New Volvo EX30 Review: Fab or Flawed? | 4K
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- The new Volvo EX30 is the cheapest, fastest and perhaps most interesting Volvo on sale, but is it really all it’s cracked up to be?
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One of the better car reviewers out there. Balanced and concise.
I totally agree with you! Also interesting that it takes a woman to make a great car review these days. :) :) Not saying a man can't do it, but in these times we are living in now I've seen men behaving more like beauty objects where as their own clothing seemed more important than the car itself....... I never saw that when I was a kid more than 30 years ago, it was just on point and out with the facts, just being professional.
Reminding the fact that Volvo was the pioneer of safest car, I think eliminating physical buttons to only one single touch screen is definitely insulting the brand of its own
I love the styling! To be honest, this has been Volvo's forte for a while now. They make some attractive cars. I hope to have a chance to test drive EX30 next year.
A great car.
The Chinese indeed know how to design cars.
@@lvovodessa They do, but I seriously doubt their automotive engineers have anything to do with Volvo's design. They mostly provide the $$, but stay away from the R&D for the most part.
@@karacha don't forget the Chinese gave the platform to the Swedes to put their pretty clothes on to..
Very interesting car. First time Tesla gets a real challenger in terms of value and performance. So good to see real competition. This is great for us consumers!
This is no competition for Tesla.
Model 3 is same price rang, with a lot more interior space and better technical specs.
@@redwhite_040Tesla is slower, looks less good (IMO), longer so less suited to city driving, no hatchback, not got Volvo reputation for build quality, rain sensors don't work, parking sensors don't work, no turn signal stalk making roundabouts difficult... For lots of people those will be good enough reasons to look at the Volvo.
I do think the Tesla is overall a better car, but it's definitely close enough that the Volvo will be a perfectly reasonable choice for many, depending on preferences
@@redwhite_040 Except Model 3 is so stripped down it makes even a Volvo entry model looks and feels more premium
@@xxxaabbccxxxAt least a Model 3 has a rear armrest and cup holders 😂
@@Woodcote I don't sit in the back
A very good review. The lane keeping assist is a pain and is an EU directive requirement. The main thing lacking for me is a head up display or at least a speedometer in front of the driver.
Every car has lane keeping assist. Some manufacturers just implement it better than others. My MG has annoying LKA but I've driven Volkswagens & Peugeots where it is less annoying. I certainly wouldn't want to turn it off. As for head up display I test drove a BYD Seal with it and I actually found it kind of annoying since it was a light source basically in my eyeline the whole time. If there is a HUD it needs a brightness setting.
Volvo already puts HUDs in most of their vehicles as a pretty basic option; it would have been so simple for them to put one in here as a basic feature and address one of the glaring issues most reviewers have had.
now that screens are cheap and automotive grade a little display right where the windscreen meets the dashboard would be fantastic in terms of ergonomics as well as functionality
I despise this obsession of placing all vehicle controls and guages inside a single center screen. Not only does it make the car look cheap,but it's also dangerous. I can't wait for this trend to end.
I felt the same way initially, but after getting used to it in a Tesla…it just feels more relaxing not having the additional controls. It helps that the driver profiles are amazing, and generally once your setup you’re good. Hopefully the voice controls works as well on a Volvo for those times you do need to make an adjustment on the fly.
I like it. You get used to it and it works.
Aren’t all these features capable of voice control?
It could only end if we all refuse to buy with one. Also won't trust anything coming out of China. Especially connecting phone with car and give them my data
I thought the same thing at first. After owning a Tesla Model Y for a few months, I now prefer it. The inside of the car looks so clean and minimalist. It’s all about getting used to it.
Alex. As always excellent 'tell it as it is review'. Appreciated. Not least the comment about Tesla not being quite the brand they may think they are! As for the EX30, this could be [damn it! Is! ] the best EV now made and shortly to be available. Design, recycled materials and size. It just looks amazing. At last a car that makes EV driving cool. Thank you again.
If I win the lottery this is the car I’d buy , with the use of recycled materials and the great range from the batteries, and the speed with home charging, it ticks all the boxes
Yeh, 12 month old EX30 is still around £35k. Too expensive.
Voice commands work very very well, so no issue changing climate and other funtions
I'm a Tesla fan, but boy Volvo hit the ball right out the park! Great Job!!
The kona ev is better value for money tho. More space and range for less money (apart from 0-60)
How come if the tesla network is so good, every time I go to charge my car up and down the country, its full of Teslas
@@willielarsson9651 where?
