T5 = Turbocharged 5-cylinder
Squeezed in under the hood of my tester was an all aluminum 2.5-litre DOHC turbocharged I-5 featuring continuously variable valve timing (CVVT) technology. This gutsy mill produced 227 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm and 236 foot-pounds of torque from 1,500-4,800 rpm.

My tester was backed-up by a 5-speed automatic transmission featuring Volvo's Geartronic manual-mode.

Given the C30 T5's trim curb weight of 1447-kg, the aforementioned potency is plentiful. Gentle applications of throttle are richly rewarded with smooth, enthusiastic acceleration. Heavy stomps on the "go" pedal are quickly responded to with vigorous leaps off-the-line and strong pulls in the passing lane. This car doesn't run low on steam and seems to increase its fortitude commensurate with increasing its speed.

Although I wouldn't consider the harmonics of this engine unrefined by anyone's standard, this mill doesn't deliver turbine-like smoothness that one might associate with a turbocharged BMW powerplant. Nonetheless it's a pleasing engine, which is always willing to deliver plenty of low-end torque.

My tester was backed-up by a 5-speed automatic transmission featuring Volvo's Geartronic manual-mode shift capability. This unit performed suitably however I would rather have found the six-speed stick beneath my right hand that comes as standard T5 equipment.

Fun-to-drive quotient
You can be forgiven if Volvo doesn't jump to mind when naming hot-handling compacts; that is of course prior to reading this review. The C30 T5 R-Design is a strong contender in the discipline of pavement athletics.

The handling qualities of this less-known contender are up there with the best in the segment, which says a lot given the ever-improving performance thresholds in the premium compact class. I derived much enjoyment from tossing my tester into tight turns and long sweepers, finding it to be exceptionally easy to control thanks to confidence-inspiring handling dynamics and feedback that's both predictable and communicative.

This engine produced 227 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm and 236 foot-pounds of torque from 1,500-4,800 rpm.