2008 Volvo C30

It was not that long ago that you would have had a hard time convincing a vast majority of the American car-buying public that Volvo made a vehicle that looked stylish. Sure, the Swedish manufacturer had a 'look' more box than bravada, but recent years have brought great change to the looks of what is considered the benchmark company for auto safety.

I recently got a chance to drive the newest, and smallest member of the Volvo family - the C30. This cute hatchback is a member of the growing import premium compact car segment. While it shares components with the Volvo S40, it has great looks that are distinctively the new Volvo.

A two-door Volvo is a rarity for the American shores, but exterior styling is attractive and unique and it makes you wonder what they have been waiting for. Of course this is a two-door hatchback, so it is not a pure coupe, but I notice a few of the XC90 cues at the rear where the glass hatch delivers the C30's most distinctive looks.

The glass rear hatch delivers great sightlines for the driver while opening up the interior spaces of the cabin to feel a bit bigger. This C30 has a tight cabin, not unlike the competition such as Audi A3 or the Mini Cooper, but it also (like those tiny competitors) delivers a unique style.

There are two trim levels: Version 1.0 ($22,700) and Version 2.0 ($25,700). There is a cool Custom Build program available for Level 2.0 that allows 17 exterior colors and 12 interior equipment options to be paired and combined along with a laundry list of additional equipment. This creates a truly one-of-a-kind creation for an owner. Unfortunately, an additional $300 is required just to have the ability to add on the extras.

I found the front seats to be snug and for one long-term test I was fidgeting trying to find the right setting - which I never achieved. Dash visibility and controls are intuitive and easy to see.

My tester was a Version 2.0 with upgrade18-inch wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Sirius Satellite Radio and a sporty aluminum inlay of dash components. It is a great package, but it is pricey to be an individual.

Fuel mileage is 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway for the T5 turbocharged 5-cylinder engine (227 hp). This is average for the class, but the turbo fun factor should exceed expectations. I had a 5-speed automatic transmission, but there is a 6-speed manual available. Here's another upside, this turbo compact runs on regular unleaded gas.

I found the 5-speed automatic to be more than adequate with the front-wheel-drive C30. Acceleration was crisp from complete stops and more than capable of merging into stampeding traffic on I-55.

The new C30 is a Volvo through and through. It has the Intelligent Vehicle Architecture (IVA) concept at its core. The C30 starts with a stiff chassis plus energy-absorbing front and rear structures as part of the IVA system. Volvo engineers have used four different grades of high-strength steel in the deformation zones of the C30. The scientific formula is a good example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Standard safety features on the C30 include inflatable side curtains, front and side impact airbags, dynamic stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes.

For the consumer looking for a really unique and fun vehicle, with millions of customizable variations to make it totally their own, and a sensible T5 turbo engine delivering good fuel economy and exciting drive characteristics, the C30 delivers.