Well Volvo are just actively ripping off Tesla now, with their "build an interior as cheaply as possible and call it minimalist" approach.
@@willielarsson9651 because there are so many Teslas sold, more sold, more on the market. Same could be said about Fiestas 🤷🏻♀️
I think you forgot to mention that the car has google assistant which makes it really easy turning every little setting you want like turning on the fog lights by just saying "hey google turn on the fog lights" or by pressing your mic button on the steering wheel and then saying which setting you want to adjust. Other than that a really good review. Keep up the good work!
Having a single touch screen for everything is disturbing and impractical yet I can see this SUV is going to be record-breaker with sales. Amazing compact design and quality
I was considering this car until I saw that. Not a fan of that at all.
Remember vocal commands to manage the clima too... This makes easy to control everything in the central console, easier than physical buttons!
Definitely a contender but not sure if that central screen is a deal breaker for me. A HUD would have been great.
Agree! I really like this car, and I'm genuinely considering it, but this makes me pause. To be honest, if Volvo offered an instrument binnacle as an add-on option, I'd buy it. I just don't like the center screen speedo.
The centre console is stupid. Yes it’s clean from an aesthetic pov, but it’s stupid putting all the controls into one device with one large interface like a large touch screen. Physical controls work from a reason. The proverbs about eggs and a basket come to mind.
Yeah, it seems so close to perfect. Just needs a driver’s display or HUD, and few more physical controls. Maybe the 2nd gen.
I've got the V40 which is button-tastic, and a lot just aren't used. But I can't get my head around removing all of the physical and often used ones. Had an XC60 courtesy car in the summer and even that button-light cabin was a bit too extreme. Counter-intuitive for a brand otherwise hell bent on safety. Volvo no more, sadly.
Some people think they need a central binnacle or HUD because that's what they're used to. I've been driving my Tesla for 4 years now, it was only strange for the first 10 minutes - take a test drive before you decide it's not for you. Don't write off perfectly good (and sometimes great) cars because they have unfamiliar interiors. E.g. do you really need a physical button to move the wing mirrors when you do it probably once then leave it alone for the life of the car?
Volvo is spot on with their styling. Not many EVs are nice to look at. However no armrest or cup holders in the back???😢😢😢...how much more would have those cost to include?
I've rarely seen people using the armrest. I had one on almost every car. Also never used the cupholders in the back. The rule is never to have drinks in the car other than water, and it's always in a bottle. But that's me, other people might really need it.
@razvanlex I mean, the best seat in any car according to me is at the back. I can't imagine taking a road trip in my premium Volvo and having to hold my water bottle for hours at end while having to support my body with my other arm🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿... sorry. Really is a deal breaker for me.
@@obopileboikanyogaborone9279 If you're in the back then either it's not YOUR Volvo or it's not the RIGHT Volvo, if it's an EX30. You're probably thinking of the EX90 Excellence.
Why do you need to hold you're bottle, there are spaces in the doors for that. Cup holders are for coffee or soft drinks I think.
If you really need support for your body in the back seat, I suppose you're overweight? But we're not the same, for me not a problem but if you prefer it it's fine. The problem for Volvo it's you're probably a minority. Volvo might be premium/luxury but fromS60/XC60 upwards.
@@razvanlex I know a couple with an XC40 that have two children that use the cupholders in the rear armrest. Not everybody needs an oversized SUV in Europe to move their family around in.
@@bw1376 Yes, it's true, but HOW MANY use that feature? I think they can survive without the cupholders in the rear armrest. An XC40 with two kids I think it's kind of small.
Wow Alex - one of your best reviews ever!
Get rid of the niggles Volvo and I am going to try and save like mad to get one - Twin or Single Motor - really not sure on that one?
Do I need 3 and some seconds odd at 71?
Love the Auto Trader Team😍
I really love this car. Looks good, and EV, and drives fast.
The only thing I dont like is no HUD. Checking the speedo on the centre console is annoying if not dangerous.
It looks awful but I agree it’s fast and competitive even though the range is also poor.
glancing down and very slightly to the left as opposed to glancing straight down really isn't dangerous. I've been doing this in my Tesla for 4 years trust me. Go for a test drive, after 10 minutes you'll be totally used to it
@@MrQwerty3000 It’s dangerous. No thanks.
