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I remember when the BMW i3 came out and it was a genuinely fresh and interesting car. That vision of the future in 2012 was much more interesting than the future actually turned out to be. A three ton Lotus? The gods have forsaken us
The i3 also has a dashboard full of real buttons! More and more I feel a second hand one of those will have to be my first ev, there are very few modern alternatives that are as compelling.
I hate to sound like a grumpy old man yelling at a cloud, but i absolutely detest giant touch screens in the centre of the dashboard. What was wrong with buttons? Get off my lawn! Stuff costs more than it used to! Etc. Edit. Also those seats look naff.
@@AWMJoeyjoejoe don’t forget they are more dangerous cause you need to look ak them to adjust most things while its possible to adjust basic settings just with touch on dedicated buttons and knobs
@@risosk17Exactly! If the cops catch you even touching your phone while driving it's 6 points and a fine, but it's ok to be diving into the menus on what is basically an iPad glued to the dash? I don't get it.
Using a mobile phone *held in your hands* is illegal while driving. Using one attached to a mount or holder is not* - as long as you're still in control of the vehicle. * Source: gov.uk website, just now
They are. Not having buttons for the most basic functions will result in the car not being able to receive a 5 star rating, starting this year i believe
I was a bit perplexed by this video as I’ve got an EX30 and have to say I rather like it. Having given it a bit more thought I’d like to make some comments. Price- This is a low cost EV (note I didn’t say cheap). It’s therefore been subject to cost control. This is very apparent in the lack of buttons, no speedometer cluster etc… inside they’ve tried to use “green” materials. It is however solidly built, even if I’d have preferred leather to the weird plastic stuff they use. Software- I agree with what you’re saying. I find that accessing some features are dangerous to do whilst driving. For example to switch on lights manually you have to go via two submenus plus a steering wheel button to confirm. As you said the people who designed it probably don’t have a driving licence. My view is that it was originally designed for another implementation that did have multiple screens and it’s been shoe horned into the EX30 using the “that’ll do” philosophy. They are working on improvements but it’s still too fiddly. Note that you can use voice control for some things like heating, but frustratingly, not others - like the lights! And where’s the Apple iPhone unlock feature we were promised. Performance- straight line and lower speed performance is excellent.However,in the UK it won’t be long before you come across a corner. If you have upwards of 300bhp and use it you’ll arrive at the corner going quite quickly. This is where the car will bite you. It rides more for comfort than sportiness. It’s a complaint I have of all Volvo electric cars, and I’ve driven a few. They are simply too powerful for the chassis. Make them deliver less outright power but more range. If you chose an EX 30 for speed you’ll be frustrated. My advice is to get the Single Motor Extended Range rather than the Twin. So after 3 months you may ask why I actually really like it? Well I don’t do huge mileage, 2000 miles so far, but it fits my lifestyle. I have a home charger using cheap electric so it costs pennies to run. All the bit about the big screen have gone into the background for me as I just let it do its thing and use voice commands. It rides and drives in a way that I find relaxing. Luckily I’ve not suffered with any of the problems that seem to plague other drivers. Odd but true. It just works (for me). Sure there are things that could be improved but that’s the case with every car I’ve owned. One final point is that when I drove a Cupra Born, I thought it was OK but too expensive for what it was by about £10k. I got this car with a very large discount and excellent trade in. I therefore believe I paid what it was worth. Even if it’s worthless after 8 years I won’t be too upset because it was a good price to start with. To return to the handling of the car. I find it fine, providing you don’t drive it like I would have 15 years ago. Keep it around the legal limits and it’s fine. If you want high speed fun then buy something else. Boring Volvo driver? Maybe but I’ve struggled with too much stress when people got in my way when making progress. I’ve got my motorcycle for my fun hit. I’m also not an EV evangelist. My last car was a diesel and I’d have much preferred to be able to buy another one now. I couldn’t face a Hybrid as it’s the worst of both worlds. Plus the added complexity of it all. Sorry for the long post but I wanted to provide a bit of positive balance.
@@chrisving91 Good point and I wanted to do that when I first had the car and was driving in fog. Since then I’ve let the car sort it out and it’s been fine, which was the point I was trying to make later on🙂 Still seems a lot of button presses to do something that should be simple though
@@nitrama2088 Yeah, it’s a few presses but I don’t mind, when I do it’s always when parked. No need to change lights while driving. Do wish there was voice control for lights though. At least you can change high beam/normal with the stalk.
@@chrisving91the Auto mode for headlights tends to keep running lights on with taillights off even when it’s rainy/foggy and you want to turn the headlights on to be sure that your taillights are visible
@ Good point, strangely, we haven’t had that problem ourselves. Haven’t seen any other EX30’s without the rear lights on in our area. Maybe this is dependent on SW, and different from market to market.
Exactly. The obsession with speed violations is really confusing when you consider how significant distraction has become, which has always been more dangerous anyways.
Easy - don’t look so much at the screen. Learn to use the speech function. Decrease screen brightness. Make a brief stop if further changes are needed or have front passenger edit things while on the move.
As a Volvo nut, I absolutely loathe this. It's a Geely, and that vile screen is ridiculous. These are not proper Volvos at all. Geely are simply using Volvo's heritage and reputation.
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. This is a Geely. Besides the steering wheel perhaps there’s nothing I really recognise to the Volvo brand (and that’s a generic Geely part, see the London taxi etc.) - a fellow Volvo nut.
My Partner had one of the 1st, EX30 (single motor extended range plus) on the road in the Algarve since Jan 24. A few months before we popped 10K of PV panels in. Price was good, VAT recovered and the combo easily saving between 500-750 euros per month. (She drives a lot of KM). It was involved in an accident in Oct , took a while to repair. She has been so happy to get it back ( other car is a nice BMW hybrid) and that tells you all you need to know. Some small annoying things eg the heated steering wheel has a habit of coming on. But the simplicity of walking up to the car (unlocks itself as long as battery in fob OK) jumping in and gliding from A to B calmly and effortlessly, great nav, integration with google, makes for a very pleasant ownership experience for her lifestyle/driving which can be 300-400Km in a day. No problem topping up the battery around in Portugal either at places like Lidl. I have owned Lotus, Porsche and each year take a BMW i8 Roadster (amazing machine!) down to the Algarve The ex30 is a great size, I quite like the comfort ride, dynamic, handling is smooth for what it is. It is just a car that doesn't make me want to go fast ,quite the opposite and so it is very calming. I think the twin motor version is OTT on power for this car and so if you but one to go fast, boy racer style, I think you will be disappointed. I would say the single extended range is the one to go for.
That screen is the most anti volvo thing I've ever seen. I have an XC40 and it's brilliant - it's a shame that volvo seem to have lost their way a bit here,
What XC40 do you have that you are pleased with the screen?? 😂😂 (We also have one and it's been a continuous shitshow that rivals an old Maserati in time spent in the shop)
@adamshpolyansky2827 It's a 2021, yes it has a big screen but you can still do most stuff through the dashboard on the steering wheel buttons. Had no issues with it at the moment. Having everything in one screen in the middle of the car is just ridiculous.
Honestly keyboard warriors, as well as reviewers actually, can go on forever trying to decide if a car is good or not. But when an actual costumer spent his actual money to buy a car new, and actively detests it, that's troubling
@@jasonk7072 i3 is the opposite of rubbish. I dont like BMW in general but the i3 is an absolute wonderful car, especially considering when it was released.
I strongly believe that this car is exactly what it needs to be for its own young and vegan public. The problem is: don’t buy something completely different and new without really knowing it or even having never actually seen it. I love Volvos, our family has history with them, and that’s exactly why I dislike this car. And I never drove one.
The car you tested was a 2024 EX30, the 2025 EX30 (came out around September) the Haptic steering controls have raised ridges around them so you can feel where to press.
The trouble with any car that you are too big to fit is personified here. Most normal sized people would fit in quite well, he is also an ex journo, because the headline never tells you what the story is, and there is a lot of that here. OK. I don't like the look of it, I don't like the look of any eV, they are rubbish bins posing as cars, but I'm afraid Bunter ruined any objectivity with his intro, still . Next week he will no doubt be liking a bigger and much more expensive car, its what these reviewers do. Think I'll give this one a miss.`
I've had my EX30 since June 24 and really like it. It's completely different to previous cars I've owned, last 3 were a BMW Z4 and two Alfa Guilias, in its driving style. Yes it has the performance but i think that detracts from what it is meant to be, and that's a relaxing quite car to drive. The android automotive software running the car has really good voice controls so your rarely interacting with the touchscreen. I do wish it had a heads up display though. Take out the electric seats and electric boot and with the money save, put in the hud. The performance is mindblowing though.
I think if you compare the EX30 to a Model 3, you'd like the Tesla more. These are all Chinese copies of Tesla. It's like buying a Xiaomi phone instead of the iPhone.
@TwistofWrist I preferred the EX30 purely because of the android integration. With the car running on Android Automitive, the connection to my Google account is great. My wife has a model Y and she loves it. Both great cars
Serious point, when are people going to have a serious discussion about why it's (correctly) illegal to drive using a smartphone, but car's are putting all the controls now in menu laden touchscreens covered with distraction?
