Here’s Why The Volvo C30 T5 R-Design Is The Best Hot Hatchback (2023)

FAQs

Is the Volvo C30 a hot hatch? ›

However, there was one car that we could consider one of the sportiest cars that Volvo ever produced. In fact, we could even call it a “hot hatch.” That car was the Volvo C30.

The C30 T5 R-Design, particularly in 2010+ post-facelift form, is the best hot hatchback you probably haven't considered, let alone heard of.

Volvo C30 Reliability Rating Breakdown. The Volvo C30 Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 6th out of 17 for luxury compact cars.

The C30 R-Design is a limited (400 units) version of the C30 T5 for the North American market.

While the outlay can be significant, once you own a hot hatch you won't have to stress about upkeep too much. Hot hatches are typically cheaper to insure, cheaper to maintain, and generally cheaper to run compared to similarly priced cars. Add this up and there's much to like.

Among the best in the premium segment is the critically-acclaimed Volvo XC60, which has been celebrated for offering an incredibly comfortable ride. The XC60 excels as a comfortable car, with a suspension managing to miraculously soak up just about every imperfection in the road.

Mercedes-AMG A45

The A45 S is the most powerful hot hatch ever made, and it has a price tag that reflects it. The A35 is still an intense car, delivering a level of performance that was the preserve of BMW M5s back in the early 2000s, yet it will still deliver 32.5mpg in mixed driving.

Compare the 2021 Volvo XC60 R-Design vs Inscription Trim. What is the difference? Whereas the R-Design is more sport-oriented, the Inscription is more oriented toward luxury. The front seats gain ventilation, and there is upgraded leather upholstery that gets added.

Volvo R-Design models are meant to recapture the thrill of driving, with packages that offer attractive styling touches such as upgraded front and rear fascia, frameless grill, a finned rear diffuser, and R-Design tailpipe.

What are the problems with the Volvo C30? ›

Older cars are also susceptible to a stability control system failure, which can be expensive to fix. The C30 has also been the subject of several recalls, along with other models in the Volvo range. These concern key items such as the brakes, steering and engine cooling.

That being said, with the proper care the average lifespan of a Volvo is typically 20 years with over 200,000 miles.

The Volvo R marque represents the high-performance division of cars produced by Volvo. The R marque refers to an unknown adjective, since Volvo markets R-designated vehicles as being the most performance-oriented trim level.

So long as regular maintenance schedules are followed, a Volvo vehicle will on average last for 20 years.

These forces swamp the fact that, under its shapely skin, the C30 is really a Ford Focus that has been Volvo-ised.

Hatchbacks are popular amongst beginners, as driving them is easy. Most drivers prefer them over SUV or Sedan cars because they might have complex controls, gears, and other systems that might be difficult for novice drivers.

Volvo Car Corporation competitors include Audi, Toyota, Lexus, Ford Motor Company and Arctic Cat. Volvo Car Corporation ranks 1st in CEO Score on Comparably vs its competitors.

Is Volvo considered high end? ›

Yes, Volvo is a luxury vehicle manufacturer. Volvo cars and SUVs are prized for their premium features, interior comfort, and consistently-high safety standards.

i20, Tiago Celerio, Ignis

The list also included the Altroz (4,968 units), Glanza (3,011 units), Kwid (1,704 units), Citroen C3 (825 units) and Jazz (448 units) while there had been 0 units of the Santro, Polo and KUV100 sold in the past month.

Share: Our hatchback of the year award goes to Citroen C3, a car that looks modern and adds versatility to the hatchback genre.

With a hot hatchback (especially more modern examples) you get basically all of the performance you realistically need for real world driving, rolled into a convenient and practical package, In effect, the hot hatchback is “enough” car for most buyers – and that is why they have become such a popular choice.

Audi RS 3 review

When the Mercedes-AMG A 45 was announced, the power figure of 415bhp stole all the headlines; it was quite astonishing to realise hot hatches had become so powerful. So imagine the surprise when Audi revealed the brand-new RS 3 had taken the Mercedes' crown as the quickest hot hatch on the market.

Hatchback: 2021 Mini Cooper JCW GP: 93 decibels (tie)

There is a surprisingly large array of super-loud small hatchbacks on the market, but the Mini Cooper JCW GP is the loudest of all, with a 93-decibel yowl at wide-open throttle that puts some genuine sports coupes to shame.

The best engine is Volvo's own 2.0-litre D4 diesel, with 190hp.

If you drive an Acura, Audi or Volvo, you're letting the world know that you're doing very well, and hope, one day, to be the boss yourself. These are decent, high-end cars that are not quite at the top end of the luxury car market, but nice enough to let the neighbors know that you got a decent bonus last quarter.

