2008 Volvo C30 D5 review
August 23, 2008 by Karl Peskett
2008 Volvo C30 D5 review and road test
Model tested: 2008 Volvo C30 D5 automatic
Recommended Retail Price: $43,950
Options fitted: High-Performance Sound AM/FM radio, 8 speakers – $1350
Styling, handling/ride balance, safety, torque
Loud engine, stolid steering, pricey
CarAdvice rating: 
(3.75)
Photograhy and review by Karl Peskett
Small with big is good. Just look back to the good old days. The Holden Torana GTR XU-1 – which I’m proud to say was my introduction to motoring (courtesy of my father) – was one such recipe.
Small body, powerful engine – it made for a great package. So if you combine something small with a torquey engine, you’re automatically onto a good thing, right? Well, yes and no. Small with big is good … usually.
The smallest Volvo, the C30 D5 we had on test has had the engine from the S80 D5 and the V50 D5 shoehorned into it. It seems like a reasonable proposition on paper. Plenty of torque locked into a capable chassis, and being a smaller hatch, it should have plenty of get-up-and-go.
*****PRIMO!*****
I like this car, esp. the back!
BUT its nowhere price wise
Did/nt you guys go all gaagaa last time you tested it?
Cheers
F-0
Hmm, interesting. I was going to buy the T5, but the pricing on the options just killed me. Starts at $42.5k sure, but add metallic paint ($2k), body kit (essential – $4k), those nice 18″ wheels (the 17″ don’t look nearly big enough – $4k), auto (if you want it – $2k), roof ($2k), etc. etc. and you’ve got a close to a $60k car. It’s fabulous, and I love it, but I don’t nearly $60k love it…
Looking from the front “Oh yes very nice”….looking from the back “Oh god, train wreck!!!”
5 speed auto with the bonus of reduced torque as well – clearly not a strong auto box.
The Golf GT TDI is nearly 100kg lighter, and has a smaller, more economical engine with only a poofteenth smaller output, and 6 speed DSG not a weak 5 speeder. Throw in $2000 for paint, the ugliest rear end on offer (except for the butt-ugly renault), sorry, but the Volvo gets a FAIL.
c1ockwork Says:
August 23rd, 2008 at 11:57 am
Hmm, interesting. I was going to buy the T5, but the pricing on the options just killed me. Starts at $42.5k sure, but add metallic paint ($2k), body kit (essential – $4k), those nice 18″ wheels (the 17″ don’t look nearly big enough – $4k), auto (if you want it – $2k), roof ($2k), etc. etc. and you’ve got a close to a $60k car. It’s fabulous, and I love it, but I don’t nearly $60k love it…
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What the heck are you on about? Metallic paint is $1,350, there is no bodykit option, there is no option for 18″ wheels, and sunroofs are a complete waste of money in the first place. Get your facts straight next time.
As for the D5 reviewed in this article, Volvo has got the pricing horrendously wrong. The T5 costs the same but has the following features as standard over the D5:
- Anti skid system $2,190
- BiXenon Headlights $2,100
- Power folding mirrors $250
- Rain sensor $250
- Anti dazzle rear view mirror $390
- Power driver’s seat $1,950
- Leather Seats $2,850
- Interior air quality system $250
- High Performance audio system $1,350
- 6 CD Changer $795
- Leather Gear Knob $200
- 17″ wheels $1,500
So ignoring the fact that the T5 has a superior engine to the D5, it has $14,000 worth of features as standard over the D5 for the same price. Volvo need a good kick up the arse, and anyone who buys the diesel needs to be sent to a mental institution.
Oh and the 5 speed auto is $1,500 not $2,000.
All up I think the T5 looks to be a great car for the price.
Saw one of these the other day. Actually not bad looking, very original and unique. Agree that the T5 sounds like the best option.
Chucky,
I was speaking from memory, and this was some time ago. Upon further inspection of my quote, you’re correct on some points, and wrong on others. Let’s break it down shall we?
The vehicle I test drove was (roughly) $62500 drive away. That price included:
- Base T5 – $42500
- 18” (yes – those non-existent 18”) Aterus Wheels – $4000
- Body Kit – $4000 (you probably doubt it existed too, as it’s not currently on the pricelist)
- Paint – $1350
- Tint – $500
- (Chucky can’t believe anyone would want it) Sunroof – $2150
- Sports Kit – $1500
- Auto – $1500
- Dynaudio Upgrade – $1000
- Onroads – $4000
Not that it’s an excuse, but I was bundling the upgrades into $4k lots in my mind, hence the errors. My apologies.
Technicalities aside, the point I was making was totally valid. To get the vehicle as I wanted it (and I wanted it in ‘publicity shot’, semi hot-hatch guise) was going to cost me $61000 (as above but manual).