Alex - excelent review and as always some great information about new car. Love you work with Rory on this channel 😊
Why do we have to accept the trade-off of engineering excellence against ergonomic madness? It would have been so easy for Volvo to make this brilliant rather than compromised.
Cost.
I love everything about this car BUT... the lack of physical knobs for lights, heat, fan, radio, etc. Physical, tactile knobs and buttons are a must for something if you want a simple, safe driving experience. A good first effort that will require some refinement.
voice controls....
Not necessarily. Since I got smart devices I've found how easy and convenient it is to control things by voice. I'd prefer telling my car to switch the wipers on or turn the heating up rather than hunt around for buttons.
@@TheDavecroft Can the voice assistant access all the car controls? If so that pretty much mitigates the lack of physical buttons and knobs imo.
Sounds like the screen layout needs a bit of tweaking but at least it's all doable with over the air updates. The lack of physical buttons doesn't really phase me, HVAC I pretty much never alter in my car, its set at 21C and heats or cools the cabin as needed. If I need to change it, I use the voice command and if that's available for functions like the fog lights in the EX30, it would be fine (for me) - but I appreciate that everyone is different. Overall I love the EX30 and I like and appreciate Volvo's direction of simplifying and cost reduction - it certainly makes some of the German brands with hyper-screens, crystal studded buttons and million colour ambient lights look unnecessarily complex, expensive and dinosaurish. If the future of cars is EV, this is a much better bet - good to look at and drive, relatively low environmental impact and relatively
Everything is voice activated. She didn’t tell it in the review, but you don’t need to touch the screen for anything
@@alexisdalmeida2147 Something I noticed that bugged me. With Google Assistant you can adjust pretty much everything in the car with just your voice. Even a voice button if you want. Similar to Polestar 2.
Don't forget it is a Google system that has a great voice control function to mitigate the need to do everything on the touchscreen, keeping eyes on the road.
I’ve seen a few reviews of this car now. Everyone has the same issue with the touch controls and the speedo. Would be interesting to see what the voice controls are like for the heating etc and interesting to see if Volvo add a heads up display for the speed eventually
Having a V90 with Google Automotive i can tell you that it does a lot more than just the heating. From activating the reduced guard to turning on the heated seats via lowering the windows or opening the boot. basically most functions that do not require a physical switch being moved from one position to another. I think this is the aim of Volvo here. Speak to your car if you need something and if you are going to use a system you can speak to why not use the best in the business. GOOGLE
Only ‘everyone who hasn’t driven them’ , actually it’s quit visible and doesnt bother at all…
People compare it to Tesla, but forgot that Volvo is the best in the ergonomics-class, certainly their interiors. Always been like that and always will be..
You need to live with the car a while. After 10 mins of driving my Model 3 I was completely used to not having a central binnacle - you think it's going to be a problem because you've always had one, in reality it isn't
This review was pure class. The camera, the music, the commentary.... 🤌🤌🤌
Thank you for the super review. Got me checking out leasing rates for this car. I'm also not a big fan of all the buttonlessness and all being controlled through a deep menu structure on a single screen...BUT how well do voice commands work. This is what can compensate for the minimalism in the future but they have to work really well to do so...
How do people feel about vehicles heading towards putting most controls in a screen? I like the physical buttons and dials 😕
I feel it’s one the more off putting things in some the nicer new vehicles.
The point is to use voice commands, which is safer than buttons and dials. The question is how much are those buttons and dials worth to the buyer and Tesla has-fortunately or unfortunately-showed that buyers ultimately decide based on a price/performance proposition and thus we are moving toward the car as a convenience appliance rather than an involved piece of machinery with “soul”.
Voice controls can be safer, if they correctly recognize and respond. When they don’t, they make driving more dangerous.
My wife says she’s never witnessed me driving as dangerously as when I struggle with the voice recognition system in my Subaru. So I’ve long given up on trying to use it.
The capacitive controls also are dangerously distracting as I have to look to use them and I sometimes activate one unintentionally when moving my fingers past it (it’s usually the audio source control - I’ve learned to simply ignore it until I feel I have time to safely switch it back).
I like it, but that's why I drive a Tesla. Nice and clean, no clutter.
@@k.j.hulander2204 voice command totally went over my head, forgot it existed 😅. The Tesla things makes sense as well; if you can slap a good price on it then most people probably won’t mind making the change.
