Volvo is known for safety. Its cars are thought of as boxy, reliable transportation for soccer moms. While Volvos haven’t been boxy for years, they are still safe, reliable, family oriented luxury cars. With the release of the 2008 C30 hatchback, Volvo is aiming to change that perception by giving the brand a new stylish and sporty image.

One body style, one type of engine and two models are offered, the 1.0 and the 2.0. The C30 shares the platform and most of the mechanicals of the Volvo’s compact S40 sedan and V50 wagon. It is shorter than those cars by 8.5-inches all that has been removed from the trunk, so the possibility of an all wheel drive in the future is likely.

All C30s come as front-wheel drive two-door hatchbacks with a 227-horsepower turbocharged five-cylinder engine know as the T5 that produces 236 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged five-cylinder engine provides a good balance of power and fuel economy. The engine is responsive, with a minimum of turbo lag and little or no torque steer (torque steer is the sensation of the steering wheel pulling from one side under hard acceleration). With the standard six-speed manual transmission, the C30 sprints from 0-60 mph in a quick 6.2 seconds. The manual is easy to shift, but shorter throws would make it feel sportier. With the optional five-speed automatic transmission, 0-60 mph comes in a short 6.6 seconds. The automatic downshifts quickly when passing punch is needed, and it has a manual shiftgate for more driver control (though no steering wheel paddles). The C30 gets 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway with the manual transmission and 18/27 with the automatic.

On the road the C30 handles well with flat cornering and fine balance in quick changes of direction. The 1.0 model, with its standard 17-inch tires, is a bit less sharp than the 2.0 model with its 18-inch wheels, but the 1.0 offers a smoother ride. While neither model feels harsh, both have a firm ride.

Steering is direct, but the steering wheel is rather large and steering response could stand to be a quicker for a car with the C30’s sporty aspirations. The 2.0 model’s sport suspension and larger wheels and tires provide more road feel via the steering wheel. The brakes have good pedal feel and fine stopping power.

The most notable element of the 2008 C30 is its frameless tinted glass rear hatch, which has a rounded shape reminiscent of the 1971-71 Volvo P 1800 ES wagon. The 1800 was a smartly styled car and the C30 is too. The C30 also has considerably less standard equipment than its older siblings, allowing Volvo to price it at the lower end of its lineup. For an additional $300, Volvo offers numerous Custom Build Options so buyers can personalize their cars.

“The C30 is all about individuality, we want the buyer to have the car exactly as they want,” explains Volvo Public Relations guru James Hope. Many of the options are typical mechanical equipment, but others are offered purely for style. 17 different exterior color choices and 12 interior combinations are available in the 1.0 and the 2.0 models. On the 2.0 model, you can choose from numerous colors for the optional lower body kit, yielding a unique two-tone effect.

While the C30 is aimed at a younger market, Volvo hasn’t forgotten its core belief in safety. The C30 has plenty of safety equipment, including front side and curtain side airbags, traction control, electronic stability control, and active head restraints designed to reduce the risk of whiplash.

Inside, the C30 offers a pleasant, fairly roomy cabin for four. The controls, located on Volvo’s trademark “floating center stack,” are easy to find and use. The dash panel is made of a quality soft-touch material, and all the panels fit together with close, uniform gaps. The standard cloth upholstery has the appearance of wetsuit material and looks better than the cloth found in most cars. Leather seating surfaces are also available.

The driver’s seat has enough manual adjustments to tailor a comfortable driving position and enough side bolstering to keep backsides planted in corners. The front seats have plenty of head and leg room, though very tall drivers might wish for more seat travel. Visibility is generally good, though the thick front pillars can restrict vision to the corners at intersections. The front seats tilt and slide forward to provide an open path to the two-passenger rear seat, but passengers must twist and duck to get in. Once inside, leg room is good unless the front seats are far back and toe room under the front seats is plentiful. Head room is sufficient for six footers, but tall riders might need to slouch.

The C30’s hatchback body style gives it a fair bit of utility. The rear seats fold to create a flat load floor with 20.2 cubic feet of easy-to-access cargo room. With the seats up, there is still 12.9 cubic feet, so you can pick up your groceries while driving with friends.

The 1.0 model starts at $22,700 (plus $745 destination) and includes such equipment as air conditioning, keyless entry, cloth upholstery, power windows and locks, and 17-inch alloy wheels. The 2.0 is priced at $25,700 and adds 18-inch wheels, a ten-speaker 650-watt Alpine stereo, sport suspension, and interior and exterior styling cues.

Overall, the C30 is good looking, fun to drive, and offers the easily accessible cargo utility of a hatchback. Volvo’s value pricing makes it affordable, and buyers can personalize their C30s. This combination of style, power, room, and sportiness makes the C30 a fine choice for singles or childless couples looking to make a personal statement.