Last year, I wrote about the features of the five for the future proof of your first or next EV shopping, and finally, start starting an EV in the US that comes close to meeting the majority of my requirements. It is not created by Tesla, Rivian, or Lucid, and – Best – it is appropriate inexpensive and does not skimp on performance or driving dynamics, two additional sales points that actually matter to me.
To recur, here are five things that I see:
- A real world range of over 275 miles
- Supercharger access and charging rates above 200kw
- A software defined vehicle
- Level 2+ Adas
- Direct-consumer sales
Egie, Volvo EX30, a compact all-electric SUV that begins at $ 46,195, provides a range of up to 253 miles, and sprints up to 60mph in just 3.4 seconds. If it seems to Volvo familiar, it is because we have already covered it on Techradar, but from an European and Australian point of view. Eagle-Idered readers must have seen that I chose EX30 not once, but twice, as one of my most anticipated EVS, both for 2024 and 2025.
A slow roll (out)
So why did it take so much time to make EX30 on our shores? Eventually, the car was launched back in Europe in December 2023. The delay was due to tariffs imposed by the US government on vehicles made in China. See, Volvo, Geely, Chinese Auto is owned by the manufacturer, which is also the parents of Zeekr, Polestar, and Lotus, which with BYD and Neo, today creates the most compelling EVs in the world.
Because EX30 was being manufactured in China, Volvo had to delay the launch in North America for more than a year and transfer some production of EX30 to Belgium. Even after appearing in EX30 at the US showroom earlier this year, it was difficult for customers and for media, it was difficult for both. Thankfully, Volvo Canada borrowed a press car in Vancouver, BC for a week, so I can share my experience with EX30.
After all, here in North America, our European and Australian counterparts have different tastes, roads, expectations and travel distances. I traveled around the city and Seattle and back, about 300 miles.
External and internal
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Obviously, it is subjective, but I think EX30 is very attractive for a compact SUV. Volvo’s Scandinavian design chops are on full performance here, from overall ratio to clean lines. The outer part of the ex30 is refined and polished from each angle, and includes most familiar design elements of Volvo, including Thor’s hammer headlights, chlameshell hood, block door handle, black roof, and signature to-piece tail lights.
It is not a big car (166.7 inch long, 104.3-inch wheelbase), but since it is an EV, you get a flat floor and a lot of space (41.9/32.3 inch legume front/rear, 27.8/12.4 cu. Fate. Was able to throw in. Even a front trunk, although it is frustrated (0.2 cubic feet.).
Volvo’s Swedish design continues inside. The interior of EX30 is minimal without a blend without being sterile. And unlike Tesla, Volvo’s minimal approach does not sacrifice the material and produces quality-yes, we are looking at you, the former-ei-fesilift model 3 and the model Y. While EX30 runs on the footsteps of Tesla due to a single, center-mounted touchscreen, Volvo still includes turn signal and gear selection starch.
As the owner of a former (twice) model 3, I am used to do not have an instrument display, and it does not bother me. Most drivers are quickly customized, and if it helps Volvo to keep the EX30 cheaper, I am completely on the board. With the lack of physical controls, the centrally mounted glove box (clever!), And the excellent-shinging Harman-Cardon Sound Bar Mounted under the windshield, which replaces many individual speakers throughout the car.
The only interior impure PAS of the EX30 is that instead of switching four individual windows for the driver like most vehicles, it has only two window switches to tolerate between the front and back windows with a button. This is something that also bothers Volvo EX90, Polestar 3, Volkswagen ID.4, and VW ID.Buzz. Let’s hope that it does not create a trend, as it is very annoying and unnecessary.
Score: 8/10
Real world range
Does EX30 meet my first requirement-the boundary of the real world of more than 275 miles? Not enough. EPA range of 253 miles – approximately 210 miles exercises – okay but not luxurious. On my drive between Vancouver, BC and Seattle, I had to charge once (20 to 80%) each way. Then, the 64kwh battery is smaller than many other EVS offering such a range, which has an EX30 perfect light (4,151 lbs) for an all-electric SUV.
Score: 6/10
Charging speed
The next feature on my list is above 200kw for supercharger access and charging rates. While EX30 supports Tesla’s charging network with NACS for CCS adapters, it holds the peak on about 153kw, which is decent, but not great. My two above supercharger charging sessions (20–80%) took about 40 minutes of time despite pretending to the battery-which is slow for the modern EV.
Score: 6/10
Software and technology
EX30 is a fully software defined vehicle (SDV), so it fulfills my third requirement. Today there are very few EVS full SDVs available in America. Only Tesla and Rivian’s vehicles actually fit the bill. Most Chinese EVs are also SDVs, and since Volvo owned Chinese Automotive giant Galli (with Polstar), X30 is a reasonable SDV. It basically means that all the software of the car can be updated on air (OTA).