@@chow-chihuang4903 hmmm 🤔 I mentioned in a reply to the comment above that I had totally forgot that voice command exists as a feature 😅. I’m interested to know, if you have any specific examples on how you feel the voice command feature (not working properly), makes it dangerous, is it just the fact that it kinda forces you to revert back to the manual controls?
I’n my experience with manual controls, I think muscle memory and a bit of photographic memory allows me to get to certain controls with having to look for them, and like you, I’ve learned to just wait also for the safest opportunity to do so.
Bro that skyward sunroof transition was so good it made me subscribe!!
Alex, excellent review as ever. Not always been a fan of Volvo but the EX30 has made me had a re-think
No information about charging properties in kW: AC on livel 2 and DC on level 3. If charging is just in min - it says nothing informative.
Great concise review thanks. One point on the climate control settings. If the car has Google Assistant, the same as other recent Volvo's, you can change the climate settings by voice command. No need to touch the buttons.
relying on voice commands for simple tasks that can be done with a press of a single button is not the solution - also, its much harder to fine tune temp/fan settings with voice commands
not to mention everyone in the car needs to stop talking in order for the driver to talk to google about temp change lmao
@@fug33 It's not that bad even on the screen, the current generation Volvo has the same. Although I have a dedicated button for defrost I usually use vocal command. But I rarely need to do that because it can be started automatically with the car below some temperature. Also the steering wheel and the heated seats. And the car can be remotely started via Volvo Cars app or, in the case of a fixed program via timer, every Mo-Fr at 7.30 for example.
I wonder if it's got heated wipers aswell like all new Volvos, I love my 19' V60 Cross country especially the Bowers&Wilkins audio. You start it and the heated everything comes on automatically as you've previously programmed it.
@@johngaudet6316 Not all new Volvo's have heated wipers, it's an option.
Presumably everything comes on only below 10 degrees celsius...
Who cares about 0-60 really ? Needs hud at least and buttons/knobs for some functions. Built for ease of manufacture rather than for the user. The centre console “do it all” display idea is flawed and potentially dangerous.
Good review. Thanks for checking how good the driving assistance features actually are. I feel like reviewers just mention but forget to test the actual tech
😂 The robot on the boot lid 4:38 is a Backpack 🎒😂
Someone in another video thought it was a car seat... I think you're right, it's a backpack and a bundled up tent.
Nope robot SEEMS the better pick of the litter of names!
I'm going with "robot" too 😛
@@lewisbarron7837 it literally has an image of a tent above it
It is a gorgeous car, elegant, just the right size with one of the best designs I've seen in many, many years, but with one major flaw: integrating basic controls behind a display is just wrong. And for now, this is definitely a deal breaker.
Everything you need is voice activated, climate, lights, everything, you don’t need to touch the screen
@@alexisdalmeida2147 Voice controlled functions in a car is worse than touch sensitive buttons or all controls behind a display.
@@andrew-hat How is voice controlled functions worse? Voice control means you don't even need to take your hand of the wheel to press anything. It's the absolute safest way of controlling your car.
Not sure if I agree with the LFP vs NMC as MDF vs Oak comparison. The LFP has the way longer longevity, it can take way more charging cycles and has a reduced impact on the environment, while it's more suitable to be charged to 100% and has a flatter charge curve (although yes, the peak is lower.)
to me, the LFP is the superior battery technology, where i'm going to forgive it's reduced energy density compared to NMC which results in the slightly lower effiency of the car.
They're also safer, which is a huge plus. Damage or defects won't cause them to go into thermal runaway, avoiding intense self-fueling fires (which are rare with other chemistries, but dangerous when they occur). I think they're perfect for mass-market, non-performance EVs that are charged at home most of the time. Only avoid it if you're a frequent road-tripper or do all of your charging at DC fast chargers.
100% true. Thats the reason, next to the price, which is why i am going to buy the LFP battery setup.
I agree 100% with what you said! I don’t look at it as base or inferior.
Also Oak Furniture Land is just terrible.
This is not true. Plesea stop spreading misinformation.
>> The LFP has the way longer longevity, it can take way more charging cycles ...> a reduced impact on the environment,
Thanks for your honest review incl the flaws. Does it have decent voice control to set up the car? For instance the rear fog lights via voice
Love the styling and the car. Don't love all the central screen stuff, too much faff to do anything. So instead of warning chimes for everything, which is just annoying, how about we design the interior in a way where the driver intuitively has their eyes on the road because they don't have to fumble through menus while driving.