@@mrjohnnyk There is nothing puzzling about UK bureaucracy and the incompetent plonkers that instigate dumb stuff. What is puzzling is why Brits don't grow some spine and just simply ignore the muppets and get on with life. No wonder the UK has turned into what it is. 🙄
@@mrjohnnyk well it's not something they can mandate for on their own, its an international issue and you can guarantee you wouldn't get consensus on it.
Drove one briefly. Loved it. Don't see the issue with a single display and minimal physical controls - just set everything to automatic and you never have to fiddle with anything while driving.
You're absolutely right, it's a very good car. I think some physical controls would be better for some things but, more often than not, the people who slag this car off either hate EVs or hate China which they will be doing from their Chinese made electrical device.
Ok, but what do you gain for making this compromise of setting everything up in auto or before setting off? The buttons don’t cost me any fuel or subscription to run on my car.
@@grigorioschristodoulou5229 I think the fact that they can effectively update so much of the car via software is appealing to them, theoretically that could be done with physical buttons too but more expensive and less flexible. Personally I think some buttons should be physical and to be fair this car does have a couple of buttons but just like Tesla could do with a few more
We loved our 9000's in the 90's. My wife had a 1989 9000S, which was a non turbo 40mpg brilliant car, which felt as if it could be driven to the moon. So comfortable and relaxing to drive. I had a 97 9000 2.3 Anniversary, with an Abbott Racing upgrade which took it to 220bhp. I loved it, and still miss those seats! Not many estate cars could match the space.
Yep, the distraction thing. I wonder how many accidents are caused due to it these days? Probably why everything is coming with radar and warnings to try to keep the thing on the road. A few years ago I was almost ran off the road while on my motorcycle by someone who was obviously looking down fiddling with their screen then drifted onto the wrong side of the road…..yet the regulators think they are fine, apparently. It’s speed that is the primary cause of most accidents, they say. If it wasn’t for all the inbuilt distraction devices you wouldn’t need the lane departure assist or collision avoidance tech in the first place….Rant over. I hope you can get your hands on an Alfa Junior, James. Really looking forward to hearing your opinion of it. Keep up the great work. Cheers!
Did he take a test drive? He would have found a lot of these issues, not all, but quite a few. Seems to be a habit these days of 'pulling the trigger' on a car without even sitting in it, then buyers remorse sets in. It's a car you're buying, not a fridge.
It seems since covid a lot of people are doing exactly that. Are people so rich they're happily dropping five fights before trying a car out? If I'd gone in for a test drive, I'd have seen the massive tablet, no physical controls and no gauges in front of the driver and have immediately got out.
I have my EX30 single engine extended range for 1,5 months now and I’m surprised that I both recognize all the comments in the video while I couldn’t care less about any of it. Granted, mine is a model year 2025 with some fixes and there are plenty of software updates by now, but it just works for me. -I’m used to the single screen approach after driving a model 3 for five years. The system is quick and responsive. I set things how I want them before I drive off and have no need to fiddle with it while driving and can control most via the voice assistent if required -The materials I actually touch feel high quality and I like the look of the rest of the interieur -The buttons on the steering wheel are fixed in the 2025 model year -The single motor version doesn’t have a sport mode to turn on or off -The car is way more comfortable and quite than my model 3 I drove before the EX30 -I enjoy driving it, it’s relaxing and nice and quick. I don’t care about sporty driving behavior if I drive to the office at 7:00 am -I can count the times I move a lot of cargo or more passengers every year on one hand -My temperate is set on 20 degrees every single day -I never open the rear windows, why would I? -Lack of auto mirror dip is fair, but the 360 camera works fine -“Hi Google, set temperature to 19” -Apple CarPlay is here now. It has google maps and Spotify build in. I don’t use CarPlay -Never notice weird driving or braking behavior I think it is insane that they started delivering the car without the much needed software updates we have now. I appreciate the valid comments. I have no need to defend the car nor looking for confirmation (I drive it as a company car, I didn’t pay for it). However, the review isn’t balanced as for me, my preferences, and my experiences, it’s a pretty nice car that after 1,5 months I still look forward to drive every morning TL:DR, comments are fair but unbalanced, which is a shame as I experience the car as very enjoyable
So you basically gain nothing, it’s just slightly less bad than James claimed - On other cars I can set things up both before starting off AND while on the move. Name a single benefit that having just a touchscreen gives you. I don’t want to play games in my car or show high-fidelity 3D models of it. It’s right in front of me. - Steering: So now you’re back to the same ease of control as any car in the past 30 years - So, when every experienced person was saying that the first Model 3 (new one is quite a bit better) drove like crap was right, if a cheaper car is a lot better. Again you’re back to normal. (Most modern cars are very well insulated, at least before the last 2-3 years where shit went downhill) - Fine, if you don’t need a big car don’t buy a big car. But for small families it’s quite crammed (again, for the price! It’s workable, sure. Also a Vauxhall Adam can fit a family) - Again, with kids in the back being able to easily control all 4 windows is essential. Is it workable with just 2 switches? YES, BUT WHY?? Nobody would force you to use all 4 of them. They could still have a function to lock the rear two switches if you think people use them by accident. The Citroen Cactus also doesn’t have opening rear windows, but it cost like 10k - I can also set the temperature at 20 and leave it there. Nobody’s forcing me to adjust it every minute. But in the winter if I want to drive with the window slightly open, I like to crank it up to 23 and increase the fan speed. Or press a button to turn on the heated seat. What’s a single advantage of not having two rotary dials? I’ve never seen them break in less than 20yo cars, by which point the materials of the EX30 will have recycled themselves. - “Twist” Done. Much faster and will never reply “Sorry, I couldn’t hear you”. This level of cost-cutting is fine for a 15k car, but that’s about it. I don’t say don’t buy it, it’s nice. But don’t encourage other people to buy an overpriced product.
Gain nothing as compared to what? I compared the EX30 with the iX1 eDrive20. I now get slightly more range, more options, more power, rear wheel drive, all for more than 5k less. There are pros and cons to every car and what constitutes a pro for one person might be a con for another person. So thanks for sharing your perspective as this proves the point; this is clearly not a car for you, while it is for me! I'm not encouraging anyone to buy anything, I'm just not actively discourage people to buy the EX30 for whom this might actually be a very nice option based on my own experience living with the car for hell of a lot longer than the reviewer
Clearly - not the car for most classic car heads. Use the voice controls, get rid of looking at the screen like it’s a mobile phone and setup everything like you want before taking off and you’ll be fine. This car works splendid for our daily errands and long trips here in Norway.
You can use workarounds for sure, but it’s still worse, just less so! There is absolutely NO REASON to get used to lower safety or adapt your driving, if it brings ZERO benefits. Voice is clearly just a slightly worse input method for now. When it is ready in 2-5 years fine, remove the buttons. All I know is my M2 CS is not losing any value and it’s a much more 1. enjoyable, 2. safe and 3. cheaper to run car, once you consider retail. The single-motor version of this box will be 10k by next winter
@@PeroniPeteIt's the name for the dashboard and centre console designs on Volvos of that period. There's a space behind the centre console and the whole thing resembles a waterfall. Pretty cool design imo
@@rosstee I think 蓮花 Liánhuā (Lotus) is still very much alive with the Evija and Emira still being made in Britain by Brits and the Eletre and Emeya being made in China for plonkers. What is dead is the space between the hairy ears of the Ol' British Guard that refuse to accept Colin Chapman is dead and the Chinese and Malaysians run the show because they were biblically inept. They are still a bit of a singularity in the sports car market. I hate the CCP and Geely with a passion but war crimes aside I do hope Lotus lives on in Britain.
That’s all it’s wrong with these cars. Very good appliances but the low quality, lack of controls and the depreciation mean they’re only good value at 1/2 the price. Would be a superb car for 20k. But I’m not giving Volvo 35k for a rebadged Chinese EV that they would sell for 15k over there. I’m not doing philanthropy with my car purchases.
The problem with being able to take your money anywhere you like is that there are in fact only a handful of real options. Many of the mainstream products are in fact the same thing underneath, so they all have the same fundamental issues.
23:42 I contacted Volvo customer service to establish exactly what should be included in the profile as my car fails to adjust mirrors, OPD settings and speed limiter vs pilot assist preferences. It took 5 or six emails for me to get them to understand my question and for them to provide me with a list. Eventually I got the list which confirmed that these settings should be included. I did a thorugh check and found a couple of other things that didn't work as they said they should. When I sent my findings to them their response was 'I am happy that most things are working as expected'. That attitude perfectly demonstrates your theory about their their 'thats good enough, lets clock off' approach.
Took this one straight out of the Tesla book. Only brand I’ve ever seen posts on Reddit with people asking if they should take delivery of POS quality or even damaged cars. They bet on stupid customers that expect stuff to me somehow working and somehow new for 40k
@JayEmmOnCars - that is absolutely Android Automotive running in there. You can easily tell because Google maps and Google Playstore only work on that operating system. Also you could have gone into settings and then system and confirmed this.