Point made? Good.
Hi clockwork,Im a Volvo dealer and A c30 T5 with all that you want is $ 54380 recomended retail atm in an auto as they have a free on roads campaign on currently. And this is for the ltd edition R Design spec so you actually get more eqiuipment than you have requested including the $850 sport leather/alum steering wheel and aluminium pedals etc
Hi Boggy,
Wow, that’s an awesome price, and well within the realms of good value. It was around launch time when I looked at one, and I totally fell for the ‘Show the top model and advertise the entry level price’ marketing tactic from my dealer. It wasn’t until after I’d driven it and fallen in love with it that I was told that if I wanted it to look like the one I just drove, with my desired options, it would be roughly $20k more than base (admittedly drive-away), which ruled it out of my budget, and I wasn’t about to compromise on the looks of it.
I have since bought another vehicle (a Renault R26, not nearly as nice as the C30, but quicker and cheaper), but I always hoped that a ‘Super Sports’ type pack would emerge, and here it is. If I were in the market for a new car today, I’d buy the R-Design without hesitation.
I note that the R-Design has the $4k Body Kit I wanted too. Further to my previous comment, the awesome 18” wheels I liked (and are often pictured on the car) were the ‘Zauraks’ (possibly no longer available, as Chucky commented?) not the ‘Aterus’.
I appreciate the info. Sorry to hijack the D5 article’s comments with posts about the T5.
Thats cool … enjoy your Renault cheers !!
As much as I like Volvos – I’d either go for an XR5 Focus or pehaps wait for the new Torana [Coupe] to be released which will not only have the new DITTO V6 but also AWD.. as I think the design of the C30 will date rather quickly.
love this car…
essentially, i dont have my full liscence (yet!!!)(currently on [L]’s) so i couldnt get the T5.
i have been fortunate enough however, to drive my cousins xr5 mondeo, which has the same engine. and all i could say was “wow”. i drove it to the gong and back, and it tackled bulli pass superbly. and so easy to change gear in! (it was nice feeling compared to my ‘84 Meteor, lol – which i might add is only a 4sp manual).
but yeh – i would get the T5 – but given my current situation, the diesel seems pretty awesome. i’d get a sunroof, bi-xenons and those nice 18″ wheels then vuolla! its complete. if i could afford it i’d purchase one tomorrow!
Its obvious you guys from CarAdvice like the C30 – you keep on inventing reasons to test drive the various versions. What’s also interesting is the same comments that keep coming back – the T5 is the pick of the bunch, but it and its petrol siblings are probably $5,000 overpriced. The D5 is arguably $10,000 overpriced. I also love this car and is a constant source of discussion with my other half about getting one. Price is the fundamental sticking point. While I’m aware of the current promotion with drive-way prices on in-stock 08 models, I can’t help wondering about hanging on for a few months for the 09 models which (may) have a price adjustment to incorporate the standard stability control (DSTC) across the C30 range. And maybe the hope that Volvo Aust will re-assess its pricing policy for the C30.
You could get a golf but everyone has one of those. The c30 is unique
I have driven the c30 5 cyl and the s40 in a T5 (my missus has one), and a D5. The D5 is brilliant – nearly as strong as the T5 – you get heaps of wheelspin from the FWD, though it sounds like a tractor. For my money, I’d stick with the s40T5 – more practical (my tongue should shrivel saying that!), with a real boot, and wicked in a six speed manual (same box as the R)…and you could pick one up pretty cheap second hand and spend the savings on evolve kit, more fiery in the FWD version (pre 2007, I think) rather than the AWD which took a bit of the fun out of it.
If it wasnt so expensive i would love to have this in my driveway… looks far more unique than the Golf GTI (for those who are comparing it to that). Notice the use of “unique” not “better looking or worse” as looks are subjective….
in some aspects it reminds me of the mitsubishi mirage for the concept of getting a sedan and chopping off the boot to give it a sporty look along with wider front… I am not suggesting that the Mitsubishi mirage is to be compared with this, just the design idea….
Went the T5 route a while back. Would of had it except it’s body config.. access to rear.. it was too tight for the type of stuff I carry. Mountain bikes etc. If I could have got 2 bikes in, it would be in the garage. Got a Golf instead and it can take four bikes in rear when loaded right.
Butt ugly rear end I have to agree and will date {pardon the pun}
Would have been an interesting test if it would have been the T5 especially in the fact you have a test with the Focus XR5 coming up {both having the same engine }! Looking forward to that one Matt !
With a starting price of $45,950 for the C30 T5R and
$36.000 starting on the XR5 Focus Ill go the Focus purely on looks and that great Orange colour.