I'd love to see a review of the voice commands to see if they can make up for the lack of physical buttons.
I didn’t realise that a central speedo binnacle cost so much that a huge saving made by not having it. !!!!! They may have just called it Volvo Tesla as they have taken so many design cues from that. At least they kept the indicator stalk 😊. I do wonder whether they ever have customer clinics to ask what they want or whether designers just do what they can get away with it in the name of modern - or Penny pinching perhaps.
And a surprizing cost is the stalks! And ANY headlights, source Munro Live
Really great review Alex, very concise full of detail with a lovely touch of humour added. I’ve been waiting for one of the premium brands to get it right and I think this is the closest we’ve got so far. Hopefully the production models will iron out the issues you highlighted. Then it probably be a complete car, although I don’t think I could ever get past the lack of a central speedo or a head up display.
My mom has a model 3 and when I drove it I was surprised at how little that affected the driving experience. And also the safety nannies aren’t really intrusive unless you actually have a wheel out of the lane. If you can I would recommend test driving one.
Saw one of these on the road ( in grey ). It looked absolutely majestic. Wish i could get one if i had the money
Everything about this car is excellent, except the missing heads up display. If they could just copy that one thing over from the Polestar 2, then this would literally be the perfect car
Well…maybe add a rear armrest and cup holders too 😜
Good balanced review and the touchscreen comments tally with the Autocar review. Neither review mentions voice commands however, which should work well given its a Google system.
Finally, a review of the EX30 by someone who isn't freakishly tall. Now I know how a normal size person fits in the back seat
Well 5”8 or 172 is really really small.
@@ranjoles What? Average American height for men is 5'9" and for women it's 5'4". 5'8" is very much within normal
Yeah well , we Europeans are not that small. What is average for Americans is not the standard for the rest of the world
I test drove this weekend and ordered mine straight away!
Damn, this really has all the flaws of a Model 3. No HUD, no instrument cluster, no sun-shade, no physical controls and no leather option.
This makes me excited for the EX60.
I don't know. I think that's a ways down the road. 2026, if we're lucky.
Alex excelent review and as always some great information about new car)
Love reviews by brits, straightforward and chilled... americans will learn one day!
It's quite clear the production, cadence, visual style, and overall review takes an inspiration from the old Top Gear. Not a bad thing to emulate. The comparison to a Ferrari 360 is exactly what Jeremy Clarkson would say. The only thing missing was a lap around the track by a certain tame racing driver.
Wow, this review is excellent. Thanks!
Alex! Why not use the voice comander for turning on the seat heat, adjust temp and so much more things you can use the voice to control. No need to take your eys of the road!!
As an S90 owner i despise SUV's in general but this snappy little thing would be neat to have for quick shots into the city or weekend trips.
This is a win from volvo, watch it sell like hot cakes. Alex you're magnificent!
Had a test drive in one of these yesterday (very nice, not the AWD silly fast one though unfortunately) and the idea with the central thing is you can ask google to do any of the things you want, we trie dit out and maybe 85% of the times we asked it got it right (like heating the seats, or turning on the blower for the windscreen). I was expecting to find the central console thing really annoying (first time driving something like this and not a regular car), but it wasn't an issue at all.
They could've just put a 3 digit small led for speedometer... or some HUD as optional package
I have a xc60, love it to bits, this is the only EV I would consider had one on demo when mine was in for service, performance was amzing.
Gotta admit. It's a pretty cool daily.
This is the second review I have watched this morning and neither have mentioned the excellent Google assistant - you can speak the commands that are difficult on the touchscreen!
Nice video 👍 Those small buttons on the screen would annoy me as well. The chase for sustainability have went to far. Need some physical buttons
Remember you can use voice control too for most of the commands (included temperature change)
@fmcarona Please no voice command 🤣 When I'm driving I love listening to music, or occasionally podcast. Annoying to "mute" that with every Google request. Better with buttons. Don't like talking to the car. Hardly use it in my XC40. And several of the functions I'm changing can't be controlled by voice
ive considered this and thought about it while driving for the last couple of months and you rarely have to use any controls except the volume for the radio and the wipers when you are moving.
The aircon i leave at 20.5 most of the time, the lights and wipers are on auto with the only adjustment being the "heavy / light" rain twist on the stalk. Lights are on auto, fullbeam is auto, mirrors are adjusted before I drive off (and once in the correct position i dont adjust them (i dont need to!)).