SDV is designed from ground around software experience, with less, more powerful computers controlling various areas (or zones) in the vehicle. This means that SDV can achieve new features and customers can get bug fix regularly without customers to visit the service center. For example, EX30 is one of the few EVs I have operated (with revion’s General 2 vehicles) that repeats Tesla’s brilliant user experience.
EX30’s infotainment system is similar to being available in Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3, but with a small performance. It consists of a Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit-Powered System with a 12.3-inch center-mounted portrait touchscreen and Android automotive with Google built-in. The resulting infotainment experience is clean, simple, responsible and super intuitive knowledge. In other words, the Software of EX30 is a real enjoyment to use.
In addition to offering Google Assistant, Google Maps for Route Planning, YouTube, and Google Play Store, wired and wireless apple carplay (but not Android Auto) in EX30, 5G connectivity (free for four years), four UsB Type-C Charges Port, Qi Charging Port, Qi Wire hanging Charging, Charging Charging, Phone-AS-A-key-one-app, phone remote control and self-parking.
While my experience with EX30 was mostly positive, I ran into many bugs, and just justice from various online forums, I am not alone. For example, my press car struggled to keep a stable temperature inside the cabin, despite that the climate was set for auto. Therefore, at any time, it was either slightly warm or very cold inside. In addition, I was unable to test Volvo’s Ex30 phone app as I could not add a vehicle to my account.
Score: 8/10
Pay and driving
My next feature level is 2+ Adas (Advanced Driver Support System). It enables the basic “self-driving” on the highways and freeway as long as you place your eyes on your eyes and wheel on the road. Volvo calls it pilot assist, and when it is not available on the base “plus” trim of EX30, it is standard on my press car’s “Ultra” trim ($ 47,895)-with a 360-degree scene, self-parking and rear auto-brake features.
Pilot assistance works well and supports automatic lane changes, making this system level 2+. For the rest of the driving experience, the ex30 is faster (422 hp, 0-60 mph in 3.4S) and fun to drive. The ride is cool and comfortable, but just a sufficient firm to feel sporty, and handling is sharp, with strong body control. With most modern vehicles, steering does not provide much response, but it is enough to be attractive.
EX30 does a good job that combines regenerative and friction braking, but one-pedel driving can benefit from a strong region while picking up the driving accelerator. In addition, there is currently a bug where excluding a pedal driving (even if it is capable of settings) from ex -30 to 100% charging until you soften the car. Thankfully, like other bugs I mentioned earlier, it can easily be fixed with an OTA software update.
Something else that can use tuning is shifting the gear between the drive and the reverse. Most EVS changes you gear, even though the vehicle is still rolling a little, because the electric motor is achieved only by going backwards. But with EX30, you should come to a complete break before switching the gear between D and R, this parking slows down exercises, and can even be dangerous.
As you expect a Volvo, ex -30 packs a broad suit of security and driver assistance facilities, in which driver alertness monitoring, blind spot monitoring, lane departure, lane keeping assist, front and rear cross-trafficking Assist, forward conflict warnings, automatic emergency braking, automatic emergency fare, and more still more standard fare on these, but more still there Are notable.
Score: 8/10
Purchase option
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Unfortunately, EX30 does not meet my fifth requirement-to-consumer sales. Volvo uses a traditional dealer network to sell its vehicles, which contains all drawbacks. On the plus side, it seems that most of the US Volvo dealers do not mark their cars. In Canada, Volvo’s promise of Volvo for EVS is “a straight and transparent shopping experience that is interaction-free, both online and in-store”.
Score: 4/10
My takeaway
Without a doubt, Volvo EX30 is a great EV. I like a clean external and minimal interior design, as well as it is small and light (for an all-electric SUV) not yet cramps. The Software and Tech Package of EX30 falls close to the matching of my former model 3, which I have operated so far. Volvo levels are 2+ Adas competitive, and ex -30 does not compromise on performance or driving bliss.
Despite this, there is still a place for improvement. The 253-Meal EPA range and 153kw charging rates are best middle, and Volvo does not sell direct-to-consequences, which is unfortunate. I am an adoption of a technology-lover beginner, and I have no objection to being a beta tester occasionally, but suffer from more bug with EX30. And while these issues can be fixed with OTA software updates, they do not make for a great first impression.
Nevertheless, if you are leaving Tesla and craving a proper inexpensive EV with a similar user experience, Volvo EX30 can only be your ticket.
