Volvo leads March price rises

VOLVO increased prices across its entire model range in March when a number of models from other brands in key market segments also became more expensive.

While the Swedish brand’s entry-level C30 2.4 S hatchback increased by just $500 to $36,450, every other Volvo model increased by at least $1000 – with the exception of the XC60 medium SUV launched in February, which stays priced from $64,950.

Up by $1000 are the C30 2.4 LE (now $40,950) and C30 2.5 T5 and 2.4 D5 ($44,950), the V70 T6 AWD (now $69,960), XC70 ($59,950), XC90 ($71,950), C70 Convertible ($71,950) and the S80 range, excluding the flagship V8, which now opens at $73,950 for the 2.4 D5.

Increasing by $1500 was the complete S40 medium sedan range (now priced from $41,450), and the whole V50 range (now from $44,450).

In a trend that has resulted from a weaker Australian dollar and higher raw material costs, other models to increase in price in March included Ford’s new Fiesta light-car range, which is up by between $500 and $700 and now starts from $16,450, plus Peugeot’s similarly-sized 207 range, which is up by $1000 and now opens at $20,990.

From top: Peugeot 308, Ford Fiesta, Honda Civic Type R.

Small cars to increase in price in February include the Honda Civic Type R (up by $1000 to $41,990), Nissan’s Tiida sedan and hatch range (up by $500 to start at $18,990) and the Peugeot 308 hatch range, which is up $1000 across the board and now starts at $26,990.

Peugeot’s 407 sedan and hatch range also rose by $1000 to start at $40,990, while Ford’s Mondeo sedan and hatch range was another medium segment entrant to rise in March. It is also up by $1000, and now starts at $31,990.

Ford’s FG Falcon sedan (up $600 to a $38,290 starting price) and BFIII wagon range (up $1500 to open at $39,720), were the only large cars to receive across-the-range price increases in March, while Renault’s Grand Scenic (up $1000 to $40,990) was the only people-mover price rise.

Sportscars to go up in price in March included the Peugeot 407 Coupe (up $1000 to open at $69,800) and Volkswagen’s Beetle Cabrio (up $1500 to $37,700), while Holden’s Captiva was the only medium SUV to increase, by between $500 and $1000 (see separate story).

In terms of commercial vehicles, Nissan raised the price of its D22 Navara cab-chassis 2WD by $500 to $23,490, while the price of Ford’s Falcon Ute range increased by $1000 (it now starts at $29,295), while the XR6 Turbo and XR8 auto utes are up $1000.