Re the speedo position, it is actually easier to look slightly sideways and refocus than it is to change focus up and down (there are good evolutionary reasons for that!)
I think most of the objections are just because it isnt the same as it has always been.
If the voice controls correctly recognize and respond. Otherwise they’re dangerous due to distraction and frustration.
@@chow-chihuang4903true. Fortunally it's Google Assistant, best in class between the voice recognition systems.
I love the cars exterior design, but if i were browsing for a compact EV, the lack of a digital driver display and having to do everything via the central screen would be a dealbreaker. I know, I know, some people say you will get used to it, but it just triggers me in terms of ergonomics and practicality, plus being a huge safety issue. I'd rather shop a Polestar 2 (albeit smaller) or an (X)C40 to still have some physical buttons for functions that just dont warrant a touchscreen.
Great review as Usual Loved every comment on the car
Still priced significantly higher than Tesla, with lower range. They need to drop it another 8k or so to match Tesla prices.
Volvo really wanted to copy Tesla's "everything through the Screen" design. It's why a lot of people steer away from Tesla.
Close contender for replacing my Model 3 when the lease is up, very nice looking machine!
There should be a heads up display that displays speed and stuff so u don't have to look over to see that info! Why couldn't they add one :(
Before I saw the video, i liked the EX30 . Now I LOVE it!
I want to take it for a testspin
Love how they take the price of the cheapest, most barebones variant and then mention the specs (like the acceleration) of the expensive high performance variant.
40K is cheap????? What I don't get is it is illegal to use a mobile phone when driving but it's ok to take your eyes off the road to change the heating control or do something else in the touchscreen? Cars nowadays are all designed by millennials who grew up using ipads. About time things moved back to good old analogue controls that can be operated by touch without distracting the driver.
Voivo was doing Swedish understated interiors, what some are now calling "minimalism," before Tesla existed. So while Tesla may have inspired the central tablet only display and glass roof, Volvo's interior is thanks to its own heritage more than Tesla. Thanks for giving your height in terms of back space. Not bad for your height but very tight for those a few inches taller. So much in the central display is a mistake. Use some of the space on the "shelf" for buttons. Overall, Volvo should have put more buttons in the car, a driver's display and made it two inches longer for rear legroom. The Volvo design in interior is a beauty especially when considering how much sustainability they've built into it and cut cost but still making something premium, if Swedish spartan, inside. I'd like to see it driven on British rough roads and the US rough roads because Volvos sometimes ride with less compliance than rivals but hopefully they've improved on this with this car and the EX90.
If you want all of these then look at it's sisters, Smart #1 and #3. For me #3 cehcks almost all the boxes. I don't like glass roofs (I drive mostly, not sitting in the back) especially those that don't have a cover. #1 has a cover biut #3 don't.
@@razvanlex Those aren't sisters. Only Polestar is Volvo's sister brand. Those are cars around the same size by other brands in Geely Holding Group except Smart is a Mercedes owned brand but they collaborated with Geely on the Smart #1 and #3. Those cars will have a different feel to Volvos and it comes down to personal preferences what one would prefer over the other. But the ride and drive characteristics may be quite different even though they share the same platforms.
@@benjaminsmith2287 But they are.
"Revealed in June 2023, the EX30 is the smallest Volvo vehicle currently on sale, positioned below the XC40 and C40 crossovers. It is produced in China as a sister vehicle of the Zeekr X and the Smart #1, which are similar in size and are also developed from Geely's SEA platform"
@@razvanlex Built on the same platform doesn't equal sister vehicle to me. A Polestar is a true sister vehicle in that they share so much with Volvo, designers, materials, crash and road test facilities. Volvo doesn't share like that with Zeekr or Smart. There is the exception where Polestar has built the Polestar 4 off of the Zeekr001 framework but the rest of Polestars share with Volvo to a large extent. That's why I don't call them sisters and call them cars that share the platform. Smart isn't even in the Geely Holding group. I think of Smart as a Mercedes brand and their involvement shows clearly in the interior where the Geely part is underneath.
@@benjaminsmith2287 It is your choice, you can consider whatever you like, but on wikipedia they are called sisters. Because they share the same platform. Like some other cars, for example Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107/108.
