EX30 are a Love/Hate product 😒 Goodbye for this time 👋

Mixed experience. There's much to love, but also somethings I hate with the EX30.
However, I'm still thrilled for the upcoming Volvo EX30 Cross Country.
Goodbye 👋
🚘 Moss Yellow EX30 Twin Performance Ultra presscar from @volvocarno
📌
Chapters
📌Recorded 14th of March
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[@technight3476]

As a designer I must say I prefer the Volvos interior far over the one of smart or zeekr. For me smart and zeekr are overstyled. Too much light, too much knobs and curves, too much different materials. In my country we say those cars look like shisha pubs. So I am not too much concerned that Volvo has pushed it too far, i think it’s a very modern approach to think and design with sustainability in mind. But yeah, design and taste is a very individual thing. :)

[@volvo_kristian]

Thanks for your input, and totally see your thoughts there. Less is more sometimes

[@Quello_di_una_volta]

I tested both, smart and ex30. I can say that Smart has a sort of premium materials and features, but with a sort of "Chinese style", Volvo has a more occidentalism, Swedish minimalist style, but with "Chinese-like" materials feel. It is evident that the ex30 offers less in terms of functions and gadgets for the same money: panoramic rooftop (only in the expensive Ultra trim for the ex30); electric chairs (only in the Ultra for the ex30, the more basic version has not even the common lumbar support regulation); heated and ventilated seats (in ex30 only heated and it is a separated and pricey optional); wheel drive with dedicated buttons (a single piece of cheap plastic for the ex30 for all) and more. IMO, it is very pricey but I feel I don't like it so much the sisters-competitors smart #3 and zeekre. It is a 9:41 hard choice...

[@razvanlex]

But you are wrong, they took it too far and some materials look and feel cheap. One thing is the XC40 ar XC60 especially that look great and another is the EX30. I think they lost many of their customers with this one. There is nothing "luxury" about this one. I'd rather have a Smart #3 or a Renault Megane E-Tech that is bigger and with a better interior.

[@technight3476]

​I am not quite sure what "chinese like" materials mean :) in my opinion "recycled window frames" are just a new category of material which is new to the industry. I also know that a big part of materials which are used in brands like Audi or Mercedes are just imported from china and assembled in Germany. But i know what you mean with "chinese style" features. I wouldn`t drive a car which has a talking fox with a childish comic world in the infotainment system. But yeah you are right about features, looks like the Volvo is missing some of them. What I tried to say with my comment is that i think people who really care about design (architects, designers etc) would mostly choose the Volvo, just because there is a concept and an sustainable idea behind everything which many people honor. And it just looks good and clean without flooding your senses. Some people prefer to have all the features and some people prefer good design :) Its rare to have both in one car@@Quello_di_una_volta​

[@technight3476]

I drive an ex30 since three weeks and i feel quite luxurious, but maybe its because im used to old shabby Volkswagens :D @@razvanlex

[@stevepullen4586]

Thanks for all of your videos on the EX30. I pick mine up next week and I'm looking forward to driving it. Hopefully all of the software issues will be addressed in the next over the air update.

[@volvo_kristian]

Glad you have enjoyed them 😊 Yeah, I'm expecting several of my cons will be corrected in future OTA updates

[@highlanderes]

Thank you for the open direct style of communicating your experiences.

[@volvo_kristian]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@angelamatthes8857]

Thank you Kristian for all great and honest videos on the EX30. Beauty lies in the eye the beholder and the very functional, simple interior were one of the things that I immediately loved about the EX30, when I ordered (Cloud Blue) in Liechtenstein on June 30, 2023. It’s expected to arrive on April 19, 2024, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

[@RajSharma-uv4nx]

Kristian, no one knows Volvo’s better than you!! As a die hard Volvo fan, your hard work and dedication is greatly appreciated!!

[@richardhinder]

A great, heartfelt opinion: thank you for your openness Kristian.

