I still haven't really got the Volvo C30. It isn't as good or as eye-catching as some of its brilliant predecessors among Volvo's flashier and more sporty cars, yet it does nothing really wrong except that it has a small boot that's difficult to access through its rear hatch.
The latest C30 I was driving was the DRIVe version with stop/start technology and lowered sports chassis which manages absolutely amazing fuel consumption and an impressive 99g/km CO2 figure.
The car was also in a very eye-catching "orange flame metallic" - a sort of saffron - with "oyster burst" trim. Yummy, almost good enough to eat.
Unfortunately the car didn't really live up to its looks. The model I had was very well equipped but, at the equivalent of R317 000, came in at nearly R100 000 above the starting price for the range, the 1.6i which sells for R216 500.
And, just as with the DRIVe version of the massive S80, there is a certain sluggishness about your progress which does entail a lot of gear work.
It does take away from any sporty pretensions for the car and leaves with you a very green - or in this case orange - car which is ideal for a couple or single person who doesn't want to be putting less agile people in the rear or carry a lot of luggage.
There are a lot of other cars out there that can do the job better, have a sportier feel - think Seat for one - and are much more adaptable.
Of course, they don't have the Volvo cachet about them, nor probably the really superior build feel and superb interior minimalist design that the C30 has.
However, the work in making the C30 so clean and economical (think 4.7 litres/100km from its 1.6 diesel engine) is to be commended.
The aerodynamics have been really worked at by using reprofiled bumpers, diffusers and spoilers - including a rather funky roof-mounted one - and a blanked-off grille.
As befits a very close cousin of the Ford Focus the handling of the C30 is always excellent, although the special suspension of the DRIVe version delivers every bump straight into your back and is almost too low if you have to go up a pavement or a lip to a garage.
Naturally as a a Volvo, the C30 is superbly safe and should hold its value very well. For the most part I enjoyed driving it, but the gear-changing was a bit fiddly and the whole car wouldn't be very practical.
It's a niche of a niche and these days might be one too far. - Irish Independent