Compact and dynamic, the C30 is the smallest car in Volvo’s model range. With a compact body, sporty chassis, and powerful engines, it offers a dynamic driving experience.

The interior, which is designed with a number of refinements, offers a high level of comfort and flexibility. For example, the rear seats are versatile as well as comfortable.

Consistent with Volvo's priority on safety, the C30 has been developed to be a safe car. The objective is: best in class!

“The compact format has not prevented us from integrating much of what is best in the larger Volvo cars,” says Håkan Abrahamsson, Project Director for the C30. “Even the smallest Volvo should provide the right premium feel – in all respects. This applies to its design, its quality and how the C30 drives. Our intention is that the Volvo C30 should attract people who love driving.”

Manoeuvrable and sporty to drive
As expected from a car that is more compact and lighter than the S40 sedan, the Volvo C30 is very nimble. In a segment where proportion and size do matter, and the C30 measures just 4,250 mm in overall length – 220 mm shorter than the S40 sedan.

The compact and rigid body structure overlays a wide track and relatively long wheelbase. This yields a short front and rear overhang and versatile interior space.

The C30's platform is perfect in allowing for excellent interior space and in providing stable driving characteristics. The chassis, with coil-over strut front suspension and a multilink rear suspension, delivers balance and direct feel to the driver.

Precise body control and quick response with positive driver feedback are key properties to the C30's on-road dynamics.

DSTC (Dynamic Stability and Traction Control) is standard on 162 kW C30 T5 while STC (Stability and Traction Control) is standard on the 125 kW C30 LE. Since the mid 90s, Volvo has provided stability and traction control as a standard driver aid.

Wide range of efficient engines
Pick your engine. The Volvo C30 can be powered by a range of four and five-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. Most potent are the 162 kW, 320Nm T5 petrol engine and the 136 kW, 350Nm D5 diesel engine. The D5 produces 30 Nm more than the petrol T5, while the two engines do share five-speed automatic or six-speed manual.

“Thanks to the sporty chassis and the car’s light weight (curb weight 1,204-1,404 kg), it is very sporty,” says Abrahamsson. “And the range of engines will meet all customers’ demands.”

All engines have four-valve technology and double overhead camshafts, which contribute to the quick response and good high-speed characteristics.

Range of engines for Australia

Diesel engines (yet to be confirmed)

Engine facts in brief:

• All engines are extremely compact and transversely mounted to offer maximum occupant protection and cabin space.
• Turbo technology is used on the T5 engine and on all diesel engines to provide the best possible on-road driving performance.
• Volvo's six-speed manual gearbox accompanies the T5 turbocharged petrol, D5 turbocharged diesel and 2.0D turbocharged diesel engines.
• A five-speed Geartronic automatic gearbox is available with Volvo's five-cylinder petrol and diesel engines – T5, D5 and 2.4i.
• An exhaust particulate filter is available with all diesel engines. It very effectively removes soot particulates from the exhaust gases, with filtration efficiency above 95 percent. The filter is a CDPF – Coated Diesel Particulate Filter – in which a special coating helps burn the particulates.

Smart functions offer great comfort and flexibility
Despite its compact exterior and format, the Volvo C30 interior is comfortable and able to seat four adults. The interior space is maximised by the unique two-seat front and two-seat rear layout.

The rear seat backrests are individually foldable. Folding can be easily done when standing behind the car as well as from the passenger compartment.

The glass tailgate is very convenient and easy to open and close. It offers good access to the cargo compartment. To keep items in the cargo compartment from view, two load covers are available: a soft and a hard version.

Air conditioning and air quality system for a pleasant cabin climate
To provide a pleasant cabin climate, air conditioning and a pollen filter are standard in the Volvo C30. Alternatively the car can be specified with ECC (Electronic Climate Control), which is automatically controlled and the chosen cabin temperature is kept constant regardless of the outside temperature. Furthermore, it is possible to set the temperature individually for the right and left sides.

The ECC system can be supplemented by IAQS (Interior Air Quality System), which continuously monitors the carbon monoxide level of the incoming air and closes the air vents when the level is too high for the in-cabin climate comfort and health of the occupants of the car.