[@volvo_kristian]

Thanks 🙌

[@christianberthon]

Merci encore pour toutes ces vidéos que j'ai suivi sur l'EX30 depuis plusieurs semaines en attendant qu'arrive le mien. Beaucoup d'expériences sur ce véhicule grace a vous. J'adore particulièrement The good the bad and the ugly ! Un salut de France

[@florisjanvermeer1525]

I really like the interieur, clean and space. I don't like messy and tight of the smart, why the big thing in the centre? The EX30 looks and drive great. I think with a little tweaking of the software the car is a winner!

[@markbartoszek8585]

The Zeekr X and Smart #1 will not be available where I live, but even if they were, I would take Volvo’s reputation and availability of service centers over more “premium” interior quality. I also believe there will be more OTA updates released for the EX30 than the other two cars.

[@volvo_kristian]

Yeah, that's definitely a really good point 👍 Can't get that with these new start ups. So can totally understand and agree with your point there

[@J0n3]

I'm thanking you for your in-deep review of the EX30. I wish you can make a short update video when the EX30 gets the near future software updates.

[@Castelele]

Nice and clear summary 😊

[@volvo_kristian]

Thanks 👍

[@andreassimonsson7498]

Thanks for all the videos 😀 I'm getting mine in about 3-4 weeks. I have testdrive it for four times now and i love it. I have a V60 twin engine now but i have to say that a like the EX30 better. About the soundsystem. Its almost as good as in my V60. The sound is very inportant for me and i like it alot in the EX30 but you need to use the equalizer to get it good. I hope i will be happy with the singel motor standard range. As i know there is nobody that have drive the yet.

[@volvo_kristian]

Glad you have enjoyed them 👍 Yeah I tried tweaking the equaliser, but couldn't find a sweet spot for me. However the sound would also improve if I used the Spotify app instead of Bluetooth. Congrats on your order 👍

[@rafalc.4352]

Indeed, sound is really bad. I have Volvo V60 with HK and it sounds fantastic compared to EX30. I’m afraid no equaliser could make up for lack of speakers.

[@ojeskog]

Thanks for all your honest EX30 coverage (and looking forward to when you get to cover the small LFP version too)! In regards to all the mandated key-up functions. Really wish Volvo would have a shortcut to, or a question every time you start the car, do you want to enable personalised settings? and you can have personalised settings for every drivers profile for all different settings you can think of. As we are all different and like different things. Just wish you didn't have to hunt in the menu for all of them every time you start

[@TeeDolder]

Hi Kristian, I don't have a mixed experience. I am the happy owner of EX30 SMER and the driving experience is great. As for the interior, this was one of the reasons for my choice. I like the minimalism and given how many Tesla 3 and Y are sold, there are more enthusiasts for it. Of course there are negatives, especially in the current version of the software. But if Volvo listens to customer feedback and regularly provides good OTA updates, the EX30 can only get better.

[@antonbanulski1262]

As a designer I prefer the clean, simple lines and interior ergonomics of the Smart #1. Having to look at the centre display in the EX30 to read the speedometer is terrible!

[@shockthemonkey7046]

The eye track monitor may well be required by this stupid ill-conceived EU law but it seems to me that its control and application needs to be refined by Volvo, e.g. Be able to permanently disable it and maybe make it switch on when you are using adaptive cruise control and lane keep. There is good argument to be had that it has a detrimental effect on safety because it is distracting as in the example you gave approaching road junctions. Hopefully it won’t piss me off too much when I pick up mine next week, if it does, I will make every effort to figure out how disconnect it completely.

[@SebastianoPoggi]

It's annoying but I suppose you start to tune it out very quickly - or at least I did. That says a lot about good intentions but flawed implementations

[@peterdrobac9861]

Only had ours a few days, but this feature hasn’t been a problem. It only beeped at me once, when I was legitimately distracted by all the tech in the car. And you can turn off the eye tracking alerts.

[@SebastianoPoggi]

@@peterdrobac9861 you can, but it resets when you park for a bit, and it's very tedious to get back too

[@volvo_kristian]

Let's hope it won't bother you to much 😂

[@shockthemonkey7046]

@@SebastianoPoggi that’s one of the problems with it, the option to disable it is buried several menus deep and you have toggle it every time the car is powered up, Volvo should sort this out but I could wrong… let’s hope I am….

