Volvo C30 off to a slow start

While Volvo was expecting the new Volvo C30 compact hatchback to be a market leader and expecting record sales, Volvo dealers have been complaining that the new premium hatchback has been invisible to the compact car buyer in the market.

The Volvo C30 was expected to take the European market by storm, competing with cars like the Volkswagen GTI and the BMW 1-Series, but sales of the hatchback have been slow since it hit dealerships in October of 2006.
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S4cabriofoxone - 2/27/2007 5:20:11 PM

+1 Boost

Is it sold here? Because the only ones I've seen have been at the auto show. Mini and A3 do much better. It needs a little time, though.

joeyc - 2/27/2007 5:46:21 PM

+1 Boost

The article is referring to sales in Europe. Sales begin late summer in the US.

Agent63 - 2/27/2007 6:20:14 PM

+1 Boost

I've seen it in Canadian dealerships. I like the front but not the rear. It doesn't look proportioned right. The A3 is by far more appealing IMO.

joeyc - 2/27/2007 6:43:21 PM

+1 Boost

The proportions look odd because they took the S40 and lopped off a foot or so off the back and made it into a hatch. BMW and MB both tried something similar with the 318ti and C Coupe and look where they are now... gone from the marketplace. But you have to give Volvo credit for trying to make the brand more youthful to attract a younger audience, otherwise the brand will lose sales as its core demographics age.

CarExpert - 2/27/2007 7:35:31 PM

+2 Boost

The Volvo C30 has come to the top of the of the lower medium import class and is way ahead of some tough rivals in the market. And i guess one of their reason why they have such large number of admirers because of its wide array of safety features including Volvo pressure plates - http://www.swedishpartsshop.com/volvopressureplate.html - which volvo is known for.

S4cabriofoxone - 2/27/2007 7:39:32 PM

+1 Boost

Did you not just read that they're unable to move off of dealer lots?

njshift - 2/28/2007 8:13:11 AM

+1 Boost

They're priced too high just like the rest of volvos products.

matt635 - 2/28/2007 9:43:33 AM

+1 Boost

I didn't even know it had been released yet, until I saw one two days ago, and I work very near to Volvo UK training centre!