Of all those C30 an all-match to their legendary P1800 ES Wagon.
Let's see how it's come forward many decades as we drive this 2013 R design with the high performance Polestar package and check the tech.
Okay, here's the defining feature of a
C30.
It's got this all-glass lift-gate hatchback that is very much like that P1800 ES I've mentioned.
You also can tell by this little badge and one on the dash, we have the Polestar edition and it's also an R design that means that kinda has the bad ass wheels and body work and trim.
Okay, first things first.
If you're around 6'2 or certainly any taller you can just go click out and look at some other video.
You are
never gonna buy this car.
It's cramped inside.
I'm 6'2 and I can't begin to get enough leg room.
The seat doesn't go back any further nor does it go down any lower.
It's kind of undrivable to be honest.
My knees are at 90 degrees or more when I'm driving.
Now for the little guys, here's what we have in the cabin.
Volvo got this very Spartan design which I normally like but when they execute it in a lower price point like this, it starts to look a little cheap.
Huge expenses of featureless, molded plastic over here and it just isn't
quite rich.
Now let's keep the substantial issues.
This is the head unit.
You will not get an LCD infotainment unit in a C30.
This used to be kinda cutie retro Spartan lean sort of-- not anymore.
Now it's just annoys me.
It doesn't show me enough in the right now.
Well, it's doesn't [unk] we don't have a GPS now, we have map screen but where is it?
Well, if I pull out this wireless remote and aim it at this little bump sticking up on the dash, peek-a-boo, here's comes our little friend.
We've seen this before on Volvo a few years
ago.
It was kind of a decent Bridge technology, now I just hate it.
It's very slow because it's DVD-based.
The resolution is not great as you can see you can really pick out the lines in the LCD panel.
You operate it either through the wireless remote that I just used to pop it up which I find to be very odd while I'm driving or you've got this little controller behind the wheel which has a little joystick and a back and an enter button.
Now in terms of media sources, we do much better.
You've got basically all the modern inputs that you want on this vehicle AM and FM and HD
radio enabled on those, satellite radio is an option.
Under the mode, here you've got your other stuff single-slot CD up there, standard AUX, USB works for thumb drives and iPod and as you can see we've also got Bluetooth streaming on this guy also standard with hands-free calling.
A few other cabin ergonomic things on the Volvo were strange.
This is the key.
This sharp weird little thing sticking out you don't need to use 'cause there's a puck you can put in here and it wirelessly authorizes from the key fab.
So why doesn't that thing ever retract.
This is a little Volvo thing
back here, the storage hidden behind the controlled panel.
It's kind of a signature I like 'cause I don't like putting things where I can never see them again.
That doesn't really work for me nor this upholstery just a matter of taste.
But this kind of cream color with a hint of sea foam green makes me feels sea foam green.
Luckily it's optional.
You can just go to black on black as well.
Now the engine R C30 R
designed Polestar of 2.5 liter side saddle in line 5. In fact, every C30 has the same base of engine.
What happens is you get 227 horse and 236 foot pounds of torque.
And the Polestar software and the horsepower goes 250 and the torque to 273.
That's a big jump.
It's a turbo no matter what so the Polestar edition is merely software changes.
Car weighs about 3200 pounds relatively light for a
vehicle these days delivers 2129 mpg, not stellar especially since the car prints fairly small and doesn't weigh a whole lot 0-60 on a Polestar edition is around 5.9.
If you didn't have this hot rod version, you'd put on about 2/3 of a second more, not night and day.
Now the first thing I remember about this car because it's got that sort of weird add on now the no-real LCD, I do not have a backup
camera here and it's not too much of an issue because of that big glass back panel but in terms of quarters, you can't really see much.
Now what this vehicle also has they said is the city-safe technology which means if you're about to run into a car in front of you up to 31 miles per hour, your speed, this vehicle will apply the brakes all the way to a full stop.
Not of a performance.
It's a nice [unk] little car because it's got a sport suspension, that's part of R spec or R design.
It's also got the Polestar
package which really brings on a lot of creamy, ready torque, the fun little motor that rev, very little turbo leg in this guy and you get the ride quality remains quite nice.
It's not excessively harsh even over crafty pavement like I'm driving on right now.
And overall, it's a nice handling car.
It's got a light yet planted feel, doesn't feel terribly heavy.
It doesn't feel like it's flimsy.
It's a pleasant car to drive.
I could just get comfortable but I can't 'cause this thing is so-- Okay.
So let's presume you're under 6 feet tall
and you wanna buy a C30.
Here's our prices out, how about 264 is your base for this guy add the R design package for this cool look and you're adding 2,350 there.
Now the Polestar update is 1,300 bucks all it is as far as I can tell is just different engine software.
That's a lot of money for re-arranging the ones and zeros in the engine computer differently.
But take it or leave it.
It adds a lot of power in torque and I did enjoy the way power comes on this car.
So if this car is right for you, it's about 34 grand CNET's style.
Right for you
is the key.
You'd buy it because it has a unique look, because you like Volvo, because you like their city-safe technology and because you're not terribly tall or need to carry on off a lot of stuff in this vehicle.
It's a real city car.
It's got a distinct flavor.