[@mrrobotnica]

The Volvo software is not great, but I also test drove the Smart #1 before buying the EX30. The issue with the Smart is that, oddly enough, the OS is rather poor. I would say there were even more issues with the car I tested compared with the Volvo. Add to that the ugly graphics it is a no brainer compared to the Volvo.

[@volvo_kristian]

Yeah 😂 I have just tested the Smart #1.. and yeah. The Smart infotainment was terrible.. really sad because the car was freaking awesome

[@albertstoraker3928]

I loved the car but admittedly the sensor and speed thing bugged the hell outta me. I don’t care for the heads up display and usually use cruise control anyways. It’s going to be a sweet upgrade from my 10 year old BMW anyways

[@volvo_kristian]

Yeah, will be a sweet upgrade 👍 Congrats on your upcoming EX

[@albertstoraker3928]

@@volvo_kristian thanks ☺️ cloud blue twin ultra with the breeze interior. Moss yellow was cool but not my style.

[@maccabeus753]

Had a good look at the EX30 but was disappointed with the interior space. It is particularly cramped in the rear. The materials look cheap although well put together. For my money the Smart is better despite the relatively small boot.

[@darededevil3007]

I wanted a smart #1 but was not available in my country yet, so i forced to opt for the volvo. Sadly there is no comparison between the two vehicles.

[@volvo_kristian]

Me and @krisrifa have just recorded a short comparison. Since I have just tested the #1 It's a really great car, but maybe not a better option than EX30. Depending on what you prefer.

[@fmsantoscar]

Kristian do you think Volvo will backtrack on their decision to stop production of ICE cars completely just like the German manufacturers have recently done?

[@volvo_kristian]

No. I think Volvo are going all in. Regardless if EV's are less desirable. Maybe they push the time limit slightly forward, but won't backtrack.

[@ChrisDied]

i really dont get why ALL the reviewers are going on about the steering wheels controls.... it isnt touch... its like a d-pad on controller, but instead of a cross it is just a square piece of plastic over all the buttons.... took me less than 2 minutes to get used to it, and never do a wrong press.... reminds me of when all the reviewers was going on and on and on about volume knobs in cars, which was stupid because we all just use steering wheel controls...

[@volvo_kristian]

Then your probably the only one 🤣 All the rest complains about these buttons. For a legit reason.. Enjoy

[@ChrisDied]

@@volvo_kristian car reviewers tend to be kinda slow to learn, no offonse ofcourse

[@ChrisDied]

@@volvo_kristian and it is not a legit reason, they all call it touch bittons when it isnt even touch...

[@volvo_kristian]

@ChrisDied Well, it's kinda touch, because it also reacts when you just hold your finger on top of it. And the rear window "button" aren't a button. Early adopters also sometimes sugar-coats their cars, and can't admit that there's some flaws.. Why do you think Volvo made changes to the MY25 steering wheel buttons? 🤣🤣 Goodbye

[@ChrisDied]

Sorry but you are just wrong on this one...

[@christopherrayner7692]

The Moss Yellow is not for me - looks like a girly specification. I like the Vapour Grey and the white

[@parsifal102]

I like black and moss yellow (grey + white = bleak and boring) - so, there you have it; taste is not uniform, after all.

[@vitalyromas6752]

Thank you for your videos. I put EX-30 to ignore list just due to the fact that it is produced in China only. And not because of quality,, but because of China.

[@user-ue3gx5vx4l]

It will be made in Ghent, Belgium from 2025.

[@vitalyromas6752]

@@user-ue3gx5vx4lI didn't hear about it. Thank you for this info.

[@volvo_kristian]

Well, later this year/early next year the EX30 will also be produced in Volvo's factory in Gent, Belgium 🇧🇪

[@vitalyromas6752]

@@volvo_kristianThank you. Glad to read it.

[@razvanlex]

Then how do you live? Almost everything is made over there?!