Volvo changes hands but not its course

Top Gear with Richard Wiley
Most people who think Volvo think Sweden. Indeed, as far as car manufacturing goes, Volvo is indeed based in Sweden (and Belgium) but for more than the last decade, it’s been owned by Ford who integrated the brand into their ill-fated Premium Auto Group. The American owners then got itchy feet and to everyone’s surprise, they found a buyer earlier this year in the unlikely shape of Geely Holdings from China.
To be blunt, the Geely products I’ve seen at various car shows didn’t exactly light a fire in the desire stakes, but the good news is that Geely will allow the management of the existing car plants almost complete autonomy under a board headed by Geely Group supremo, Li Shufu. Very recently, Geely rocked the automotive world yet again with the announcement that they had poached VW of America president, Stefan Jacoby, to run Volvo. Few people in the auto trade know more about the US, European and Chinese car markets so maybe this is an indication that Geely really are doing more than buying intellectual property.
Time will tell, but in the meantime there have been upward stirrings in Volvo sales in European markets. To sustain this growth, there obviously has to be a solid improvement in business confidence and much greater investment in product development which is needed to rid Volvo of its rather stereotyped model line-up. Hopefully, Geely will be able to provide this via various avenues in China and then leave the work to those in the know at the car plants rather as Tata does in the case of Jaguar Land Rover.
I raise all these issues because in the last week, I’ve had the opportunity to drive a Volvo over some six days which is long enough to get to know the vehicle across a broad spectrum of operating conditions. The model in question is the C30 1,6 2-door Sports Coupe. It happens to be at the very foot of the Volvo model line-up but it's lowly location and the fact that it really does look different from all the other “me too” Volvos certainly should not be allowed to count against it. The C30 range, which is aimed at the younger buyer, first saw the light of day in 2006 but underwent a facelift in the current year. The changes were more cosmetic than substantial which is fine by me as the swooping, athletic form didn't need tampering with in the first place. The most distinctive styling feature can be found in the shape of a very deep window in the steeply sloping tailgate. The glass very nearly reaches down to bumper level but the steep rake does no favours for the boot capacity which is not generous although it can be extended by folding the rear seats.
The other aspect of the bodywork which very soon attracted my critical eye was the paintwork. A silver hue in this instance, the finish was truly excellent being glossy and largely devoid of orange peel even on vertical surfaces. Panel gaps were also narrow and even with the visual plusses being confirmed by the ease of opening and closing the large and heavy doors and tailgate. Pleasingly, the gloss extended to hidden areas and normally forgotten items such as door hinges were notable for their apparent sturdiness. The test car was also fitted with a set of optional multi-spoked 17 inch alloy wheels which simply added to the classy appearance of an already striking design.
Inside, the impression of inherent quality was maintained. The seats were swathed in pleasantly grained dark grey leather and not only did they look comfortable and very well tailored, they were indeed excellent to sit in. This car featured electric adjustment for the driver's seat which made it ever so easy to find a really comfortable driving position. The only mild criticism I would direct at the front pews is that they marginally lacked lateral support but that would only be of concern if you drive mountain passes every day. The rear seats are smartly tailored individual jobs that sure look the part in a Sports Coupe but don’t expect to be able to lounge about in the back because it's fairly tight.
The rest of the interior continued the quality theme. The dash is very simply shaped - almost starkly plain - but looks to be of good quality as do the extremely nicely formed door claddings which are relieved here and there by subtle aluminium highlights. The unusual “floating” centre console, so beloved of Volvo, looks neat enough in its aluminium cladding but there are too many functions stacked too closely together to make this a practical feature, especially on first acquaintance.
The instrument binnacle features just two large dials with the usual speedo, rev counter, fuel and temperature gauges supplemented by an information screen activated from the aforementioned console.
Night time lighting is a pleasant white which simply highlights the simple and effective graphics of the instrument display that is also notable for a 100 percent accurate speedo which was cross-checked against two sat nav systems.
As for the driving experience, you can’t expect fireworks from a mere 1600 cc motor (74kW@ 6000rpm) and fireworks you don’t get but you do get rapid enough responses, at least at sea level, in the lower speed ranges. It’s only when the speed rises and the wind resistance builds up that you do sense a lack of thrust. Likewise, mountain passes necessitate frequent downshifts as maximum torque is produced at a fairly high 4000 rpm but the overall driving experience is just fine for most conditions.
A slick-shifting 5-speed box, powerful and nicely-weighted brakes, an efficient aircon system and power steering, albeit of the slightly vague variety, all add to the easy driving environment as does the good wind noise suppression and better than expected muffling of road generated noises.
There’s a lot of Ford engineering in the chassis department which is no bad thing as it means the C30 handles very competently and rides without the slightest trace of float. Indeed, the only aspect you could mark down is the slightly over-firm ride which leads to a few jiggles and bumps on uneven surfaces. Overall though, this is a small price to pay for such admirable control.
Even in 1,6 form, the Volvo C30, as available in South Africa, is well equipped for a R228 000 sporty car. Numerous options are available, most in the form of multiple packages, and this car was the beneficiary of two such packages which added cruise control, special floor mats, auto-folding mirrors, aluminium trim, 17 inch alloys, a high power sound system, powered driver's seat, bi-xenon lights and rear parking sensors to name the most significant additions.
In summary, the Volvo C30 1,6 was a surprise package. It offers quality touches inside and out and a pleasing level of refinement which is enhanced by the total absence of squeaks and rattles. Add the well-known Volvo obsession with safety and you’ve got a car of real substance.
Just be aware that rear passenger and boot space is limited and also be aware that if you want more performance, there are other engine options. I’ll leave you to find out about these on the web.