The IAQS system includes an active charcoal filter to prevent dust, exhaust particles, pollen and unpleasant odours from entering the cabin through the ventilation system.

World-class audio with deep bass and an extra connector
“We have chosen to give the C30 one of the very best factory-fitted audio systems in the world,” says Abrahamsson. “And the special body, with wide doors and deep side panels in the rear, has proven to provide an extra dimension for the sound, with extreme depth and powerful bass reproduction.”

There are three audio systems:

• Performance – a 4 x 20 W amplifier and 4 loudspeakers
• High Performance – a 4 x 40 W amplifier and 8 loudspeakers
• Premium Sound – a digital class D amplifier with ICE Power technology from Alpine, an output of 5 x 130 W, Dolby® Pro Logic II Surround, and 10 loudspeakers from Dynaudio®.
  

On the two highest levels, High Performance and Premium Sound, it is possible to play CDs with music in MP3 and WMA formats. This means that the CD changer can store hundreds of music tracks.

The High Performance and Premium Sound systems are fitted with an extra AUX connector for inputs from auxiliary equipment such as a portable MP3 player. In the spring of 2007, an adapter for connecting an iPod or a USB flash drive will be available as an accessory.

Sleek body design for good all-round view
In addition to the predictable driving characteristics, an unobstructed view is very important to preventive safety. The C30’s special design, with the side windows at the right height, provides a panoramic view from all seats. The inwardly curving rear side windows and the glass tailgate provide an open rearward view. The tapered B-pillars also contribute, which offer a clear view between the side of the body and the head restraint. This also gives the rear seat passengers a good view through the front side windows.

Advanced information systems
The Volvo C30 is available with BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) as an option. This safety system uses cameras mounted in the side door mirrors to 'see' if another vehicle is in the blind spot. A yellow lamp located near the base of the A pillar the mirror illuminates to alert the driver in order to increase the possibility that correct decisions are taken.

To help reduce the risk of the driver being distracted by untimely information in critical situations, IDIS (Intelligent Driver Information System) is standard on the Volvo C30. IDIS is an electronic information system that continuously monitors certain functions in the car such as steering wheel movements, accelerator pedal movement, the direction indicator controls and braking. This information is processed and at a certain level, information that is not crucial to safety, such as text messages or incoming calls to the integrated telephone, is delayed until the situation is less busy for the driver.

If the driver prefers, IDIS can be set up to let GSM calls through in all driving situations. This is done in the car’s menu settings.

Advanced body structure contributes to effective collision protection
“Although the C30 is 220 mm shorter than the S40 sedan, it provides the same high level of occupant protection as its sedan sibling, even with respect to rear impacts,” says Abrahamsson. “The body structure is designed in the same way to contribute to controlled deformation, and the inner protective systems are similar.”

• The front’s structure is divided into zones that are constructed of different grades of steel with different deformation characteristics, to distribute and absorb collision forces in a controlled and effective manner.
• The lower side members are designed to help prevent the front wheels from being forced into the cabin in a collision.
• The engine is transversely mounted and very efficiently packed to have room for movement in the engine bay when the front is deformed.
• Cross members, sills and door pillars are very solidly constructed to keep the cabin as intact as possible in a collision.
• Dual-stage airbags, safety belt tensioners in all four seating positions, force limiters on the front belts and collapsible pedals help protect the occupants of the car in a frontal collision.
• The steering column deforms in a controlled manner in a horizontal movement to interact with the airbag as effectively as possible.
• SIPS (Side Impact Protection System), side impact airbags and IC (Inflatable curtains) contribute to effective protection in side impacts.
• The rear safety structure is designed with an optimised mix of different grades of steel to provide strength and carefully controlled deformation in a rear impact.
• The rear side members are designed to absorb most of the impact forces in the early phases of a rear impact.
• The fuel tank is protected in front of the rear axle.
• WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System) is standard on the front seats and significantly contributes to reducing the risk of neck injuries.
• The gently rounded front and the deep spoiler are designed to reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians and cyclists.