MINI Cooper S vs Volvo C30

c4 Feb 22nd, 2008 Link

I think the C30 is a very handsome car. But the Ford/Mazda derived chassis is a limiting factor to be a true contender to the MCS. Also Volvo service is expensive (They don’t include scheduled maintenance), residuals aren’t that strong and the car admission price may cause some eye brows to rise.

Here in Miami the C30 appears not to be selling well. I have seen maybe 1 or 2 since they were introduced late last year. Here in car crazed South Florida that doesn’t bode well for the C30’s long term success. The car has also been saddled with next to no marketing at all.

Unfortunately, the C30 as handsome, attractive and solidly built as it is, is for the most part, a sedan at heart (S40) and the car drives and handles like one, not a uber sporty hatchback like the MINI.

The MINI was designed to be a hatchback from the ground up, unlike the Volvo.

I was hoping that BMW would purchase Volvo from Ford in hopes of begin seeing some worthy underpinnings in the otherwise handsome Volvo wrappers.

The C30 is for fols that would consider the MINI to be too funky and too harsh. But then again, how many Volvo would-be-customers flock into Volvo showrooms frenetically looking for a hot hatch?

That is part of the bigger question Volvo seems to be struggling to answer.

Jon Feb 22nd, 2008 Link

I think the C30 is a nice car. I agree that from the front, it is still rather unassuming, but the view of the back is very unique and in my opinion, trick.

After sitting in one at the auto show, I felt the interior was a bit bland, boring and somewhat stuffy. (I know, I’m biased; having owned a MINI for 4 years, what interior DOESN’T look bland and boring?!?!?).

I can appreciate that car, but I don’t think I’d buy one…

Bob Feb 22nd, 2008 Link

Over the last two weeks, just about every MINI dealer employee was able to drive a Cooper S Clubman and a C30 back to back at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. I think I can speak for most of them when I say…

NO CONTEST!

Eric Feb 22nd, 2008 Link

I have disagree with the assertion that…

These cars are meant for the owner who places style and design a tick higher than performance

Obviously the author hasn’t been paying much attention to the SCCA autocross results, particularly G Stock, where the R56 and R53 MINIs have pretty much dominated the charts since their inception.

While it’s true the MINIs are stylish autos, they are also well balanced at a decent price point. In fact, if I had room in my garage, I’d pick one up. The 15 year old Integra GS-R has to die first, though.

As for the C30, it’s very European. Just not very distinctive.

Aaron Feb 22nd, 2008 Link

Thanks for posting this. I have been looking for this comparison, and was kinda hoping to read a review written by one of the motoringfile’s great review writers, but it may not be so necessary :)

dave Feb 22nd, 2008 Link

this is pretty old

c30 is really attractive altho clearly catered to a different clientele…intentionally or not. the back looks great but the front is pretty boring. good thing is that it seems like volvo is adapting that rear theme to their other cars. and most people i’ve seen driving c30’s (at least here in LA) are older and more mature and don’t really seem to be car people

b4mmy Feb 22nd, 2008 Link

Yeah the C30 is cool, looks great on the road and I found myself checking one out the other day when on a long drive down south. It’s not as distinctive or as crazy as the MCS. If was going to go for something else I’d be looking for a lot more design in it than a C30… nice car tho.

b. nystedt Feb 22nd, 2008 Link

I test drove the C30 and I couldn’t stand the light clutch action and the odd feeling of their weird gear shifter. It’s a beautiful car, but it’s too expensive for what you get. It’s too squishy as far as the suspension goes, and it’s fuel economy does not compare. The interior is pretty neat but it seems this car has looks going for it and not much else.

And anyone who can’t get 4 people into a MINI isn’t trying very hard… I just had a full load last night and everyone had a great time. It’s even easier on the R56 so I don’t know what they’re complaining about.

robble Feb 22nd, 2008 Link

I drove the c30 and S clubman back to back. The c30 had more power but that was it. In the slalom there was no comparison at all. The c30 felt like a whale.

The clubman handled like – well, a MINI!

C4 Feb 22nd, 2008 Link

Hey Robble you are yet another lucky bastard that got to drive them in vegas?

robble Feb 22nd, 2008 Link

yep =)

msh441 Feb 23rd, 2008 Link

Coming out of a Volvo S70R we considered the C30 and the S40T5. Both are great looking cars IMO, though the interior options for the C30 were kind of bland. Volvo puts out a high quality product for the price, too.

Went with the MINI ’cause A) There were so many more options when speccing the car. I like the fact that each one is different. B) I’d lusted after a MINI for some time after driving one at PIR and C) The handling on both Volvo’s (even with their sport suspension) was typical vague understear FWD. I loved how the MINI felt tail happy in comparison. Just more fun.

pete Feb 23rd, 2008 Link

yeah im sorry but volvo’s got nothing.

theyre also built like crap

charlie Feb 23rd, 2008 Link

after driving both cars last week .The volvo has nothing on the clubman or the cooper ? The MINI speaks for its self truly !!

msh441 Feb 25th, 2008 Link

Though I would agree wholeheartedly that the driving pleasure derrived from any BMW or MINI exceeds anything Volvo has ever produced… I would have to strongly disagree with the build quality comments.

I’ve owned 3 Volvos now… and though not on par with the performance or driving enjoyment of a BMW or MINI… they far exceed both marquis in build quality and overall reliability. No ratles. No build defects inside or out. No mechanical issues until several years and 1000,000+ miles of ownership. They are pretty much bullet-proof.

I cannot say the same of either BMW or the MINI I’ve owned. Fun cars. Great customer service when somthing goes wrong. But somthing has always gone wrong. Usually very expencive when it does, too. I don’t think I would want to own one out of warranty at this point.

Just my experience after owning 3-of-each, though…

Gary Apr 13th, 2008 Link

I sat in the C30 today and was shocked that I could not get the seat back far enough AND my foot got caught under the dash. I am 5′11″ and have size 12 shoes.

I recently drove a Mini Cooper S and had NO such problem.

Maybe that’s just another reason I have not seen one on the road yet?

MaryQuiteContrary Apr 1st, 2009 Link

I am considering trading in my BMW 325i ( which I purchased in Germany so it has the winter, sound, and the sports package) for a C30. I test drove it today. Tight steering, QUIET, smooth ride, awesome acceleration, modest interior (not leather) but the one I test drove didn’t have cruise control(not sure if any of them do?). I LOVE the cute look of the hatch back and tail lights. The front does seem plain like the S40. Why didnt they make the same bubble shaped front as the rear? NOTHING I HAVE EVER DRIVEN BEATS MY BMW–I LOVE THAT CAR…but it’s time to try something different. The different sized (sports pkg) run flat tires cost me over $1000 to replace every spring and my warranty is up so costly repairs are waiting for me. Not certain the C30 is it–but I did enjoy the drive- handled extremely well and no blind spots anywhere. I never considered the mini coopers but after reading this–I’m going to go test drive one. They are cute but they seem too compact and remind me of clown cars. I always expect Mr. Bean to get out of one of them. I also like having 4 doors and worry about my 10 year old climbing in the back seat of the C30. Will the 2 door C30 become annoying? My teenager wants me to get that Subaru Impreza Hatchback- the fast and the furious one! (but it’s a SUBARU–ugh!) So C30 vs Mini Cooper vs Impreza—–any ideas now???