I got one of these, exactly the same spec just in black and it’s absolutely infuriating! Love the power, but as you say, you have to search for it, every time you get in! It doesn’t save your preferred driver settings! You need to turn off all the annoying and at times dangerous lane keeping assistance and fatigue warning! The same with the speed alert! My advice would be to just get the long range single motor, cos that appears to be the default for the performance one anyway! Apple CarPlay is hit and miss as to if it works or not, and can stop working when you think it’s actually connected! This is the most honest review of a car most motoring journalists wax lyrical on! Agree it’s a should be great, but isn’t! I’ve got it for 3 bloody years now as well! 😰
I’m a driver of a Geeley car that uses a fair few Volvo parts, a London black taxi. Considering it’s a work tool it’s really not good enough for the driver and also has the dangerous problem of having to do to much on the centre console. Amongst many many other problems, an annoying one is the radio cuts out twice a week which to rectify you have to get out of the car, lock it then unlock and get back in (sometimes more than once.) The worst and most dangerous is what we call “The 10mm spanner.” This has happened to me seven times in 2 1/2 years and I can tell you it’s scary. Whether you’re going 60 mph or the more likely 16, the taxi completely looses all power and it can’t be restarted. We have to go to the boot for the battery then use the 10mm spanner release one of the leads. We then have to “hide” so that the key doesn’t sense the car and hope 15-20 minutes later it restarts 🙏🏻. I have heard that after four years of production Geeley have now sorted this problem on the newer taxis. For a £70,000 vehicle it’s not up to scratch.
It's not a Volvo it's just a cheap Chinese car which is not quite there yet by European standards. Volvo are just giving Geely access to the European market and ensuring their own demise.
I have a B4 V90 and it’s one of the best all round cars I’ve owned. It’s OK at everything - not class leading in anything but not compromised or the worst either and for that I like it. It’s just such a good normal car.
Their is a huge market for cars that are effectively appliances. Huge numbers of people don't care about the cars they drive and just want them to get form A-B as cheaply and conveniently as possible. If you look at this car on paper, it's brilliant. The same way a fridge looks great on paper until you buy it. Too late to realise you can't fit a bottle of tomato sauce on any single shelf and it beeps at you if you leave the door open for more than 3 seconds.
These cars are made to be leased for a few years and then scrapped. There is no way this will last for more than a decade or have any value as a used car. It's for people who don't give the slightest whiff of a shit about cars, they just want to get from their corporate job to the suburbs and pick up their kids from an alternative private kindergarten on the way
@@adampavella1225 I guess those of use who use cars, for young, regular & elderly family, various activities, trips, moving household & DIY stuff, are really living such an rare life that we cannot expect decent cars for long term ownership. Ah I forgot, we are meant to be paying monthly fees, not owning a vehicle. Seeing how the DVLA stasi are now operating, the cars are probably going to be doing live health checks, linked to your government and private health insurance. Actually the DVLA now state your data is 'shared with other government departments (HMRC and DWP)' to check your identity.
I drove it for 10 days on holidag and I absolutely loved the fact that they all crammed the info in the screen (not). Because of it you had to look way too much at it and then the car will beep at you for not looking at the road. It will even do so when other alerts pop up or when you look at the speedo.
How is it possible that the beeping passes quality controls? I mean, just literally drive around for about 10 minutes and you will have it beeping at you while you try to use the car as intended (having to look at that sad touchscreen).
Maybe it should have been a Bipolestar. - Look at the warning! - No, look at the road! - Bling, you’re speeding, check your speed - Haha kidding, can you please look at the road again - Bling. Wtf, I’m not speeding again, it was the lane kee - BLING! Eyes on the damn road!!!
Apparently some people haven't quite figured this out yet; Volvo is not Swedish anymore. It's Chinese. So lower your expectations and stop complaining when it turns out to be just another Chinese car
Thanks for the video. I agree with you about those stupid desingers putting those screens in the middle of the dashboard. Here in South Australia we receive very high fines for using our mobile phones in our cars while driving. Those car screens are worse in my opinion.
The dual motor EX30 is not the one to get. Giving it porsche acceleration is just stupid for car in this class, and doing it on a budget like this is a marketing ploy. A lot like the MG4. The car is supposed to be a family runabout, where practicality trumps driving dynamics. Get the long range single motor and you'll be much happier. As a Tesla owner i would say that you get used to the screen, and if the OS design is good then it's ok. The Polestar 2 is also a good example of this. I do think that you can take minimalism too far though, and i do want physical controls for some functions.
No offence intended here, but if there I one phrase I hear from Tesla owners more than any other, it's "you get used to it." And I have to wonder if they are claiming that, with practice, they learn how to operate functions in a safe, effective manner, free from distraction; OR do they just get used to being distracted all the time, such that they no longer realise they aren't paying attention to driving. Like a frequent texter who claims they are paying attention...
I would say that if you want a small practical EV, something else entirely would be the one to get, probably with a Chinese badge on it so you aren't paying for a Volvo branded Chinese car - unless you absolutely have to have the dual motor level performance - in which case, get a Tesla performance model. Paying Euro money for a Chinese car is just weird badge snobbery - though perhaps the lease deals on these are just insanely good? Even then though, Geeley are one of the worst Chinese manufacturers, when you have companies like BYD & SAIC that actually make some genuinely good, cheap EV's.
As EV owner and not one of the dinosaurs furiously typing away that their ancient POS is a million times better.....I do prefer a better mix of tech and physical buttons. The Koreans seem to listen and put switches and knobs back into cars. And agree with what one viewer said about giving this ridiculous performance (following the MG4 X ) not needed or suited. We need better efficiency and range and smaller cars. R5 looks to be onto something come springtime
Do your passengers alter all the settings to adjust everything or do you stop the car and put on the hazard warning lights and do it your self for safety ?
Absolutely - the performance is so much delivered through strapping a second motor to the other pair of wheels that 99% of the time you're just sacrificing a whole load of range to carrying around a big weight that turns the straight-line acceleration from "really pretty good" to "stupid". Then you reach a bend, and the lighter car is going to feel better.
I have had a single motor extended range for six months and absolutely love it. I would however not think the chassis and suspension could cope with the extra power of the twin motor. It’s much more enjoyable and quicker in real day driving than the couple of Audi S3’s I have owned. The menus for the lights on the central touchscreen are dangerous however and it does need more buttons. As an EV sceptic this car has converted me
This reminds me of the new Kia EV3 which is supposedly pretty good (for an EV) and cheaper. No silly laptop style everything on it screen to have a crash with technology… I’ll stick to my GR Yaris thank you very much.
So, in summary, rip out the infotainment system and replace with a racing switch pad, gut the interior, add some bucket seats, replace the steering wheel, and add a racing dash, then add some aftermarket coilovers.
I test drove the EX30 and liked the performance, but couldn't live with the lack of a speedometer, especially in an electric car. So I got the Smart #3 Brabus, which is identical to the dual motor EX30 underneath, but has the advantages of a speedo behind the steering wheel AND a heads-up display (with the speed, and current speed limit etc). It also has a Mercedes style interior, slightly more buttons under the screen, and a landscape display rather than portrait. It's not perfect, there are a few niggles, and it has more power than the chassis can handle in damp conditions, but I've got used to it now.
Still slower than a dial and 9/10 times it will reply “Sorry, I didn’t get that”. What do you, as a customer, gain by lack of physical controls? I have them in my car and let me tell you, I’ve never broken them, they don’t consume any fuel or electricity, they don’t annoy me, they don’t require subscriptions. They’re just there for me to use them when and if I want to. Novel idea, I know. Don’t tell me you’re saving on cost. Geely does, you most certainly don’t. It’s ridiculously expensive for an Open Corsa on stilts and battery.
Many commonly used functions can be controlled by voice command rather than by accessing the screen menu. Software updates have also improved the layout and functionality of the screen.
Legislation that means all steering has to be completely powered and consequently have no "feel" is moronic, and unsafe. It's absolutely central for the future of motoring that we get this reversed ASAP. Any ideas how we do that?
We should really go and install DBOX systems on all the testing rigs the UI/UX interns use. Feels like whole teams of people have never ever been close to a car, yet get to design the thing you interact with the whole time behind the wheel
The main thing this video done was remind me how cool I thought the Volvo 480 looked back in the day, I mean, a Volvo shooting brake with pop up headlights, what's not to love! (I now, in later years, realise it wasn't a great car, but it did look cool to a teenage me)
I always wished we had those in the states, pop up headlights were fun. But I liked the RWD redblock volvos more so I never thought of them much besides looking interesting.
I'm old enough to remember when BL were importing Hondas to the UK and putting Triumph badges on them... the difference then was the Hondas were actually decent cars, or at least a lot better than what BL had been crapping out at that point in time.
@@Beer_Dad1975 I owned a Triumph Acclaim. It was both a shite car, because it was a beige Triumph Acclaim and also, a great car, because it just worked all the time I had it. Not sure how you came to comment on my Volvo centric post about the Honda Triumph crossover period, but welcome and glad you did. Edit.... Triumph slant 4 and Volvo Engines.... Forgot that connection...
