Test drive Volvo C30 2006 - 2009 hatchback

VOLVO C30 test. Rejecting family comfort

Probably, the world has rolled over: the respectable, protecting family values \u200b\u200bof Volvo, an explosive sportkup appeared.
 
Open's racks.
In 2001, the company demonstrated SCC (Safety Concept Car), a sort of ideal in terms of active and passive security a car of the future. I don’t remember that someone managed to drive on it, but the original shape of the body was remembered (it is very reminiscent of the hero of this story) and a unique visibility. The concept had three doors (rear glass) and transparent front struts of the body, completely removing the problem of dead zones. The rear viewing sector was under the supervision of the radar, the headlights looked around the turn. At night they were helped by the source of infrared light. A fairy tale, and nothing more.
The next milestone on the way to Sportkup was the Volvo C30 concept shown in Detroit in January 2006.
With the current serial namesake, they are similar as two drops of water. Then the general director of Volvo Kars Frederick Arp confirmed that it is vital for the company to replenish the model range by a city car for adherents of an active lifestyle. However, rumors about the preparation of the production of small Volvo at the factory in Belgium went even earlier
And here C30 in front of me. Of course, without transparent front racks, but still with a considerable number of technical innovations inherited from SCC. And let not the largest trunk behind a spectacular glass door. The car is positioned for young, childless, free! The time will come, they will evaluate the spacious Volovsky station wagon.
BEHIND THE GLASS
I press the button on the back of the front seat, and it drives away, letting me in the rear chair. It was from here that I decided to start meeting. The fact is that the creators of C30 refused to flirt with the public, offering three passenger places on the back sofa. The Swedes limited themselves to two, but full -fledged seats. In fact, sitting is convenient. Due to the fact that the chairs are shifted to the middle, you can look not only in the back of the head in front of the seated, but also on the road through the windshield.
Perhaps it will seem to a person to a tall that the ceiling could be higher, however, you are not buying a car not in order to contemplate landscapes from the back row?
I transplant to the driver's place. For those who are familiar with the models of the S40 and V50, the design of the front panel, the combination of devices will seem familiar. Very solid, pleasant plastic to the touch, a proprietary soaring aluminum console with climate control buttons, radio and navigation. The steering wheel on C30 is simply outstanding. It consists of three parts: the outer skin is genuine, the inner skin is genuine perforated. The composition of the aluminum insert in the upper quarter of the steering wheel is crowned. The similarity with the S40 and V50 in the interior decoration (the steering wheel does not count) emphasizes the belonging of the thirty to this family, but the letter C in the system of designations Volvo clearly indicates the compartment. To complete happiness, the family lacks only a small convertible with a folding hard roof!
Urban and sports
In confirmation of the high rank of sportkup, the designers generously armed the thirty. A 2.5 -liter transverse five -cylinder engine with a turbocharger accelerates the car to hundreds in 6.7 seconds. At the same time, the motor pulls well on the bottom and forgives the untimely transition to a reduced gear.
Mallorca, where an international presentation of the car took place, is replete with narrow mountain paths with a good height drop, reverse turns, on which, in the figurative expression of my colleague, you twist the car so much that you can read your own rear room. This is just the habitat in which a powerful compact car manifests itself from the best side. Peretnia rises with overtaking is also for him.
At first, it seems that the steering wheel is a little heavy, but you get used to it very quickly and enjoy the process of entering an obedient machine into a stely loop.
In the city bustle, it is difficult to enjoy the power of the motor. But it’s nice to feel the help and support from smart electronics. An orange light was lit by the right or left side mirror be more careful: an obstacle appeared in the dead zone either a car or a motorcycle. A smart object recognition system in the blind zone (Blind Spot Information System) will not give a signal when you overtake someone with a noticeable difference in speed, but it is worth another driver to get closer, as a warning will be displayed right away. On C30, by the way, the thing is not superfluous at all: through the glass the review back is unimportant.
I understand that the visibility and power of the engine is not interconnected. But the level of completion as horsepower grows increases: I would like Blis to be available for simple versions.
Traditionally, cars with gasoline engines will be supplied to Russia. And this is no less than five engines with a volume of 1.6; 1.8; 2.0; 2.4; 2.5 liters with a capacity of 100 to 220 hp
Presumably, sports notes at the stobed \u200b\u200bcompartment will be less pronounced compared to powerful versions. Although, in general, in terms of dynamics 11.8 C to 100 km/h, it will not differ from the cores of the golf class. But it will be a real stylish and traditionally safe Volvo. And at the same time urban, youth, challenging family comfort.
Sportkup Volvo-C30 will play the role of a youth car without prejudice to the prestige of the brand and its traditions.
 
Vladimir Solovyov

 
 

A source: The magazine "Driving"