I’ve been driving a Volvo EX30 for a little over a month. I have covered around 1,000 kilometers, which allows me to highlight five major qualities for the 100% electric SUV.
On March 6, 2024, I received my Volvo EX30, ordered in June 2023, a few days after it was made official. I immediately fell in love with its design and certain choices of the Swedish manufacturer for this compact and 100% electric SUV – and only available in this mode.
In a little over a month, I crossed the 1,000 km mark, shared between daily journeys and slightly longer road trips. This cumulative distance allows me to form a more complete opinion on the car, which had already won me over during the press test organized in Barcelona at the end of last year.
Here are the five features I like the most, after further use.
Five things I love about the Volvo EX30
Tesla simplicity
When you want to drive your Volvo EX30, you get in, fasten your seat belt, press the brake pedal and flick the switch downwards. No key to insert, no start/stop button to press, no manual handbrake, no driving mode to engage: it’s remarkably simple, with this impression of immediacy which gives full satisfaction. This access to driving with minimal friction is obviously reminiscent of Tesla, a manufacturer known for breaking automotive codes with a more refined experience. Volvo is getting closer with the EX30, even if this orientation would not please everyone (the all-screen can be divisive) and certain choices will continue to be debated. No head-up display, buttons on the steering wheel… If you prefer a more traditional driving experience, we recommend that you try the Volvo EX30 before considering purchasing it.
Driving comfort
Road handling is the other big strong point of the EX30, supported by a reassuring chassis (very low center of gravity) and a turning angle of 10.6 meters. The flexibility is there with very pleasant (even with the firmest setting) and precise steering (especially with the firmest setting). With the wheels positioned at all four ends, you know how to properly position the car, which helps with maneuvering. Focused on comfort and safety, with suspensions that absorb quite well (a little less on damaged roads), the EX30 knows how to be agile and a little playful.
This is evidenced by its power of 272 horsepower, which allows the compact SUV to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds on the version with the best autonomy. There is an even faster version, with two engines, but this additional power is superfluous, unless you want four-wheel drive. This dazzling acceleration, coupled with good acceleration, allows you to forget the high weight (1,860 kg) and gives the feeling of gliding on the roads. All with consumption that suits me.
The sound bar
To offer a 100% electric vehicle that performs well below €40,000, Volvo has sought to reduce its costs as much as possible by making savings here and there. This constraint pushed engineers to find tips, which then become strengths in use. Best example: the soundbar from Harman Kardon on the Plus and Ultra finishes. This is a solution found to overcome the decision to simplify as much as possible the front doors, deprived of speakers and electronic components (the buttons for the windows are moved to the armrest in the center).
From an acoustic point of view, this soundbar is really very good, with an enveloping and powerful sound, as well as good spatialization. You can direct the show to several positions, knowing that there are speakers at the back. We also have access to an equalizer to customize the rendering if necessary.
Small detail that counts: the sound signal from the indicator is well located in the car. It comes out from the right when you turn right, and from the left when you turn left.
The Google interface
In 2019, Volvo announced its merger with Google. The Swedish manufacturer understood that letting a company specializing in interfaces take care of that of its future cars was the best possible idea. The first iteration, available on the 100% electric XC40, was promising, but could be improved. The new generation, sported by the EX30, is much more convincing. This was a key criterion for me: Google and Volvo have opted for a minimalist approach, again with strong inspiration from Tesla (this is not a wrong). It’s fluid, pretty and complete, with features that really make the difference (the GPS provided by Google Maps in the lead). Above all, it’s modern, with control from a 12.3-inch tablet with very fine definition.
I just hope that there will be a sustained follow-up on the update side, with an interface that will continue to be refined over time. This is what Volvo is promising, and the manufacturer will have to keep this commitment for the EX30 to be even better in the months and years to come.
Pilot Assist
Players in the automotive market are focused on an important issue at the moment: offering advanced driving assistance, likely to move towards autonomous driving in the long term. On the Volvo EX30, you can activate Pilot Assist, the equivalent of Tesla’s Autopilot. It combines adaptive cruise control, with adjustment of the distance to the car in front (on three levels), and lane keeping. First good news: there is no need to jerk the wheel to make the car understand that you are always vigilant. Second good news, the system is rather reassuring, even if there are still some disturbing braking noises and a propensity to stick the markings to the ground a little too much, which can lead to adjustments to properly center the vehicle. Also note avoidance maneuvers that are very useful in certain emergency situations. This happened to me with a truck that didn’t see me when I wanted to pull back.
When you want to change lanes, Pilot Assist deactivates so you can turn the steering wheel in the desired direction. It then reactivates automatically once you are in a good position. On this subject, an audible alert is missing to validate the transition from one mode to another. You can also let Pilot Assist do its thing, but I haven’t yet had the opportunity to try it on my different routes.
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