Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £16,245 to £21,360
Good-looking, classy small hatchback; solid and safe; comfortable and fun to drive.
Not hugely practical; access to rear seats awkward; rather expensive.
All the usual Volvo virtues - except lots of luggage-space - in an attractive, compact package.
So far, the C30 appears to be holding its value well, retaining between 47% and 50% of its original purchase price after three years/36,000 miles. It has a strong image and Volvo's reputation for safety and reliability in its favour. It also has a certain novelty value - it's still relatively new to the market, there aren't that many around, and it's not an over-familiar Audi A3 or default-option BMW 1-Series, in the eyes of posh-hatch purchasers. It's also perceived to be considerably more upmarket than the Focus, even if it is similar under the skin.
The C30 seems to appeal both to younger buyers new to Volvo ownership and to existing Volvo customers downsizing into a smaller car - and this economical, low-tax DRIVe versions will no doubt be one of the most popular versions second-hand.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volvo C30
wrote on 23 07 2007