Volvo C30 DRIVe 2011 long-term review - 1

Name: Volvo C30 DRIVe 2011 long-term review - 1
Brand: Volvo

Introducing the Carsales Network's latest long-term test car, the Volvo C30 DRIVe

Long-term Tests
The Carsales Network aims to make your choice of vehicle easier. Hopefully, our Editorial section does this via our mix of news, international and local launch reviews as well as our seven-day tests.

From time to time we also take the opportunity to spend more time in a vehicle. These longer term tests can be as short as a couple of weeks, but more recently we've settled on a six-month period as indicative of 'normal' ownership. Long-term tests give our staff writers and contributors a chance to get to know a car as an owner would. While the car is with us, we pay for fuel, pay for the servicing and generally use and live with the car as a new owner would.

We believe long-term tests give car buyers an added insight into the vehicle on test, but also the qualities behind the brand and nameplate. The extended period also allows us to touch base with the dealer networks in question.

Our recent long-termers have included the Suzuki Kizashi XL, HSV E2 Maloo R8, Jeep Patriot Limited, Kia Cerato SLi, Subaru Forester XS and Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI.

No surprise manufacturers tend to have a love-hate relationship with long-term tests ... Six months is plenty long enough to fall out of love with the latest and greatest, and start to nitpick -- just like real owners do.

So why C30 DRIVe?

The C30 regularly receives positive feedback on seven-day tests, and the economical DRIVe is no exception. The fuel sipping diesel-powered hatch proved entirely capable of achieving close to its claimed consumption rating during its last visit to the Carsales office, but we were keen to see if these could be maintained in the longer term.

We also considered that it was of value to us, and therefore our readers, to see if low output diesel models such as the C30 DRIVe would cope with the day-to-day rigours of stop-start traffic, supermarket runs and occasional weekends away. With only four seats and a comparably restricted luggage capacity, we were keen to discover if Volvo's three-door hatch was practical for more than just frugal commuting.

A few weeks into our test, the answer to these questions, and indeed a few more, have satisfied even the harshest Carsales Network critics, including our Melbourne-based motoring writer Matt Brogan, who had the following to say about our C30 DRIVe long-termer.

First impressions

Grabbing the key to our newest long termer my first goal was to get it home as quickly as possible to remove the mask of 'eco' stickers plastered from headlamp to hatch after DRIVe's recent stint in Melbourne's Green Zone Drive events. That feat accomplished, the DRIVe now looked pretty much the same as any other C30 on the road, which is just the way we'd like for it to be perceived.

Settling in for the morning commute and DRIVe is relatively unremarkable in that it feels no different to drive than any other diesel hatch. Aside from the compact-disc wheels and small DRIVe badge, it looks no different, either. A few thousand kays on the clock and DRIVe was still new car tight, a positive sign for Volvo's acclaimed build quality.

The C30 legacy 'feel' and handling remain intact in its conversion from normal to DRIVe mode -- including that oversized steering wheel. The feature list is pretty generous all things considered while the 1.6-litre turbodiesel provides ample get up and go, even if it is unmistakably diesel to the ear (Volvo claim a 0-100km/h time of 11.3 seconds).

Developing 80kW and 250Nm it's no powerhouse, but the low end torque of the four-cylinder oiler is what keeps DRIVe mobile. A good spread of ratios in the five-speed manual gearbox make acceleration linear but purposeful, even when you're trying to keep a light foot.

Nearing the city, and as traffic slows to a crawl, Volvo's Stop-Start system kills the engine as you slip in to neutral at the lights, quickly firing again upon depressing the clutch. The DRIVe system isn't as eager as some to disengage, and in some instances won't at all, depending on the number of ancillary items in use (air conditioning a major decider), but happily, it's quick to get going again when summoned.

Upon reaching the inner-city congestion near Carsales HQ, DRIVe's compact size makes for nimble manoeuvring through the maze of tram tracks, laneways and our subterranean car park.

The electro-hydraulic steering provides a natural feel and is well weighted, as are the brake and clutch pedals. Indeed, the meatier pedal actuation and gearshift add an almost Germanic, sporting feel to the DRIVe. This might seem strange given its eco-intentions, but what they do achieve is a natural level of assistance.

How low can you go? Very!!!

After a week commuting in peak traffic it was decided that leaving home and the office a little later each day would give DRIVe a chance to cruise more economically. With my daily run offering a relatively short distance from the freeway at each end, careful throttle application and gearshift timing could push DRIVe well below the 4.5L/100km average we'd experienced through the week one.

The home to office trip is a whisker under 45km each way, and with the freedom to sit at 100km/h for most of the journey (and switching the aircon off), DRIVe's economy improved dramatically. Filling the tank and resetting the trip computer at the beginning of the week, the Monday to Friday stint (plus a run to and from the airport) saw the display tumble to below the claimed average for the first time. In fact, I got it so low I was going to need more than a week to empty the tank.

The C30 DRIVe offers a 52-litre fuel tank which we topped with regular diesel for around $63. And after two weeks of travelling an average of 90km per day, I still hadn't emptied the can. With the trip metre hitting 999 it quickly snapped to 0 again, the three-digit display requires an extra figure for the range on offer. The weekend's open roads should take care of what remained, and wanting to keep the DRIVe's average as low as possible, I embarked on similar freeway and highway driving to empty the tank.

As the gauge neared zero, and the distance to empty reading 120-kilometres, thoughts of Seinfeld's Kramer sprang to mind. Determined to run as close as was feasible to empty I was ecstatic to see the trip metre read 520-kiolmetres (which is a total of 1520!!!). With the next town about 25 kilometres away I was worried about konking out on the side of the road, my speed now down to 80km/h and the AC off to save every precious drop (thankfully I had the road to myself).

After what felt like forever, I trundled into a petrol station with 1550km extracted from the DRIVe, or an average of 3.35L/100km. That's more than half-a-litre better than Prius.

If we average the three weeks to date, our little C30 DRIVe has consumed around 4.0L/100km, just over the 3.8L/100km combined average.

Not so flat pack

At a glance, the C30 appears small inside. Four seats and a 233-litre cargo compartment see it positioned at the lesser end of the scale among small hatch rivals. But what's intriguing is that the utilisation of the interior space. Though it is at the detriment of cargo space, four adults can actually fit comfortably in the C30.

Sure, getting in to the back seat can by a little gymnastic, especially as the front seat tends to hold on to the seatbelt (great for the driver) which can take a moment to clear out of the way. But rear head and shoulder room really impresses, and with the front seats set for a person of average height, legroom isn't too bad either.

Forward visibility is terrific and changing lanes a cinch, though reversing from a 45-degree park can get tricky thanks to some pretty substantial C-pillars.

The boot is an interesting proposition on C30, primarily because of the glass rear hatch design. It's ample for carting a week's groceries or a weekend's travel bags but any more than that is a stretch. The other bother here is the soft cover which keeps your valuables out of sight. As the cover needs to extend quite low at the aft end, it's secured by elastic straps which require two hands to remove – not ideal with hands full of shopping in the rain.

The good news however is that when required the cover can be completely removed and the rear seats flipped down to allow a respectable 876-litres. Handy for trips to Ikea you might say.

Volvo C30 DRIVe 2011 long-term review - 1

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