This probably won't mean anything to anyone, but I just wanted to say that, as someone who watches a lot of car reviews on a lot of channels, Alex is definitely one of the best of the women car journalists from my perspective. I know it sounds sexist to just say one of the best women car journalists rather than just car journalists, but the point I was trying to make was that for some reason I find car journalists like comedians. There are many male comedians I like and some that I don't, whereas there are some female comedians that I like and many that I don't. The same seems to be true of car journalists. Where comedians are concerned there are some female comedians who aim their comedy more towards women and the opposite is true of some male comedians, but I wouldn't think that applies so much with car journalism. Obviously from a producer's perspective, there may be the hope that women will respond better to a female journalist, but in terms of the information conveyed, there isn't likely to be that much difference. Maybe it's just a personality thing that makes me find one journalist more watchable than another, but in my day to day life I get on equally well with men and women, so I don't understand why there should be such a skew with car journalists. I suspect it's not just me though, because both my wife and daughter find Doug DeMuro really annoying, but I think he's fine. Either way, keep up the good work Alex, you're almost up there with Sarah-N-Tuned.
There must be a smart voice assistant that can help to do settings and allow drivers to focus more on the road.
People complain about the Model 3 not having a proper gauge cluster? Volvo copies them.
People complain about others moving climate controls to the center screen? Volvo moves them.
People complain about Tesla moving the mirror adjustment over to the screen and steering wheel buttons? Volvo copies them.
People complain about VW having 2 power window switches for 4 power windows? Volvo copies them.
They could have made a 20% better car with 0.5% more money and 0.5% more effort. Why does every car company insist on making bad cars?
It still amazes me you guys havent understood you can tell the system to turn the heat up/down and so forth via the steering wheel. Absolutely bonkers people. No safety issues at all. Push a button on the steering wheel and tell the system what to do.
As a Model 3 driver, I find all the comments about central screen controls a bit overblown. However, when I saw how the car chastises you for taking your eyes off the road to use them, I was unimpressed. That, combined with the poor lane detection, would drive me crazy.
Despite the vehicle, the quality of your reviews are awesome, well done!
With no HUD, the center-screen-only approach is extra crappy. This car is so close to being my ideal vehicle, but the lack of physical buttons and screen or gauge in front of the driver really kills it for me.
I rented a Tesla Model 3 for a 2 week road trip, and drove it a little over 2k miles. The ergonomics kinda suck. It's the reason I drive a Mach-E now instead of a Model 3 (didn't hurt that, when I bought it, the Mach-E was actually about the same price). The interior of my Mach-E is just plain better.
I also recently had an XC40 Recharge as a rental in the Ultimate AWD trim. It was . . . pretty freaking fun to drive, with waaaay more power than I expected. The interior was great, if a bit cramped (since it's based on ICE, there are cutouts for things like the transmission tunnel, so I'd expect the EX30 to have better packaging as a ground-up EV). However, the software bugs I encountered in a brand new Volvo in just a week were . . . alarming. Example: the rear, driver-side door just stopped opening for a while. A quick look in the owners' forums showed that this has been a somewhat common issue in Volvos for 2 or 3 years. At one point, I couldn't change most of the vehicle settings for some unexplained reason too. Weird.
Otherwise, the car was extremely nice, and man was the chassis amazing for such an upright crossover.
I reserved one it’s going to be my first brand new car ever and I’m very excited when it gets here in 2024
What's the difference between Polestar and Volvo now? I thought Polestar was just an electric Volvo, albeit a fancy one, and this is electric and very nice. So why is it not called a Polestar?
Volvo, Lync & Co, Polestar, Zeekr, etc. All, to a certain extent, make use of the same tech and platforms. They try to appeal to a broad spectrum of audiences by using the same ingredients in different packages with different tastes.
Nobody really knows 😂
The problem about this car is it was touted as the "cheapest Volvo" but when you look at the price the base model is €45,000 in Ireland for the crappy version that has very poor 200 mile range. So they expect people to drop another €5000 for "extended range", or buy the €55,000 model. This isn't cheap for a hatchback. It's not even cheap compared to larger vehicles like the Model Y. And even in the review it's clear they've cheaped out on physical controls not for design reasons but because it saves money. Who exactly is meant to be the target audience for this car? And if this car were built in Europe then maybe people could understand the price disparity even if they didn't like it but it isn't - it's built in Chinese factories just like Tesla, BYD, MG etc. So good luck Volvo shifting these because I think once the hype dissipates and people start thinking in terms of £££ this is not a good value car.
