Skip advert
Advertisement
Long term tests

Volvo C30 T5

Good and bad experiences this month with our Volvo C30

I’ve had a real love/hate relationship with the Volvo this month. First the love. It’s done the nursery run most mornings recently and my two-year-old son reckons ‘It looks like a sweetie, daddy’. (I think that’s a good thing.) My 60-mile commute each day has been enjoyable too, the odd back-road excursion seeing me arrive at work with a boyish grin on my face.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Now the hate. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation, but I really can’t figure out why there is a hook at the bottom of each front seat that catches the seat belt, dragging it in the path of anyone trying to get into or out of the back seat. It is so annoying!

Also, I thought Volvos were supposed to be solid, but while cleaning the rear window recently the wiper blade snapped away from its arm, even though I was being very careful with it.

A replacement part (£11.75) soon fixed it, though, and in truth these little niggles have done nothing to stop me enjoying the C30 more and more the longer I live with it.

Running Costs

Date acquiredDecember 2007
Total mileage11,307
Costs this month£11.75 (wiper)
Mileage this month964
MPG this month28.7
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Toyota Celica – Japan’s secret Porsche rival is on the way
Toyota Yaris M/ Celica mule
News

New Toyota Celica – Japan’s secret Porsche rival is on the way

With the new race-proven G20E engine in the middle, what was thought to be the next MR2 may well be called ‘Celica’
26 Oct 2026
Petrol v electric: Alpine's A290 faces the Mazda MX-5
Mazda MX-5 v Alpine A290
Group tests

Petrol v electric: Alpine's A290 faces the Mazda MX-5

Alpine’s A290 is under consideration by evo contributor Peter Tomalin as a replacement for his MX-5. A comparison is in order…
25 Oct 2026
New Genesis GV60 Magma review – fake V6 sounds and lots of fun, for a Porsche price
Genesis GV60 Magma
Reviews

New Genesis GV60 Magma review – fake V6 sounds and lots of fun, for a Porsche price

Genesis’s first Magma performance car is a more distinctive take on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. Is it worth the extra £10k?
26 Oct 2026