Test drive Volvo C30 2006 - 2009 hatchback

CAUTION GLASS

At first there was a movie. Everyone planted all along the glass wall, behind which the pool shrouded in twilight splashed. Behind the water on huge plasma, the city adventures of the new products from Volvo were shown. Here people go to the cafe, but here to shopping: characters, landscapes, as well as the color of the car body are changing. Finally, one couple folds the seats and, having loaded equipment for diving into C30, goes to the sea. Under water, they explore the sunken ship, pull for some kind of lever, and the entire screen is covered with air bubbles ...
 
It is then that the most interesting begins. From the dark water of the pool, the rolled roof of the car, then the windshield, then the hood and the wheels, slowly rose slowly. Scales like the light of grief. In the light of the Sofites, streams of water rolled up from the body. Then everyone was allowed to come closer. The car slightly touched the wheels of the surface of the water, and therefore the spacers, which raised it from the bottom, only guessed. But through the wheel arch, it was visible: the car has no engine ... It is difficult to say what Cruitrators from Volvo wanted to tell reporters to reporters. Only the cynical press immediately began to recall how in the secondary market in Europe they were waiting for the appearance of a swan from America - cars that visited water during floods in North Carolina and Virginia. Only one thing was obvious: the Volvo C30 car is a provocation. And if so, then all non -standard means are good.
 
These entertainments are offered by Mark to its customers, which has been promoting security and quiet family joys all their lives. Now the opposite: everything has been done in order not to fall in love with a person into the car, then at least not leave him indifferent. For example, I categorically do not like that Anfas is a novelty from Volvo as two drops of water is similar to the S40 sedan. If you recall the Volvo SSC show, which has become a prototype C30, you can gloatingly notice that the concept of physiognomy was much more entertaining. But if you look at the car at three quarters, it is clear that there was nothing like this on our streets.
 
The car will be produced extremely three -door. The decision is truly uncompromising, because Volvo believes about himself as a premium brand, therefore, the C30 model will have to compete primarily with the Audi A3 and BMW 1-ER. And the other German cars, we recall, are available today in both three- and five-door versions.
 
Although if you try to classify the C30 body with manic pedantry, you will have to agree with the creators of the model - this is rather a compartment, because the folding glass behind the door does not rotate the tongue. Under this glass is a tiny trunk, which will perhaps only get in a medium -sized sports bag. If the luggage compartment is divided horizontally with a shelf, which is offered as an option, then there is enough space from above for a tray with eggs, according to the old Russian tradition. From below, however, too. But there it is convenient to rummage directly from the cabin.
After all, the Volvo C30 is not a sofa, on which, according to the old Swedish tradition, grandmothers and grandchildren should sit, but two completely separate chairs. Between the backs a rather large gap, through which you can communicate with the trunk. There are a lot of places from behind from all sides, unless the ceiling presses a little on the theme. But these are trifles, because the rear seats seem to be spare. Who to carry them to young and energetic? Unless friends who can tolerate. Usually it is troublesome to get into the back row with one side door - it is necessary to pull for all sorts of levers, which are in different machines in different places. Here this problem is solved using electricity. On the upper edges of the backs of the front seats there are buttons with which these seats can be moved back and forth. Well, how in the back in some incomprehensible way a playful child will be or there a tipsy classmate, who will press this button while moving, thereby pushing the driver under the torpedo? The engineer of the company Volvo, to whom I addressed this issue, was even offended. At speed, these buttons are not active. Electrolux, in short. Made wisely ...
The front row of seats and what his riders see in front of them is one to one interior of the Volvo S40 sedan. As if the one who set the task for the designers, crossed the red pencil the profile of the magpie vertically in half. Like, do everything you want from behind, and do not touch the front part. The car owner can undertake improvements here: for an additional fee, a bizarre curved central console can be covered with exquisite engraving-tattoo.
 
To the musical installation from the Danish company Dynaudio, only MP3 player can be connected so far; With IPOD, as with other apple products, while the problems are promised to legitimate with a radio during this year. If we talk about electronics that does not interfere, but on the contrary helps to safely maintain a car, then we note the BLIS system. Like all three -days, the central rod Volvo C30 is a little behind, creating a very decent dead zone in visibility. When you go in a dense stream, flashlights that warn that on the right or left at the moment someone is going to the right or left.
 
A variety of engines are possible on Volvo C30. From 109-horsepower turbodiesel and four-cylinder gasoline engines with a volume of 1.6 and a capacity of 100-125 hp. Before turbocharged five-cylinder-a diesel d5 with a volume of 2.4 liters develops 180 hp, and a 2.5-liter gasoline and 220 hp. Armed with the latter, we just drowned the gas pedal. Our car was with a machine gun, but the C30 speed was recruited instantly, and there was enough traction in any gear. True, it would be too complimentary to this little Volvo to call the sensations from the trip to this little Volvo. Firstly, the cabin is very quiet. On the one hand, in the car of the Swedish brand it should be so. On the other hand, what kind of sport without a roar of the engine and the whistle of the wind? Secondly, a soft comfortable suspension. For nothing that C30 is built on the same platform with Ford Focus and Mazda3. Unlike the mentioned brothers in the concern, in Volvo does not shake even on serious bumps. But I don’t really want to get into a turn with excess speed on it. Again, the steering wheel is not as sharp as it is customary in hot hatchbacks. This is third.
 
On one of the night streets of Palma de Malorca, where a test drive took place, we stumbled upon a parked car. Conceptually, it was solved in the same way as C30. Hatchback, three doors, and the rear, in fact, also consisted of almost one folding glass. And the car was also called Volvo. Model 480 ES ceased to be released twelve years ago. During this time, a new generation has grown up, in which C30 will not cause nostalgic deja vu. But the car is addressed to them! Why then are these Rima-names? So, again, contrary to common sense. Although who knows. The audience, never hearing Abba, walks to Mamma Mia.

Text Dmitry Gronsky, photo Volvo
 
Volvo C30 T5
 
Gasoline engine, 5-cylinder
Working volume (cubic cub) 2521
Power (L.S. at about/min) 220 at 5000
Moment (nm at rpm) 320 at 1500-4800
Front drive
Gearbox 5-speed automatic transmission
Length/width/height 4252/1782/1447
Equipped mass (kg) 1304
Maximum speed (km/h) 235
Acceleration to 100 km/h (c) 7.1
Fuel consumption (mixed cycle, l/100 km) 9.4
Price in Moscow $ 38 400
 

Source: "Autopilot"