Volvo EX30 review: F@ck Scandinavian minimalism

[@grahamhaynes4284]

I'm 74 and we've owned our a RWD Ultra for six months. I had no problem adapting to the centre screen, window buttons, etc. It's comfy to drive on long trips and I don't have any problems with aches and pains. It's our first EV and I can honestly say I don't miss the noise, gears, clutches, buttons, dials, oil, petrol, diesel, anti icing fluid, of the many cars we've owned over the years. The every day handling is very good at normal road speeds but you can feel the weight of the batteries when pushing on around corners and over uneven roads. That doesn't concern me, as we didn't buy a sports car. It's also good to be able to hear music at motorway speeds, without having to turn the volume up. The only criticism I have is that the indicator stalk is too sensitive The action does not have positive stops. It's too easy to flash the opposite indicator when manually cancelling and it sometimes auto cancels too easily. I've not seen any other criticism of this, so maybe it's just our car? All in all, I think it's a brilliant, good looking, practical, quick, comfy little car for couples who occasionally carry passengers.

[@DiscoverEV]

Many thanks for your experience of the car as an owner. My father went over to electric at a similar age funnily enough and has no regrets. Although at the time Volvo didn't have anything electric so he went for a Kia Niro. I have to agree with a lot of your points and as for aches and pains I think a combination of my height and onset of Sciatica doesn't help! Thanks for watching and if you haven't already - please do subscribe :0)

[@Stan-at-KangarooIslandTV]

I agree 100 per cent on the lack of a driver's display. I don't mind having most info on the screen like in my Polestar 2 but I need a driver's display and a volume button at least! I don't mind the recycled material and think it looks quite stylish.

[@DiscoverEV]

It's most infuriating not having a driver's display but the lack of buttons is even more annoying! I think the recycled materials is a personal thing - I can see why some like it :0)

[@LxStPW]

Are you really sure you need the center display or do you just want it because you are used to have one? I am driving the EX30 since several months and I don’t miss the center display and I assume all Tesla and Mini drivers will confirm that. I feel much more comfortable with the display in the middle of the car. Btw the back mirror is also in the middle of any car and not behind the steering wheel. Do you miss that as well?

[@eajohnson]

@@DiscoverEV I own one of these and after a month of ownership, it's really shocking to get into an old-style car as the multiple displays and buttons seem excessively complex. Once used to the central display and learning where to find various things (e.g. speed, time of day) it becomes second nature. There are some items such as transition between normal and performance all wheel drive mode that require an excessive number of clicks. I find the interior to be super elegant and tailored - we have the Mist interior. My wife looks extra elegant surrounded by the beautiful tailored interior. Older cars with their leather seem antiquated now, like your grandfather's old leather chair that is nice for what it is but belonging to a different age. As a car to simply get in and drive, it is excellent. In performance all wheel drive mode, it is about as good as my old V70R. And of course, acceleration wise it is sublime and clearly superior to the V70R. With normal mode, it is a notch below in terms of driving dynamics but more smooth and comfortable as the V70R is quite harsh. Overall, it's great but you have to want a small car (which we did).

[@DiscoverEV]

@@LxStPW We owned a Tesla Model 3 for almost four years, so I had quite a bit of time to get used to not having one. But I still really missed not having a driver's display - it was one of the (many) reasons we got rid of it.

[@DiscoverEV]

@@eajohnson Thanks for your feedback - it's great to hear from you and other owners. We had a Tesla Model 3 for almost four years, so I had quite a bit of time to get used to not having a driver's display, but I still really missed not having it - and it was one of the (many) reasons we got rid of it. On the whole the EX30 is a good car and as I say my friends are very happy with it. I have to agree with most of your points actually. I'm glad it works for you and your wife :0)

[@honesty_-no9he]

POLESTAR is the electric Volvo and it is a better brand now and also has some Zeekr magic inside.

[@DiscoverEV]

I loved the Polestar 2 - I gave it 4.5 out of 5 in our written review and you can see our video of it here kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6rKoImFh82fpc0 - note the step change in quality! Which reminds me we need to get the 3 on test! Thanks for watching and please subscribe if you haven't already :0)

[@honesty_-no9he]

@@DiscoverEV POLESTAR 4 is gorgeous both RWD and AWD.

[@honesty_-no9he]

You need to drive the ZEEKR X in RWD version...sister Chinese...GEELY brand....to Volvo and POLESTAR. ZEEKR is available in Sweden so you don't need to fly all the way to China but you should anyway the choice of EVs is mindboggling in China. Zeekr is in 6 European countries you can try both ZEEKR 001 and ZEEKR X. ZEEKR 001 has been refreshed in China into more a Porsche rival for a lot less money. Try the original ZEEKR 001 while you can. Then in China there is the ZEEKR 007 totally awesome and the big boy ZEEKR 7X but the most amazing vehicle is the ZEEKR MIX it makes the VW ID BUZZ seem like a white van.

[@DiscoverEV]

Thank you - very interesting - maybe someone from @Zeekr_Europe is hopefully reading this!

[@spaceghost3637]

"Minimalism" is just a fancy word for cost cutting and poor ergonomics.

[@DiscoverEV]

In some instances, such as the window switches, you're certainly right. Thanks for watching :0)

[@brucegraham2251]

Dig the review. We love our single motor extended Range my24 EX30. Thank you for highlighting that this car is imperfect (all cars are imperfect). It's a personal thing totally disagree about the interior is bad.

[@dadys31]

When it comes down to range/efficiency this car isn't great...

[@DiscoverEV]

This is very true!

[@josephgittos3787]

Dont mind the look of the car and the screen looks more modern then the xc40 screen but feel the inside materials look really cheap and feel cheap , I know they are environmental materials but come on.

[@XeqtrM1]

It feels cheap inside like a entire Tesla model 3 atleast the Volvo don't look like a toy car btw I own a RAV4 woodland edition

[@honesty_-no9he]

Your audio when driving is awful.