2008 Volvo C30

KATHY RENWALD FOR THE TORONTO STAR

Four people can sit comfortably in the C30, although with only two doors, the back seats require agility to access.

Kathy Renwald

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

He's no longer blogging about the C30, but Canadian Simon Lamarre, who designed the exterior of Volvo's mini Swedish meatball, still trolls the internet to gauge chatter about his creation.

Lamarre's a modern guy, what with his trendy blog, his willingness to reveal his astrological sign (Scorpio), and favourite shoes (Pedag-Italian).

"It pleases me that buyers are so happy with it," the amiable Lamarre is telling me on the phone from his home base in Goteborg, Sweden.

He was expecting some backlash, some whining, like "it's too hard to get into the back seats."

But no, Lamarre says, "They might put some criticism to the car but they say, `what the hell, I didn't buy the car for that anyway'."

So maybe they buy the front-wheel drive C30 because it turns out that it's chummy, cozy and fun as a new puppy.

The C30 waggles away from the conservative, "good for you," styling of the Volvo tribe with the precocious charm of a youngest child. See it out on the road and it's instantly identifiable with its all-glass tailgate.

For its statement styling (which features that aquarium rear end, the bulked up broad shoulders of the side panels, and the severe "v" sculpted into the hood), we can thank chief designer Lamarre, who joined Volvo in 1995.

"With a small car, you can be a bit more audacious," says the Quebec native.

He was project director on the C30 from the early going. The model was an important car for Volvo because, he confesses, "the people who don't have kids, we aren't good at getting them into our cars."

Volvo's intentions were clear when the C30 rolled off the assembly line with just two doors and four seats. "We could have made it to cram five people in, but no, we designed it so just two could sit comfortably in the back, it's a totally different mindset," said Lamarre.

My C30 tester was the 2.4i five-cylinder with a five-speed manual transmission and a restrained 168 horsepower. With the optional sport package and premium sound system, the $27,495 starting price was boosted to $33,395. The T5 turbocharged model bumps the horsepower up to 227.

Buckled up for the first time, my thought was "this car is immediately likeable."

There are three things I liked very much:

The interior is smartly styled, crisp and modern – it feels like a boutique hotel.

The C30 is incredibly easy to shift, the clutch is light, and the gearbox is silicone smooth.

The smallest Volvo is an overachiever in slippery conditions. I slithered around during a snowy week and the traction was so sure-footed (with the aid of winter tires) that it seemed like it had all-wheel drive.

Dynamic stability and traction control are standard on the C30, along with ABS, electronic brake distribution and emergency brake assist.

A slew of safety features, including whiplash protection, side airbags, side impact protection and side curtains, add a protective envelope to the body.

There's a sense of well-being behind the wheel of the C30. With body-hugging, supportive seats, decent visibility, responsive steering in the grip of your hand and communicative road feel, the C30 is cheery to drive.

It's fast enough but far from blistering, throttle response is snappy, and braking is confident, stopping in a smooth, straight line after a committed stomp on the pedal.

In the calm interior, the now nearly famous, floating centre console takes it cue from Scandinavian bentwood furniture design. On the console are the four chunky knobs that control the major functions for audio and climate, with a twist they illuminate a clear animation of whatever adjustment is being executed. The design is simple and easy to use, but smaller "sub" buttons are stingy small.

The car is not without some flaws.

The back seats are nicely sculpted for two people, but I think a lengthy ride back there would create cabin fever since the tallish front seats block a big portion of the view. They also require grace and agility to access.

The side mirrors are nicely understated and contribute to the car's aerodynamics, but I always felt I wanted more mirror for a better look at the action around me.

And for whatever reason, the passenger seat was jammed in my test vehicle so that it couldn't be moved forward to allow entry into the back. That was likely a quick fix.

Though there are some complaints that even with the back seats folded down, cargo room is wanting, I don't think the car was designed for hauling drywall and nursery stock.

The $2,500 sport package might be a disappointment to some, the add-ons are nice but their mainly for optics – not the delivery of a sportier ride.

Freelance automotive reviewer Kathy Renwald can be reached atkathyrenwald.com

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