I recently saw this car and was not very impressed. A fancier Bolt EUV. While it looks nicer, the car was just way too small / pricey. I also hate that the starting MSRP is low but things like the additional 360 camera, parking assist are available on the much higher trims. Car manufacturers really need to stop on the "trims" and just offer one car for one price. These reviews are very misleading as manufacturers will always give reviewers the more top of the line trim
I agree, every review of the EX30 always mentions repeatedly how "affordable" it is when the truth is it's a VW Golf sized hatchback EV that costs as much or more than a Model Y when you compare similar spec...318 liters in the boot is less than a Clio!!
I tried an EX30 on an extended test drive. It drove well but I didn't like it for several reasons. Firstly I could not sit in the back seat with the drivers seat set for me and I am only 5ft 10". ICE cars I drove of this size are beter packaged and the boot is fairly small. It feels more like a 2+2 than a full four-seater. In an EV one should expect better packaging.
The efficiency readings on test also suggested a real range of around 200 mies which isn't that great. The instruments are awful but that didn't put me off as you can use voice control. I ended buying a C40 twin recharge its not that much bigger but has excellent space -goes well too with much longer real range!
Cant wait to get mine. Note, all controls can be used with voice control.
where was this filmed? It's gorgeous!
I own a Volvo V60. The lane keeping and collision avoidance systems are just plain dangerous, trying to steer you off the road and false alarms respectively. They are only there to mitigate for the fact that all the controls are on a touchscreen. The EX30 is no different, I'm sure.
Companies update their software all the time so you can't compare your a bit older car with a brand new Volvo that keeps new updates over the air.
فولفو الأول عالميا بالأمان والأناقة والقوة والمصروف أتمنى أن أملك سيارة فولفو فخر الصناعة السويدية
No mention of regenerative braking?
Love everything about it except for the lack of a HUD and physical buttons.
You can make buttons sleek looking! Stop trying to make everything like a car from Back to the Future
I prefer the P1800, The car with the highest mileage in the world is a Volvo P1800 from 1966 which has at least 3,250,000 miles on it. It also has chrome which seems to be lacking in many modern cars. People have engine swapped and tuned older Volvos to have more BHP than the EX30. Isn't using a touch screen to access everything just asking for someone to get distracted and cash, also if that screen stops working you would be in a lot of trouble.
Such an amazing video. Bravo 👏🏼👏🏼
Why do you not mention how long the battery is expected to last and how much to replace it
It isn't a robot. It's a backpack with a tent on top. :D
Are the backrow seats foldable to create larger space? How flat do the seats fold to?
Agreed that the central screen is going to take some getting used to, but I'm fairly certain that since it's Google, it should have pretty decent voice commands to adjust the environment. Also, I think you can turn off the driver's camera. Because that's just creepy...
Great review and car looks good!
I deliver Volvos as my job. I am getting pretty sick of all these reviews failing to mention how excellent the google assistant is which controls by voice a lot of the options and makes the “small shortcut buttons at the bottom of the screen” pretty inconsequential. Tell google to change the temperature, play the music you want or navigate to a destination and many more without ever taking your hands off the wheel then see what you think.
Great review! Volvo's making a strong comeback with their EVs. Love my C40, and the EX30 is a better EV.
7:40 Those features are voice activated. You don't have to reach for buttons anymore, you use voice commands. Only issue I have with this review is you completely skipped that very important feature.
Lovely looking great idea, flipped with these shambolic touchpads cars are now using! If I can’t use my phone how is that allowed!!!?
The one thing that Chinese companies still can't quite get right is the user interface, this all in one touch screen being a good example. I believe that's due to more than language barriers, they have a culturally different approach to technology. They want to interact with it and feel they are getting really into things and are able to exert control and customisation. In the rest of the world however, we want it just work with minimum effort and learning curve for us. Of course we weren't always like this, it took the genius of Steve Jobs and Apple to make that breakthrough with the iPhone and the iPod in the 2000s. Before that our controls and interfaces were just as arcane. I remember in the 1990s I had a top of the line Range Rover - and if for any reason you disconnected the battery you had to individually recalibrate the anti-trap feature for each window! I mean cars have had electric windows since the 1950s and everyone else's version just works but good old anorak-y Rover thought we'd enjoy this.
I would never buy a soundbar... but I like rhis Volvo! 😉 With sunroof of course!
4:37 I'm pretty sure that's a hiking backback not a robot...🤔
We all want it to be a robot, though, right 😂
Not gonna lie, a robot is exactly what I thought when I first saw the symbol in a different review.
Let's just stick with robot. Way more fun