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

Jaecoo 7 review – impressive in ways, not great in others
Jaecoo 7
Reviews

Jaecoo 7 review – impressive in ways, not great in others

Is what is now one of Britain’s best-selling cars actually any good? We got one in to find out
11 Aug 2026
Unpopular opinion: Why fast estate cars are almost pointless
BMW M3 Touring (E46)
Opinion

Unpopular opinion: Why fast estate cars are almost pointless

The ‘spork’ of the car world – do-it-all, but two cars each dedicated to their specific job would be better
11 Aug 2026
Jaguar Type 01 interior revealed – futuristic and luxurious to make German cars look old-fashioned
Jaguar Type 01 interior
News

Jaguar Type 01 interior revealed – futuristic and luxurious to make German cars look old-fashioned

Unsurprisingly the Jag’s cabin is as bold and futuristically luxurious as its exterior, if not entirely clear in terms of ergonomics…
11 Aug 2026