Over the years, the top of the line hatchback market has become ever more significant. Cars like BMW’s 1-Series and Audi’s A3, the Merc B-Class and others like them never existed not all that long ago.

Hatchbacks – chic ones like the One, A3 and B are becoming ever more important to the likes of BMW, Audi and Merc – you see they appeal to a younger buyer who’s ever increasingly brand conscious – and loyal – and these guys need to be harnessed to a particular marque as early as possible.

So if you can get a guy or a girl into something like an A3, a 1-Series or a B-Class rather than a Toyota, a Nissan or a Golf, chances are they’ll be hooked and next time they’ll buy a 3-Series, and A4 or a C-Class and further down the line a 5, and A6 or an E – or even an X5, a Q7 or an ML…

There’s nothing like bums in seats that those bums have paid for and are happy with – to pry those guys back into a Golf or a Toyota is unlikely – and across brands you have pretty much the same chance. Not much.

So any carmaker pretending to be a purveyor of luxury autos has a thing or two coming if they are not yet nurturing their next generation of drivers through affordable yet chic and luxurious hatchbacks. After all, BMW and Merc are well into it and Audi’s second-generation future customer magnet is already in its second generation.

Notice Volvo, Jaguar, Saab and Lexus are missing from the above equation? Well scratch Volvo – this story is about why Volvo is here and how it fits in. Why? Well I’ve explained that quite effectively already, but how is quite interesting, too… Volvo actually has a history in this kind of a car – long before A3, 1 and B were glitters in Audi, BMW and Merc’s eyes, the Swedes had this little niche covered. Way back in the ‘eighties, Volvo built a car called the 480 – a quaint little hatchback that met with a good response.

Trouble is back then Volvo was punishing us for apartheid so we never saw any of that generation of its cars here and by the time the brand came back, 480 was in its death throes. Volvo was changing – it wasn’t yet a Ford Premium Brand and the focus was more on survival than replacing a hatchback that never seemed to have a future…

So, in effect, Volvo was among the first of the upmarket carmakers to build a hatchback to entrap its future limo customers – only it lost its way and what today would have been a fine advantage in high-level hatchback pedigree. Still, that pedigree is there and it shows in the new C30 and then some. Look at the back of the newcomer and its cool hexagonal glass hatchback is all 480. The genes are clearly there…

OK, we explain C30 itself in finer detail a few pages anon, so what about how it fits in?

C30 is a premium hatchback – we reckon it doubles well as a hot hatch, but we’re quite confident a flagship flyer can’t be too far off, so no, the range as it sits now doesn’t pretend to rival the likes of GTI and the like. It does, but that’s another matter…

So in choosing a proper set of rivals for the current range-topping C30 T5, we took cognisance of the fact that it ultimately won’t be the hot one and we found a pair of rivals that are in the same boat…

The Audi A3 2.0T FSI has an S3 big brother on the way and already has a 3.2 quattro V6 above it on the range, while the Opel Astra GTC 2.0 Turbo sits happily under the testosterone enhanced OPC in its line-up. Remember that – the Volvo C30 is not quite intended as a hot hatch – yet…

So, here we have an interesting trio. The Volvo is the most expensive, but then it is the biggest capacity, most powerful, torquiest and quickest of the three considering its claimed figures. The Audi is not much less expensive but the Opel seems cheap in comparison – especially the way it comes; without its Sport option. Viewing them, the Volvo certainly looks the part – especially in red and more so even, when viewed from behind – if you understand the historic connotation. But we reckon it isn’t the best-looking car here – that in our book is the Opel – they really have got this one right – it boxes even further out of its weight limit than the Volvo does.

The Audi pales in comparison to both its rivals here, but then that reserved Ingolstadt design language goes down well enough without having to be ostentatious. Inside however, the Opel falls apart – seems the design boss briefed the exterior team and was off sick when the cabin crew told what to do. It’s cheesy and crude compared to the others inside and those finishes are hard and unforgiving to the eye.

Audi has always had a reputation for fine cabins and the A3 – plain as ever – is no exception, but the Volvo still teaches it a lesson in interior style. Full marks to the Volvo – its well thought out, pleasant and compliant to live with…

Under the bonnet, the Volvo has a 20% advantage pretty much across the board – 400cc, an extra cylinder and the rest. So even if it’s the most powerful it’s still quite under-stressed. The Audi and Opel are well matched in power albeit some way down on the Volvo, but the A3’s flat and friendlier torque curve gives it a head start. The FSI turbo gets our nod for best engine here.

Driving the cars reveals a fine selection of creamy turbo petrol engines – easy to use, tractable and fiery. The Volvo though has to take the cake as that extra grunt makes all the difference – it outperforms its smaller rivals in every respect. On the road, the Volvo again shines although the Audi is not far off at all and the less expensive Opel tends to show its savings in terms of refinement and class – you pay for what you get, as they say. The Opel however falls out of the bus properly when it comes to fuel economy and range – you’ll need to refill it twice to get to Cape Town and the others will do it on one refuel – although you’d have to drive softly to do that in the Audi.

So, looked at versus its natural rivals, while we have to admit albeit that the Volvo may be a little dearer, it’s composed enough to warrant that premium and then some.

Of the others, the Opel Astra GTC may have a couple of glaring flaws, but it indeed comes back enough in terms of its positives to actually defeat the Audi – mainly though, thanks to a far keener list price.

Getting back to the Volvo that wins this thing, it should be noted that the C30 T5 is actually fighting a double battle – you would not be forgiven for considering this car as an alternative to the likes of OPC, GTI and Focus ST (its blood brother that shares the C30’s underpinnings, engine and even twin exhausts.)

Against those cars the Volvo is indeed competitive and compatible – which means if a hot one does arrive, the C30 R would pretty much be it’s class leader. How about it, Volvo…?

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