@@ChuckFickens1972 Weirdly I thought I was commenting on a different post! Yes, the Slant 4 - I owned 3 cars with that engine - a Dolomite 1850, a RWD 2 door Toledo that my Dad and I swapped the 2 litre engine from a wrecked TR7 into, and finally a Dolomite Sprint with the 16 valve 2 litre in it. The two 2 litre engines both had major problems during my ownership - the one in the Toledo spun a big end bearing - fortunately did not damage the crank so I was able to deal with that one myself - the Sprint had a piston totally collapse on it - amazingly the con rod didn't destroy the block so I was able to get that engine rebuilt - but that was it for me, once I got the car back on the road I sold it and went Japanese, and haven't looked back since.
I test drove one of these. I didn't try it on any entertaining roads, but in regular traffic it was very pleasant and an absolute hoot when you put your foot down. I was even happy with the one-pedal mode. Volvo make a big thing of how environmentally friendly the interior is, so I can almost forgive that. And the car is really good value. But... ...that touchscreen was an absolute deal breaker, for all the reasons Jay lists. Just a few real buttons, and head-up display would make all the difference - Volvo have an excellent HUD in their parts bin - I know because my V60 has one. So frustrating - it's cheap, small and light for an EV and could have been so good, but ruined by incomprehensible design decisions - so un-Volvo.
I'm sticking with my XC60 D5 Polestar (mapped to 300 ps) and independent garages. OK, most of the bits on it are Ford-sourced, but it works well and is a totally reliable AWD.
Autocar only gave it 2/5 for the reasons mentioned. Whereas others simply praise it despite the obvious flaws. But your drive was serene. Ive seen others review this and it flashing up messages like avoid driving distracted distracting you from looking out of the windscreen. And lane keeping assist that swerves you all over the road.
Extensively testing a car on the road and getting feedback from (at least one) owner is now clickbait, while driving cars around a car park is detailed, trustworthy automotive journalism? Good to know, have a nice day but don’t forget your tinfoil
@@metriclondon If you’re so happy with your car why are you in the comments section of a review? U have Geely shares or something? The less they sell the better (as much as it can go above 10k) the resale value
Totally agree with a lot of what you're saying. First time I stepped in a Volvo saying to myself "Nah, this ain't for me". The amount of bleeps and errors make me go nuts. Not having any information in front of you (speed etc.) just doesn't feel right. And little things such as the mirrors not adjusting when parking are just weird not to have in this day and age. Worked perfectly fine in my old V40. I get that from a budget point of view choices have to be made but this just doesn't feel like a proper Volvo. Oh... and you're not even able to put a baby Maxi Cosi child seat behind you if you're 180cm.. not a family car at all.
It’s so much fun this car, nice, funky small car, but I do think the Smart #3 is nicer inside. Most people will go for the slow one, they built this one for headlines.
Actually shared with the Zeekr X (another subsidiary under Geely). Not the worst Chinese EV I’ve ever driven but I can say it’s one of the softest ones I’ve experienced (in a bad way) and the ADAS systems are as paranoid as a schizophrenic.
The irony with all this power is that all the new distractions (including headlights being too bright) make it increasingly dangerous to use. I have a new VW based car and the distraction are scary even without the power, fiddling to find controls which are unlit (heating), or out of sight and touch sensitive is outright dangerous....like trying to turn on fog lights and finding you actually turned all your lights off (!), then fiddling to get them on again as there are down by your right knee. we are going backwards with tech at a very high rate.
I understand totally and am sorry for your loss. As a Alfa 159 V6 owner, I feel the same looking at that horrific Junior thing they have launched..i.it is a total affront to actual real Alfas.
Hi I have owned eight Volvos over recent years V90 CC +V90 T6 PHEV most recently.Just"upgraded" to a (used) £100k+ Taycan CT and it is not that much of a step above the V90 in terms of ride and smoothness/quietness! Volvos-like Saabs were great cars.
It is designed and engineered by the same teams that designed and engineered your car. This is not a Geely car. The only Volvo that isn't really a Volvo is the XM90 and that's sold in China only. That is a Zeekr.
All in the eye of the beholder. I absolutely love my RWD Ultra, and any "issues" I consider minor niggles. Overall the car is excellent - best I've ever owned or driven.
The heater temperature, fan speed, on/off, heated rear window, etc are voice controlled. The radio on/off, volume level, station etc are voice controlled. The navigation, find chargers, find parking etc are voice controlled. If you just say "Settings" it takes you to the settings screen, I could go on but what I am trying to say is you don't have to look at or touch the screen for a lot of the controls, you just have to learn the right phrases. The speedo, it has an audio warning of over speed limit which adjusts when the speed limit changes, if its beeping you're over the limit. I never had any inclination to own a Volvo until I tried one of these on some twisty peak district roads, its very fast, admitted the handling and brakes are "good enough" but that's what makes it interesting to drive for me.
@@garethkreike3263posted my original reply in the wrong place, so in answer to your question "can you?" Yes the passenger can change the radio station or the radio volume or the heater settings through the screen controls or by voice control, my son does it all the time while I'm driving.
Tempture, radio, and all bar lights and wipers can be controlled by Voice. Therefore the screen comments are incorrect. Constant updates over the air too, such as one Pedel.
Great if it works but it is a well known fact that voice control is notoriously unreliable in most cars. also means you may - sorry, will - need to interrupt a conversation, phone call or listening to your music or a broadcast. And it will cost a small fortune to fix when it inevitably fails. The number one reason for phones failing is screen failure. Do you think these things, subjected to being bounced around the UK's roads for tens of thousands of miles, are likely to fare any better? How is all that better than using a button?
If you are saying the owner bought it “sight unseen” then I haven’t got much sympathy….however, considering the other related Volvo and Polestar EV’s who seem to have made less of a pigs ear than the VAG group, I sort of get the method to the madness. Good review nevertheless James.
You can use the voice control for the volume or cabin temperature. Although, with climate control you set the cabin temp once before you drive of the forecourt and never touch it again. I haven't changed mine in four years. I'm not sticking up for the car mind, it's well sh*t.
The sooner these over loaded screens do one the better. I want little to do with any car that doesn't have at least basic HVAC, driving controls and volume as a knob, dial or button.
The more I see of new cars. The more I wish I'd hung on to that mk2 Escort. Drove one again a few years back. A poverty spec 1.3 and couldn't believe the steering feel and connection with the road. When did we pass peak car and how did we let it happen?
I also went from an i3 to a Tesla, and had initially shortlisted the EX30 as my next lease car because, on paper, it looked to be an absolute steal. Then I test drove it and can confirm everything Jay says. I am flabbergasted at how well reviewed the car is in the mainstream press. I haven’t seen a single review mention the reflected Harmon Kardon logo, yet it was the first thing I noticed and immediately annoyed the hell out of me. It’s ludicrous the car has shipped with so many fundamental issues. I also had a Polestar 4 pre-ordered for a while, but again decided to cancel after seeing early owners report on issues. I get the sense that Geely have a very ‘just get the thing released’ mindset that severely undermines what should be otherwise great (and in the case of the Polestar 3 and 4, really quite expensive) cars. I won’t consider another Geely group car until they mature.
I've heard that several of the later Volvos are prone to niggling electrcal problems. A friend of mine bought an XC 60 that has spent a lot of time going back to the main dealer to have them fixed.
i personally feel volvo now is utterly based on character based marketing, if your a eco friendly hipster that doesn't want a tesla here you go. other than that they've missed the boat with so many things.
@@TwoDollarGararge im not diagreeing with that but now I would say they're completely reliant on that and producing vehicles with no thought behind them for those people. just praying off them to buy because its different when offering no differences at all. No more estates their bread and butter for example.
The "phantom acceleration" on the driveway the owner mention was probably because he engaged D without the seatbelt on. The EX30 has a creep mode if in D without the seatbelt on, for manoeuvring, same in reverse, I use this feature to get through my gate as its a tight fit, so I let it creep and control the car on the brake pedal.
The phantom acceleration is not the creep in D without the seatbelt on or OPD off, it’s rapid acceleration without touching the pedals. It’s not common and fortunately, it has only occurred once for me and stamping on the brakes stopped it but it was a scary at the time. More frequent is the phantom emergency braking when the car imagines there is an obstacle, but that’s another problem.
No driver display & no buttons = a No from me. Having to avert your eyes from the road to select everything via the central tablet is, in my eyes, a safety issue. Very un-Volvo like. Same reason I wouldn't have a Tesla.
- You drive above 190 km/h in Germany? Volvo: Way too dangerous for Volvo? - Want to turn off the heated seat before your ass is burned to the ground? Volvo: Haha u ded lol
I agree with your assessment. I thought of buying one but after test drive was put off entirely for very similar reasons. You forgot to mention that the seats aren’t all that good either.
The EX30 is running Android automotive and the older cars are expected to update to this skin of Android in the next year. C40 owner here. Happy to supply a source from Volvo
I don't do EVs. Leaving aside that I live in a first floor flat in London, so home charging is not an option; leaving aside that the very few public charging points available locally are almost permanently occupied by black cabs; leaving aside that any EV both costs twice as much and weighs twice as much as its ICE equivalent; plus plus plus, etc. etc. etc., who on earth wants to drive a tablet on wheels anyway?