Volvo police cars have been a common sight on UK motorways since the 1990s. While the 850 was winning a following amongst BTCC fans, traffic officers were being convinced by its practicality, ruggedness and, thanks to its T5 engine, performance. Today, around 400 Volvo police cars are in operation in the UK.

Does Volvo C30 need premium gas? ›

Fuel Requirements. Volvo recommends premium, 91 unleaded octane or higher for optimum performance, but your Volvo can run on regular 87 unleaded octane without affecting engine reliability. It is safe to use fuel containing up to 10% Ethanol in your Volvo.

The estimated cost to maintain and repair a Volvo C30 ranges from $95 to $3612, with an average of $320.

Volvo recommends using premium gasoline, which has an octane of 91 or higher. However, this isn't a requirement. Gasoline with an octane of just 87 can be used without affecting the reliability of your engine. Premium gas might help you get a bit more out of your 2022 Volvo XC40, but it's not a requirement.

There's a stark difference in retained values between Volvo cars and SUVs. No 2021 Volvo sedan or wagon is projected to hold onto more than 42.5 percent of its original value after five years, and most are under 40 percent.

Yet, the Volvo T5 engines are capable of running for hundreds of thousands of miles with close to no issues. Reliability has always been a priority at Volvo, and so the T5s are almost guaranteed to work for at least 200,000 miles without major issues and some owners report mileages as high as 500,000.

2022 Volvo V60 Changes - Find the best Volvo deals!

This means Volvo no longer offers the Momentum, R-Design, or Inscription trim levels with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder T5 powertrain. Changes to the remaining two V60 models are minor.

Features of the R-Design trim

It has firmer rear dampers, making the ride stiffer, but you'll notice a more balanced driving feel with firmer front bushings. In the cabin, R-Design ups the comfort level with sport seats. And shoppers can choose perforated leather seating and leather-clad steering wheel.

R-Design and Inscription derivatives share a high-gloss centre tunnel whereas the Momentum variant retains a Charcoal finish. Both Momentum and Inscription models feature a 3-spoke multifunction steering wheel with unideco inlays while the R-Design model features perforated leather with unideco inlays and a white seam.

The Volvo C30 is a pleasant two-door, four-seat hatchback, but it isn't really engaging to drive. Power comes from a hardworking turbocharged 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine that delivered a reasonable 25 mpg overall. The manual transmission shifts easily and smoothly.

Are Volvos expensive to fix? ›

Are Volvos Expensive to Service? While the Volvo brand is listed higher in cost on a list created by Your Mechanic Inc., Volvos are more affordable to maintain than other luxury brands. Over a ten-year period of ownership, Volvo models cost an average of $100 more to maintain than Audi models.

Volvo C30 Review (2006-2013)

It is good fun to drive however, and as well as looking flash inside and out, there's a wide choice of powertrains to suit most budgets.

"The C30 T5 is respectably fast -- 0 to 60 mph in an estimated 6.4 seconds and a top speed of perhaps 149 mph," says Car and Driver.

The Volvo C30 is a three-door coupe which aims to take on the likes of the Volkswagen Scirocco and the BMW 1 Series Coupe.

The automotive press speculates that the C30's low sales led to its discontinuation. “The C30 was head-turner, but its evocative styling wasn't enough to turn around sluggish sales; appealing to tweens didn't help either,” says Kicking Tires.

The 1.6-litre diesel manages 57.6mpg and emits 129g/km of CO2, but the DRIVe versions beat that with average economy up to 74.3mpg (officially, at least) and emissions as low as 99g/km.

Volvo C30 Timing Belt Replacement Cost Estimate. The average cost for a Volvo C30 timing belt replacement is between $632 and $747. Labor costs are estimated between $286 and $361 while parts are priced between $346 and $386.

That being said, the lifespan of a Volvo is typically 20 years with over 200,000 miles when properly cared for.

Do Volvo use Ford engines? ›

Volvo used a mixture of Ford engines, and its own five-cylinder turbo units, up until 2014, when all the engines began to be replaced by Volvo's new (and still-current) family of Swedish-designed and built four-cylinder turbo engines. The best engine is Volvo's own 2.0-litre D4 diesel, with 190hp.

Typically, manufacturers will recommend a belt change every 80,000 to 100,000 miles.

Thetiming belt kit of your C30 is necessary for the synchronisation of the movements of the pistons and valves in the engine. It is very important to regularly check your timing belt parts. In general, you need to change the timing belt kit of your C30 every five years or every 74.500 miles.