Volvo has always been known for its safe, comfortable cars – but now its investment in green technologies is starting to pay dividends, writes Peter Carroll.

Although its more advanced hybrid cars will not arrive until 2012, the Swedish firm is already producing highly fuel-efficient cars under its DRIVe banner.DRIVe was launched 18 months ago as ‘a brand within a brand’ and denotes the cars with the lowest CO2 emissions and best fuel consumption.There are now several DRIVe models spread across the Volvo range, including the DRIVe S40 saloon, which recently scooped the Green Car of the Year award.

Greener C30

But it is the greener varieties of the C30 which are causing most interest among Volvo buyers at the moment.This stylish hatch has been one of the surprise successes under the government’s scrappage scheme.

Volvo’s UK bosses signed up for the initiative thinking they might sell an additional 500 vehicles at most.

But since the beginning of the scheme on May 18, Volvo has shifted a healthy 2,200 vehicles, with the majority (55 per cent) being C30s.

Attractive

And the car on test here, the baseline eco model, the 1.6D DRIVe S, is among the cars proving most attractive to buyers.

It has a list price of £15,745 but, with scrappage discounts and additional incentives from Volvo, the price can drop by as much as £4,000.So, for not much more than supermini money, then, you can have yourself a premium-badged, stylish-looking ‘sports coupe’, with the traditional comfort and safety benefits of a Volvo, plus the prospect of attractively low running costs.The S may lack the luxury trim and features of other models in the C30 range but it is capable of returning an excellent 72.4mpg on the combined cycle.

Low consumption

I drove the car at a Volvo test day in the Cotswolds, where consumption rates in the low 60s were being achieved – good by any standards.

This level of frugality also gives the C30 a huge range of more than 800 miles on a single tank, if driven sensibly.

The car’s CO2 emissions figure of 104g/km matches that of the outgoing Toyota Prius, but does not quite break through the 100g/km barrier which would mean zero road tax.

As it is, owners of the DRIVe C30 will pay the same annual road tax, £35, as the standard diesel C30, which has emissions of 119g/km.

Frugal funcionality

The regular 1.6D C30 is pretty frugal anyway but Volvo has eked out a few more mpg by changing the gearing, adding a few aerodynamic tweaks, remapping the engine control unit and introducing a gear shift indicator, along with a Stop Start function, which operates off the clutch rather than the handbrake.Volvo has also targeted alloy wheels in order to boost fuel consumption. The C30 DRIVe’s standard-fit wheels look a little odd but were designed with economy, rather than style, in mind.

You can fit regular alloys if you want but you’ll lose out on consumption because of their extra weight and worse aerodynamics.

The C30 1.6D DRIVe S seats four in comfort and remains decent to drive, though it’s no rocket ship because of the way the engine has been set up and its high gearing.

Upmarket trim

For me, the main issue is its rather drab interior, which contrasts starkly with its designer exterior looks.

There is a way round this, however, and that is to specify the upmarket R-Design trim, which includes attractive part leather black and cream seats and an aluminium centre console.

But then you are talking about a different model and adding another couple of grand to the purchase price.

With the range of discounts currently on offer the C30 DRIVe 1.6D S is great value and as frugal a performer as they come – provided fuel consumption is your main concern.

But if you want a little more luxury and only a slight reduction in environmental performance then it might be worth looking at the sharper, R-Design version instead.

By Peter Carroll

Volvo Fact File:

Model: C30 1.6D DRIVe SPrice: £15,745 on the road, excluding discountsEngine: 1,560cc, four cylinders, dieselPower: 109PSTop speed: 118mphPerformance: 0-62mph in 11.3 secondsEconomy: 72.4mpg on combined cycleCO2 emissions: 104g/kmInsurance group: 8Length: 4,252mmWeight: 1,382kgServicing: 12,500 milesWarranty: Three years / 60,000 miles