Yup, you're a city dweller, the type of people these are supposedly being aimed at, and it's completely impractical for you for the reasons you described. The big push for EV's has never been grounded in well thought out reasoning.
Great video, as usual! Regarding the touch screen interface at 07:26, The EX30:s infotainment is based on Android Automotive, just like their other cars.
I really love the EX30! I think they look great, they have some lovely touches too and I like the minimalist interior. Touchscreens are annoying but if voice activation works well (IF) it can ameliorate much of the pain. I feel the EX30 could be much improved with some software updates, let's hope they get some as I really really like them.
I live in the Netherlands and used to own an XC40. My car started to brake and reduce its speed suddenly-a very serious safety issue. I immediately took it to the main dealer in Amsterdam. They told me it was a software update issue and assured me it was fixed. However, just five minutes after driving the car out of the dealership, the same issue occurred. In total, I had to bring my car to the dealer four times. After spending 2 months back and forth in the end had to make a long phone call to the manager of the Volvo dealership, afterwards they finally resolved the problem, which turned out not to be related to the software at all. After that frustrating experience, I sold the car and bought a german suv. Volvo is not Volvo anymore which can be also said for Lotus. These brands lost their unique character (safety, lightness), which made them special or different.
The phantom acceleration is a deadly problem. A bloke died in Norway when his volvo fired him out of the 2nd floor of a multi storey in Sandvika. Full throttle, through a barrier, smash to the ground.
In a XC40 :( Police & Volvo’s Report Nov 11th ‘24 states it was not because of a fault in the car, and throttle pedal actually pressed for 3 seconds before impact.
@chrisving91 how do they know the throttle was pressed? They know the computer recorded it was pressed, but was it pressed? Other Volvo owners in Norway have come forward to say they experienced similar scenarios.
@ It’s a shame. That is impossible to know. I should clarify though. Something’s very off and I’m not trying to say it was the driver’s fault, as I do not know and there is no video of the pedal area.
@chrisving91 true, and you are right it was the XC40 in all the Norwegian cases. NAF tried to recreate the possibility of the man climbing across the centre console and stepping full on gas, but they reported it was almost impossible to recreate, given the geometry and other controls necessary. First the brake must be pressed, then the drive selector used, and finally gas pedal. That was published in Motor magazine 5th December. It's an interesting read. I find it odd that the road authorities seem to have accepted the simple findings from the data recorder and vehicle inspection and dusted their hands. Of course Volvo sent experts from Sweden too who concluded the same. I wouldn't trust these cars personally.
@@simon5263 I’ll have a look at that report too. Yes, I agree 100%. If I had the XC40 I’d triple check with dealer / shop to completely get rid of any phantom acceleration. What if it happened in front of a school or kindergarten parking lot, or else where with many people? The thought is scary. Other than that, solid car with good AWD.
We have the EX30 single motor and this feels like the right set up for this car. It is not a drivers car and the twin motor variant seems more like the PR stunt than a genuine attempt at a sporty hatchback/SUV. You do get used to the "one screen to rule them all design", and the Ultra trim is definitely a bit of a step up. It absolutely should have had some kind of additional driver display though.
Sorry James, but don't mince words. @ 22:09 this isn't "so painfully close" to being brilliant, when: 1) the styling is ugly and the same as every other piece of Chinese crap, 2) the interior is full of cheap materials and is also ugly, 3) the suspension is crap, 4) the steering has no feel and there is no driving experience, and 5) none of the controls are easy to use...that's not a short list; that is virtually everything central to a vehicle. All that is in addition to all the usual EV problems such as faux environmental benefits, dangerous in a crash due to fire and sealed doors, easily written-off with even small accidents, expensive to re-battery, massive depreciation, ages needed to re-charge and increasing restrictions where you can park it because even a tiny spark can generate an inferno that makes the sun look like the North Pole. Sorry, this is a horrendous piece of cookie-cutter Chinese garbage that I wouldn't own and drive if I was GIVEN 35K, let alone PAY 35K to own and drive.
You're right but EVs are better for the environment, if not by a lot. The idea they aren't is straight out of ExxonMobil's press department unfortunately
This review is what I was worried about and sums up, in a nutshell my concerns. I've been a Volvo owner for over 20 years (V70 D5 SE, XC60 Drive and V40 D3 cross country) all have been reliable, fairly nice to drive and we have enjoyed fantastic levels of service from Ray Chapman Volvo. My issue now is my V40 D3 is 7 years old and is still drives like a 1 year old car, but Volvo and a lot of other manufacturers are turning out, what are, in my opinion cars with too much useless gimmicky tech, numb to drive, too expensive, madly depreciating EV's that I simply don't want and can't afford to drive.
These modern EV’s are so depressing and you’ve really captured why. So overweight, so gimmicky, way too much power but no feedback, nannying electronic interference, bland, hard to use…
You also just described many car buyers. Overweight, gimmicky, nannying, interference, bland, hard to use so it looks like the marketing department have made the dream car for some people.
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Describing the Polestar colour range as "shades of depression" had me chuckling 🤭
Literally bought an MG4 because it was available in the loudest orange available, rather than Volvo/Polestar's monochrome tedium.
Check out Cupra. You can get the Leon in any shade you want, as long as it is gloomy and miserable, or simply white.
It's a perfect description for the trend of clay-shaded-forms-of-gray that became, for some unfathomable reason, popular in the past decade or so.
I remember when Polestar colour meant Rebel Blue
I remember when the BMW i3 came out and it was a genuinely fresh and interesting car. That vision of the future in 2012 was much more interesting than the future actually turned out to be. A three ton Lotus? The gods have forsaken us
I do love my i3, im at 107k miles now, but going to change it soon. Not for one of these thanks to JM. LOL
That wiring noise isn't the motor, its Colin Chapman
The i3 also has a dashboard full of real buttons! More and more I feel a second hand one of those will have to be my first ev, there are very few modern alternatives that are as compelling.
@@Munkenba if the Renault 5 isn't as good, I think I will be buying another, this time an S.
@@Munkenba You will love it. Amazing value at the min for low mileage recent i3.
I hate to sound like a grumpy old man yelling at a cloud, but i absolutely detest giant touch screens in the centre of the dashboard. What was wrong with buttons? Get off my lawn! Stuff costs more than it used to! Etc.
Edit. Also those seats look naff.
So do I. They're absurd
@@AWMJoeyjoejoe don’t forget they are more dangerous cause you need to look ak them to adjust most things while its possible to adjust basic settings just with touch on dedicated buttons and knobs
It's because it's so much easier for the designers, clutter free etc.
Alright boomer, chill out
@@risosk17Exactly! If the cops catch you even touching your phone while driving it's 6 points and a fine, but it's ok to be diving into the menus on what is basically an iPad glued to the dash? I don't get it.
So using a cellphone while driving is illegal but building a car with a tablet interface is totally fine. Sure, why not.
Using a mobile phone *held in your hands* is illegal while driving. Using one attached to a mount or holder is not* - as long as you're still in control of the vehicle.
* Source: gov.uk website, just now
No, holding a phone while driving is a fine. Buy a phone holder.
@@AnyoneSeenMikeHuntyou have no clue … that’s not the point
@@panameradan6860 Goat herding must be hard.
The latter allows fat corporations to milk you, so of course it's legal. The word you're looking for is "capitalism".
Perhaps NCAP need to revisit the criteria for what makes a 'safe' car.
Couldn't agree more. Ncap should be taking marks off , for all in one screen touch controls where it takes the drivers eyes off the road for so long.
They are. Not having buttons for the most basic functions will result in the car not being able to receive a 5 star rating, starting this year i believe
@wiegehtslukas oh that's brilliant, that they are taking notice of what is a trend rather than functional. Thank you for the update . 👍
Hear, hear. Those screens are a crazy idea.
22:13 If you did all this, slapped at Lotus badge on it, that would be the only acceptable Lotus EV SUV to me (if it had to exist at all!)
I was a bit perplexed by this video as I’ve got an EX30 and have to say I rather like it. Having given it a bit more thought I’d like to make some comments.
Price- This is a low cost EV (note I didn’t say cheap). It’s therefore been subject to cost control. This is very apparent in the lack of buttons, no speedometer cluster etc… inside they’ve tried to use “green” materials. It is however solidly built, even if I’d have preferred leather to the weird plastic stuff they use.
Software- I agree with what you’re saying. I find that accessing some features are dangerous to do
whilst driving. For example to switch on lights manually you have to go via two submenus plus a steering wheel button to confirm.
As you said the people who designed it probably don’t have a driving licence. My view is that it was originally designed for another implementation that did have multiple screens and it’s been shoe horned into the EX30 using the “that’ll do” philosophy. They are working on improvements but it’s still too fiddly. Note that you can use voice control for some things like heating, but frustratingly, not others - like the lights! And where’s the Apple iPhone unlock feature we were promised.
