Volvo C30

Our verdict

The Volvo C30 is a good looking and interesting little Volvo. Strangely lacking in usefulness, yet we like it.

Comfort

Again an improvement on the related Volvos, the ride is firm but never harsh and the damping feels consistent, without getting shuddery. You get superb seats and good visibility too.

Performance

There’s a bewildering range of eight engines, including one that’ll take E85 bioethanol mix. The four-cylinder petrols are a bit unexciting, and then there’s a gap to the superb T5, which is a fine-sounding engine and kicks you to 60mph in little over 6sec without being mad on the CO2 scale. The diesels are a bit noisy: among them the 1.6 is weedy but the 2.0 is OK and the D5 muscular if heavy.

Cool

A very refreshing alternative to the three-door hatch, it looks great on the streets and nicely subverts the preconception of a Volvo. Cool.

Quality

We love the generic Volvo interior, with its cool graphics and minimalist surfaces made from good-quality materials.

Handling

This is the best-handling Volvo, better to a surprising degree than the related S40 and V50. It gives a nicer of feeling of connection and feedback, and the grip isn’t too high so you can play a bit near the borders.

Practicality

It’s strictly a four-seater and two of them mustn’t really be full-sized adults. The boot is a bit of a joke, or rather the luggage cover, which displays your stuff to thieves like meat in a butcher’s window.

Running costs

It’s basically a Focus cousin, so even if Volvo dealers have grand ideas about servicing costs you shouldn’t be too stung.