but turns out that was specious. It is a smooth ride, in any event. I was promised (think Conumer Rpt my source) 26 mpg and never ever got that, so far (more like 23.5); only criticism re the body (besides the fact that moving the front seat for someone to clamber in the back seat isn't a lark) is the concave lump on the floorboard, to the left of the clutch pedal. Gets in the way. Esp if the diver has big feet; I wear size 8 sandals and sometimes that lump gets in the way of my left foot (I have a 6 speed shift car). Glad I bought it; like the long warranty; also like that there aren't very many cars like mine in the neighborhood! So far so good. marie"

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around

Rating from Consumer

(4)
Comfort:		3 out of 5
Performance:		5 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		5 out of 5

"Purchased my 2011 Volvo C30 in March. I had done extensive research on various small sporty vehicles and found this one for a very good price at a Volvo dealership in Ft Worth Texas. The 5 cylinder turbo with 6 speed manual is a blast to drive. It corners very well and accelerates very quickly even in 6th. The interior leg room is limited, I'm 5'11 and with the seat all the way back long road trips get uncomfortable. The MPG is decent at around 30 highway and 26 city. Interior styling is fair to good but the Volvo engineering and safety features more than compensates. With over 10,000 miles already, I will be looking for this model again in 2016 and I hope with some improvements to comfort."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Commuting

Rating from Brodie

(4)
Comfort:		5 out of 5
Performance:		4 out of 5
Exterior Styling:		5 out of 5
Interior Design:		4 out of 5
Value for the Money:		4 out of 5
Reliability:		4 out of 5

"I have been looking at the Volvo C30 for the past three or four years, but had decided against it because I could not find one equipped the way I wanted. However, the 2011 model made it possible to get what I wanted. I chose the T5 with a six speed manual transmission, 17" wheels and leather power seats. The power leather seats are be more comfortable than the manual fabric seats, provide for more seating options and wrap around you better than the fabric seats. The car takes two months from date of order to delivery. It is quick, comfortable and fun to drive. Although it is not a sports car, the transmission is sporty. It shifts smoothly and quickly. The shifter is tight. There is not a lot of space between second and fourth or third and fifth gears. Thus, it may take some time for those who have not driven manual transmissions very much to get used to, especially when downshifting to fourth and not hitting second or third and not hitting fifth. The lines of the car are very well executed and it draws looks whenever I am driving it or when someone passes it when it is parked. Although it is not a P1800, it sure seems like one when seated in it. The interior feels much larger than it is. There are plenty of seat pockets, console trays and armrest, door panel and dash compartments that provide plenty of space to store travel necessities. Entrances into and exists out of the C30 are easy and aided by large doors that swing wide. The solid nature of the car is felt when you open and close these doors. When they close, they sound the way a solid car door should sound. The two rear seats accommodate two adults comfortably with the front seats pushed back. The power buttons located on top of the seat backs make it easy to move the two front seats forward and backward for entering and exiting the rear seats. The car's ride is very stable and quite when driven on the highway. It is easy to talk to everyone in the car without having to raise your voice. The C30 handles cross winds and turbulance caused by large trucks like a much larger car. There also is no need to downshift from sixth gear when wanting to pass on a straight road or a hill. This car still has a lot of punch in sixth gear when you want to go facter than 70 mph. The audio, ventilation and information systems are easy to read and operate and the performance of all is excellent. The heated seats and heating system work quickly. I read in previous reviews complaints about the rear window opening. I have found no problems nor have any complaints about it. I did not expect it to function as a hatchback does. It is a nice design feature and it works well for what I want to carry in the car. I have only two complaints about the car, which is very few for someone as picky as I am about new cars. I wish the dual exhaust was not so tame sounding and I wish the car handled curves better. It feels light when moving quickly through tight turns. However, once through a turn, it stabilizes quickly when accelerated. Overall, I recommend this car for those looking for a fun and sporty car that provides outstanding safety and good value for the money."

I would recommend this car to a friend: Yes

This vehicle was purchased: New

Primary use for this car: Just getting around