Performance- straight line and lower speed performance is excellent.However,in the UK it won’t be long before you come across a corner. If you have upwards of 300bhp and use it you’ll arrive at the corner going quite quickly. This is where the car will bite you. It rides more for comfort than sportiness. It’s a complaint I have of all Volvo electric cars, and I’ve driven a few. They are simply too powerful for the chassis. Make them deliver less outright power but more range. If you chose an EX 30 for speed you’ll be frustrated. My advice is to get the Single Motor Extended Range rather than the Twin.
So after 3 months you may ask why I actually really like it? Well I don’t do huge mileage, 2000 miles so far, but it fits my lifestyle. I have a home charger using cheap electric so it costs pennies to run. All the bit about the big screen have gone into the background for me as I just let it do its thing and use voice commands. It rides and drives in a way that I find relaxing.
Luckily I’ve not suffered with any of the problems that seem to plague other drivers. Odd but true. It just works (for me). Sure there are things that could be improved but that’s the case with every car I’ve owned.
One final point is that when I drove a Cupra Born, I thought it was OK but too expensive for what it was by about £10k. I got this car with a very large discount and excellent trade in. I therefore believe I paid what it was worth. Even if it’s worthless after 8 years I won’t be too upset because it was a good price to start with.
To return to the handling of the car. I find it fine, providing you don’t drive it like I would have 15 years ago. Keep it around the legal limits and it’s fine. If you want high speed fun then buy something else.
Boring Volvo driver? Maybe but I’ve struggled with too much stress when people got in my way when making progress. I’ve got my motorcycle for my fun hit.
I’m also not an EV evangelist. My last car was a diesel and I’d have much preferred to be able to buy another one now. I couldn’t face a Hybrid as it’s the worst of both worlds. Plus the added complexity of it all.
Sorry for the long post but I wanted to provide a bit of positive balance.
Just curious. Why switch on lights manually when you can let it stay at Auto all year? In our country it’s mandatory by law…
@@chrisving91 Good point and I wanted to do that when I first had the car and was driving in fog. Since then I’ve let the car sort it out and it’s been fine, which was the point I was trying to make later on🙂 Still seems a lot of button presses to do something that should be simple though
@@nitrama2088 Yeah, it’s a few presses but I don’t mind, when I do it’s always when parked. No need to change lights while driving. Do wish there was voice control for lights though. At least you can change high beam/normal with the stalk.
@@chrisving91the Auto mode for headlights tends to keep running lights on with taillights off even when it’s rainy/foggy and you want to turn the headlights on to be sure that your taillights are visible
@ Good point, strangely, we haven’t had that problem ourselves. Haven’t seen any other EX30’s without the rear lights on in our area. Maybe this is dependent on SW, and different from market to market.
EU is regulating new cars that when you drive 1km too fast they beep. But distracting screens is no problem for safety…
Exactly. The obsession with speed violations is really confusing when you consider how significant distraction has become, which has always been more dangerous anyways.
If you 2km above, will it beep twice? And, if you go 3km above three times? And, 50km above......😂
Easy - don’t look so much at the screen. Learn to use the speech function. Decrease screen brightness. Make a brief stop if further changes are needed or have front passenger edit things while on the move.
well who forbids uk gov to ban any beeping and screens? did u forget that uk brexited from eu? this eu hate is so ridiculous
Works like shit usually. And then I need to panic and go the touchscreen to cancel the call it just made. Very safe.
This is a real Volvo in the same way that the Electre is a real Lotus...
Yep, both cr@ppy Geely platforms.
China think they made a volvo 😹 Yea, right..
It's developed in Göteborg, Sweden.
@@erik.... Yea, developed on the moon, still got no volvo soul. 😹🌞
It is absolutely a real Volvo. It isn't designed or engineered in China. Teams of Volvo engineers and designers designed in Sweden.
As a Volvo nut, I absolutely loathe this. It's a Geely, and that vile screen is ridiculous. These are not proper Volvos at all. Geely are simply using Volvo's heritage and reputation.
Enshittification in another context, I think
Volvo is a corpse being strung up by the chinese.
This is nothing but a Volvo badge stuck on a car.
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. This is a Geely. Besides the steering wheel perhaps there’s nothing I really recognise to the Volvo brand (and that’s a generic Geely part, see the London taxi etc.)
- a fellow Volvo nut.
@@volvo09 yes,like every Volvo after 2017, and before that just Fords
My Partner had one of the 1st, EX30 (single motor extended range plus) on the road in the Algarve since Jan 24. A few months before we popped 10K of PV panels in. Price was good, VAT recovered and the combo easily saving between 500-750 euros per month. (She drives a lot of KM). It was involved in an accident in Oct , took a while to repair. She has been so happy to get it back ( other car is a nice BMW hybrid) and that tells you all you need to know. Some small annoying things eg the heated steering wheel has a habit of coming on. But the simplicity of walking up to the car (unlocks itself as long as battery in fob OK) jumping in and gliding from A to B calmly and effortlessly, great nav, integration with google, makes for a very pleasant ownership experience for her lifestyle/driving which can be 300-400Km in a day. No problem topping up the battery around in Portugal either at places like Lidl. I have owned Lotus, Porsche and each year take a BMW i8 Roadster (amazing machine!) down to the Algarve The ex30 is a great size, I quite like the comfort ride, dynamic, handling is smooth for what it is. It is just a car that doesn't make me want to go fast ,quite the opposite and so it is very calming. I think the twin motor version is OTT on power for this car and so if you but one to go fast, boy racer style, I think you will be disappointed. I would say the single extended range is the one to go for.
That screen is the most anti volvo thing I've ever seen. I have an XC40 and it's brilliant - it's a shame that volvo seem to have lost their way a bit here,
They lost the way, slowly bust surely, since they have been acquired by Geely
I don’t think it’s new for Volvo. We had an XC90 in 2016 that had similar. Totally put me off the car
What XC40 do you have that you are pleased with the screen?? 😂😂 (We also have one and it's been a continuous shitshow that rivals an old Maserati in time spent in the shop)
@adamshpolyansky2827 It's a 2021, yes it has a big screen but you can still do most stuff through the dashboard on the steering wheel buttons. Had no issues with it at the moment. Having everything in one screen in the middle of the car is just ridiculous.
Sure boomer 😂
Honestly keyboard warriors, as well as reviewers actually, can go on forever trying to decide if a car is good or not.
But when an actual costumer spent his actual money to buy a car new, and actively detests it, that's troubling
I agree, but this guy leased it sight unseen, he's kind of part of the problem.
@@shiftyfitter And he completely disregarded the i3 because someone told him it was rubbish. Seems to me he deserves a car he doesn't like.
who buys a car without driving it? I mean that's madness, unless you've got so much money you don't care.
@@jasonk7072 i3 is the opposite of rubbish. I dont like BMW in general but the i3 is an absolute wonderful car, especially considering when it was released.
I strongly believe that this car is exactly what it needs to be for its own young and vegan public. The problem is: don’t buy something completely different and new without really knowing it or even having never actually seen it. I love Volvos, our family has history with them, and that’s exactly why I dislike this car. And I never drove one.
The car you tested was a 2024 EX30, the 2025 EX30 (came out around September) the Haptic steering controls have raised ridges around them so you can feel where to press.
The perfect car - to prove that cars from the 90s and 00s were better
90's volvos are crying 😢
AMEN!!
The trouble with any car that you are too big to fit is personified here. Most normal sized people would fit in quite well, he is also an ex journo, because the headline never tells you what the story is, and there is a lot of that here. OK. I don't like the look of it, I don't like the look of any eV, they are rubbish bins posing as cars, but I'm afraid Bunter ruined any objectivity with his intro, still . Next week he will no doubt be liking a bigger and much more expensive car, its what these reviewers do. Think I'll give this one a miss.`
I've had my EX30 since June 24 and really like it. It's completely different to previous cars I've owned, last 3 were a BMW Z4 and two Alfa Guilias, in its driving style. Yes it has the performance but i think that detracts from what it is meant to be, and that's a relaxing quite car to drive. The android automotive software running the car has really good voice controls so your rarely interacting with the touchscreen. I do wish it had a heads up display though. Take out the electric seats and electric boot and with the money save, put in the hud.
The performance is mindblowing though.
It really is the same on a Tesla Y. I do nearly everything through voice control.
I think if you compare the EX30 to a Model 3, you'd like the Tesla more. These are all Chinese copies of Tesla. It's like buying a Xiaomi phone instead of the iPhone.
@TwistofWrist I preferred the EX30 purely because of the android integration. With the car running on Android Automitive, the connection to my Google account is great. My wife has a model Y and she loves it. Both great cars
Serious point, when are people going to have a serious discussion about why it's (correctly) illegal to drive using a smartphone, but car's are putting all the controls now in menu laden touchscreens covered with distraction?
Buy a phone holder.
Yeah the way government safety keeps ignoring in-car infotainment screens is really puzzling.
@@mrjohnnyk There is nothing puzzling about UK bureaucracy and the incompetent plonkers that instigate dumb stuff. What is puzzling is why Brits don't grow some spine and just simply ignore the muppets and get on with life. No wonder the UK has turned into what it is. 🙄
@@SoWereDoingWhatNowthat does not making fiddling with a smartphone touchscreen while driving any safer
@@mrjohnnyk well it's not something they can mandate for on their own, its an international issue and you can guarantee you wouldn't get consensus on it.
Drove one briefly. Loved it. Don't see the issue with a single display and minimal physical controls - just set everything to automatic and you never have to fiddle with anything while driving.
That’s basically what they intended
You're absolutely right, it's a very good car. I think some physical controls would be better for some things but, more often than not, the people who slag this car off either hate EVs or hate China which they will be doing from their Chinese made electrical device.
Ok, but what do you gain for making this compromise of setting everything up in auto or before setting off? The buttons don’t cost me any fuel or subscription to run on my car.
@@grigorioschristodoulou5229 I think the fact that they can effectively update so much of the car via software is appealing to them, theoretically that could be done with physical buttons too but more expensive and less flexible. Personally I think some buttons should be physical and to be fair this car does have a couple of buttons but just like Tesla could do with a few more
@ no compromise at all. Don’t tell me you change every single setting every single time you drive your car, because you’d be lying. 🤥
We loved our 9000's in the 90's. My wife had a 1989 9000S, which was a non turbo 40mpg brilliant car, which felt as if it could be driven to the moon. So comfortable and relaxing to drive. I had a 97 9000 2.3 Anniversary, with an Abbott Racing upgrade which took it to 220bhp. I loved it, and still miss those seats! Not many estate cars could match the space.
Yep, the distraction thing. I wonder how many accidents are caused due to it these days? Probably why everything is coming with radar and warnings to try to keep the thing on the road. A few years ago I was almost ran off the road while on my motorcycle by someone who was obviously looking down fiddling with their screen then drifted onto the wrong side of the road…..yet the regulators think they are fine, apparently. It’s speed that is the primary cause of most accidents, they say. If it wasn’t for all the inbuilt distraction devices you wouldn’t need the lane departure assist or collision avoidance tech in the first place….Rant over. I hope you can get your hands on an Alfa Junior, James. Really looking forward to hearing your opinion of it. Keep up the great work. Cheers!
Did he take a test drive? He would have found a lot of these issues, not all, but quite a few.
Seems to be a habit these days of 'pulling the trigger' on a car without even sitting in it, then buyers remorse sets in. It's a car you're buying, not a fridge.
It seems since covid a lot of people are doing exactly that. Are people so rich they're happily dropping five fights before trying a car out? If I'd gone in for a test drive, I'd have seen the massive tablet, no physical controls and no gauges in front of the driver and have immediately got out.
He said that he bought it sight unseen
When I think of quick Volvos I think of Rickard Rydell and Jan Lammers and the 850 Estate. Mmmm, glorious lunatics...
I have my EX30 single engine extended range for 1,5 months now and I’m surprised that I both recognize all the comments in the video while I couldn’t care less about any of it. Granted, mine is a model year 2025 with some fixes and there are plenty of software updates by now, but it just works for me.
-I’m used to the single screen approach after driving a model 3 for five years. The system is quick and responsive. I set things how I want them before I drive off and have no need to fiddle with it while driving and can control most via the voice assistent if required
-The materials I actually touch feel high quality and I like the look of the rest of the interieur
-The buttons on the steering wheel are fixed in the 2025 model year
-The single motor version doesn’t have a sport mode to turn on or off
-The car is way more comfortable and quite than my model 3 I drove before the EX30
-I enjoy driving it, it’s relaxing and nice and quick. I don’t care about sporty driving behavior if I drive to the office at 7:00 am
-I can count the times I move a lot of cargo or more passengers every year on one hand
-My temperate is set on 20 degrees every single day
-I never open the rear windows, why would I?
-Lack of auto mirror dip is fair, but the 360 camera works fine
-“Hi Google, set temperature to 19”
-Apple CarPlay is here now. It has google maps and Spotify build in. I don’t use CarPlay
-Never notice weird driving or braking behavior
I think it is insane that they started delivering the car without the much needed software updates we have now. I appreciate the valid comments. I have no need to defend the car nor looking for confirmation (I drive it as a company car, I didn’t pay for it). However, the review isn’t balanced as for me, my preferences, and my experiences, it’s a pretty nice car that after 1,5 months I still look forward to drive every morning
TL:DR, comments are fair but unbalanced, which is a shame as I experience the car as very enjoyable
So you basically gain nothing, it’s just slightly less bad than James claimed
- On other cars I can set things up both before starting off AND while on the move. Name a single benefit that having just a touchscreen gives you. I don’t want to play games in my car or show high-fidelity 3D models of it. It’s right in front of me.
- Steering: So now you’re back to the same ease of control as any car in the past 30 years
- So, when every experienced person was saying that the first Model 3 (new one is quite a bit better) drove like crap was right, if a cheaper car is a lot better. Again you’re back to normal. (Most modern cars are very well insulated, at least before the last 2-3 years where shit went downhill)
- Fine, if you don’t need a big car don’t buy a big car. But for small families it’s quite crammed (again, for the price! It’s workable, sure. Also a Vauxhall Adam can fit a family)
- Again, with kids in the back being able to easily control all 4 windows is essential. Is it workable with just 2 switches? YES, BUT WHY?? Nobody would force you to use all 4 of them. They could still have a function to lock the rear two switches if you think people use them by accident. The Citroen Cactus also doesn’t have opening rear windows, but it cost like 10k
- I can also set the temperature at 20 and leave it there. Nobody’s forcing me to adjust it every minute. But in the winter if I want to drive with the window slightly open, I like to crank it up to 23 and increase the fan speed. Or press a button to turn on the heated seat. What’s a single advantage of not having two rotary dials? I’ve never seen them break in less than 20yo cars, by which point the materials of the EX30 will have recycled themselves.
- “Twist” Done. Much faster and will never reply “Sorry, I couldn’t hear you”.
This level of cost-cutting is fine for a 15k car, but that’s about it.
I don’t say don’t buy it, it’s nice. But don’t encourage other people to buy an overpriced product.
Gain nothing as compared to what? I compared the EX30 with the iX1 eDrive20. I now get slightly more range, more options, more power, rear wheel drive, all for more than 5k less. There are pros and cons to every car and what constitutes a pro for one person might be a con for another person. So thanks for sharing your perspective as this proves the point; this is clearly not a car for you, while it is for me!
I'm not encouraging anyone to buy anything, I'm just not actively discourage people to buy the EX30 for whom this might actually be a very nice option based on my own experience living with the car for hell of a lot longer than the reviewer
Clearly - not the car for most classic car heads. Use the voice controls, get rid of looking at the screen like it’s a mobile phone and setup everything like you want before taking off and you’ll be fine. This car works splendid for our daily errands and long trips here in Norway.
Yep, that’s how it’s intended.
You can use workarounds for sure, but it’s still worse, just less so! There is absolutely NO REASON to get used to lower safety or adapt your driving, if it brings ZERO benefits.
Voice is clearly just a slightly worse input method for now. When it is ready in 2-5 years fine, remove the buttons.
All I know is my M2 CS is not losing any value and it’s a much more 1. enjoyable, 2. safe and 3. cheaper to run car, once you consider retail. The single-motor version of this box will be 10k by next winter
*meant resale, not retail ofc.
To clarify, there are three ways to adjust the volume in the Volvo EX30, via the screen, via buttons on the steering wheel, or using voice control.
The waterfall on my 2007 C30 T5 looks like a stroke of genuis compared to the switchgear on this thing.
Waterfall..?? I'm guessing...the Sunroof leaks..??
@@PeroniPeteIt's the name for the dashboard and centre console designs on Volvos of that period. There's a space behind the centre console and the whole thing resembles a waterfall. Pretty cool design imo
Also, really love the channel!!! First watched the Alfa 166 review and have been hooked ever since!
I drive a Renault Megane EV60 E tech and have took a second glance when I see a Volvo I think it's a Renault.
My Renault is a bit more analogue but a bit more stylish
Need James to drive mine.
I don't post very often but wanted to say I enjoy, and trust, your reviews. Regardless of marque or moolah you seem to remain objective.
Thanks for the reminder that "Lotus" and "2.7 tonne car" now belong in the same sentence :(
It's very sad. I never thought there would be a Lotus twice as heavy as my car.
@@rosstee Lotus and Geely are in the same sentence.
@@AnyoneSeenMikeHunt Yeah, Lotus is basically dead, just a badge now.
@@rosstee I think 蓮花 Liánhuā (Lotus) is still very much alive with the Evija and Emira still being made in Britain by Brits and the Eletre and Emeya being made in China for plonkers. What is dead is the space between the hairy ears of the Ol' British Guard that refuse to accept Colin Chapman is dead and the Chinese and Malaysians run the show because they were biblically inept. They are still a bit of a singularity in the sports car market. I hate the CCP and Geely with a passion but war crimes aside I do hope Lotus lives on in Britain.
I drive a Smart #3 for a year now, same car basically but doesn’t have most of the issues mentioned. Very happy with it
Oh look, a modern Allegro steering wheel!!!
Yeah. That's another trend.
I'm glad I didn't wait for it to come to the US. I figured I swap my EV6 for this when the lease is up but you've certainly made me reconsider.
We have had an ex30 as a loan car for a week. We loved it and plan on buying one once they drop below £20k. Which won’t be long!
That’s all it’s wrong with these cars. Very good appliances but the low quality, lack of controls and the depreciation mean they’re only good value at 1/2 the price. Would be a superb car for 20k. But I’m not giving Volvo 35k for a rebadged Chinese EV that they would sell for 15k over there. I’m not doing philanthropy with my car purchases.
The problem with being able to take your money anywhere you like is that there are in fact only a handful of real options.
Many of the mainstream products are in fact the same thing underneath, so they all have the same fundamental issues.
23:42 I contacted Volvo customer service to establish exactly what should be included in the profile as my car fails to adjust mirrors, OPD settings and speed limiter vs pilot assist preferences. It took 5 or six emails for me to get them to understand my question and for them to provide me with a list. Eventually I got the list which confirmed that these settings should be included. I did a thorugh check and found a couple of other things that didn't work as they said they should. When I sent my findings to them their response was 'I am happy that most things are working as expected'. That attitude perfectly demonstrates your theory about their their 'thats good enough, lets clock off' approach.
Took this one straight out of the Tesla book. Only brand I’ve ever seen posts on Reddit with people asking if they should take delivery of POS quality or even damaged cars. They bet on stupid customers that expect stuff to me somehow working and somehow new for 40k
14:09 That front bumper camera really communicates the speed, great view!
@JayEmmOnCars - that is absolutely Android Automotive running in there. You can easily tell because Google maps and Google Playstore only work on that operating system. Also you could have gone into settings and then system and confirmed this.
I got one of these, exactly the same spec just in black and it’s absolutely infuriating! Love the power, but as you say, you have to search for it, every time you get in! It doesn’t save your preferred driver settings! You need to turn off all the annoying and at times dangerous lane keeping assistance and fatigue warning! The same with the speed alert! My advice would be to just get the long range single motor, cos that appears to be the default for the performance one anyway! Apple CarPlay is hit and miss as to if it works or not, and can stop working when you think it’s actually connected! This is the most honest review of a car most motoring journalists wax lyrical on! Agree it’s a should be great, but isn’t! I’ve got it for 3 bloody years now as well! 😰
Pretty sure to EX30 in fact does run Android Automotive for its infotainment
I’m a driver of a Geeley car that uses a fair few Volvo parts, a London black taxi.
Considering it’s a work tool it’s really not good enough for the driver and also has the dangerous problem of having to do to much on the centre console.
Amongst many many other problems, an annoying one is the radio cuts out twice a week which to rectify you have to get out of the car, lock it then unlock and get back in (sometimes more than once.)
The worst and most dangerous is what we call “The 10mm spanner.”
This has happened to me seven times in 2 1/2 years and I can tell you it’s scary.
Whether you’re going 60 mph or the more likely 16, the taxi completely looses all power and it can’t be restarted.
We have to go to the boot for the battery then use the 10mm spanner release one of the leads. We then have to “hide” so that the key doesn’t sense the car and hope 15-20 minutes later it restarts 🙏🏻.
I have heard that after four years of production Geeley have now sorted this problem on the newer taxis.
For a £70,000 vehicle it’s not up to scratch.
It's not a Volvo it's just a cheap Chinese car which is not quite there yet by European standards. Volvo are just giving Geely access to the European market and ensuring their own demise.
I have a B4 V90 and it’s one of the best all round cars I’ve owned. It’s OK at everything - not class leading in anything but not compromised or the worst either and for that I like it. It’s just such a good normal car.
This is simply an appliance.
I've also heard it described as simply a 'blob'.
Their is a huge market for cars that are effectively appliances. Huge numbers of people don't care about the cars they drive and just want them to get form A-B as cheaply and conveniently as possible. If you look at this car on paper, it's brilliant. The same way a fridge looks great on paper until you buy it. Too late to realise you can't fit a bottle of tomato sauce on any single shelf and it beeps at you if you leave the door open for more than 3 seconds.
These cars are made to be leased for a few years and then scrapped. There is no way this will last for more than a decade or have any value as a used car. It's for people who don't give the slightest whiff of a shit about cars, they just want to get from their corporate job to the suburbs and pick up their kids from an alternative private kindergarten on the way
@@adampavella1225 I guess those of use who use cars, for young, regular & elderly family, various activities, trips, moving household & DIY stuff, are really living such an rare life that we cannot expect decent cars for long term ownership. Ah I forgot, we are meant to be paying monthly fees, not owning a vehicle. Seeing how the DVLA stasi are now operating, the cars are probably going to be doing live health checks, linked to your government and private health insurance. Actually the DVLA now state your data is 'shared with other government departments (HMRC and DWP)' to check your identity.
I drove it for 10 days on holidag and I absolutely loved the fact that they all crammed the info in the screen (not). Because of it you had to look way too much at it and then the car will beep at you for not looking at the road. It will even do so when other alerts pop up or when you look at the speedo.
How is it possible that the beeping passes quality controls? I mean, just literally drive around for about 10 minutes and you will have it beeping at you while you try to use the car as intended (having to look at that sad touchscreen).
Maybe it should have been a Bipolestar.
- Look at the warning!
- No, look at the road!
- Bling, you’re speeding, check your speed
- Haha kidding, can you please look at the road again
- Bling. Wtf, I’m not speeding again, it was the lane kee
- BLING! Eyes on the damn road!!!
Apparently some people haven't quite figured this out yet; Volvo is not Swedish anymore. It's Chinese. So lower your expectations and stop complaining when it turns out to be just another Chinese car
@@kevinbarry71 the Chinese are making many of the best EVs on the market.
Thanks for the video. I agree with you about those stupid desingers putting those screens in the middle of the dashboard. Here in South Australia we receive very high fines for using our mobile phones in our cars while driving. Those car screens are worse in my opinion.
The dual motor EX30 is not the one to get. Giving it porsche acceleration is just stupid for car in this class, and doing it on a budget like this is a marketing ploy. A lot like the MG4. The car is supposed to be a family runabout, where practicality trumps driving dynamics. Get the long range single motor and you'll be much happier.
As a Tesla owner i would say that you get used to the screen, and if the OS design is good then it's ok. The Polestar 2 is also a good example of this. I do think that you can take minimalism too far though, and i do want physical controls for some functions.
No offence intended here, but if there I one phrase I hear from Tesla owners more than any other, it's "you get used to it." And I have to wonder if they are claiming that, with practice, they learn how to operate functions in a safe, effective manner, free from distraction; OR do they just get used to being distracted all the time, such that they no longer realise they aren't paying attention to driving. Like a frequent texter who claims they are paying attention...
I would say that if you want a small practical EV, something else entirely would be the one to get, probably with a Chinese badge on it so you aren't paying for a Volvo branded Chinese car - unless you absolutely have to have the dual motor level performance - in which case, get a Tesla performance model. Paying Euro money for a Chinese car is just weird badge snobbery - though perhaps the lease deals on these are just insanely good? Even then though, Geeley are one of the worst Chinese manufacturers, when you have companies like BYD & SAIC that actually make some genuinely good, cheap EV's.
As EV owner and not one of the dinosaurs furiously typing away that their ancient POS is a million times better.....I do prefer a better mix of tech and physical buttons. The Koreans seem to listen and put switches and knobs back into cars. And agree with what one viewer said about giving this ridiculous performance (following the MG4 X ) not needed or suited. We need better efficiency and range and smaller cars. R5 looks to be onto something come springtime
Do your passengers alter all the settings to adjust everything or do you stop the car and put on the hazard warning lights and do it your self for safety ?
Absolutely - the performance is so much delivered through strapping a second motor to the other pair of wheels that 99% of the time you're just sacrificing a whole load of range to carrying around a big weight that turns the straight-line acceleration from "really pretty good" to "stupid". Then you reach a bend, and the lighter car is going to feel better.
I have had a single motor extended range for six months and absolutely love it. I would however not think the chassis and suspension could cope with the extra power of the twin motor. It’s much more enjoyable and quicker in real day driving than the couple of Audi S3’s I have owned. The menus for the lights on the central touchscreen are dangerous however and it does need more buttons. As an EV sceptic this car has converted me
This reminds me of the new Kia EV3 which is supposedly pretty good (for an EV) and cheaper. No silly laptop style everything on it screen to have a crash with technology…
I’ll stick to my GR Yaris thank you very much.
I've got the EV3 coming soon so we shall see
So, in summary, rip out the infotainment system and replace with a racing switch pad, gut the interior, add some bucket seats, replace the steering wheel, and add a racing dash, then add some aftermarket coilovers.
Worst thing is the pop up/beep that keeps warning you to look at the road when you check your speed on the screen.
😂😂😂 really? Then put the damn driver display right in front of me where I'm pretty sure it worked before
Oh my god that is amazing 😂
I test drove the EX30 and liked the performance, but couldn't live with the lack of a speedometer, especially in an electric car. So I got the Smart #3 Brabus, which is identical to the dual motor EX30 underneath, but has the advantages of a speedo behind the steering wheel AND a heads-up display (with the speed, and current speed limit etc). It also has a Mercedes style interior, slightly more buttons under the screen, and a landscape display rather than portrait. It's not perfect, there are a few niggles, and it has more power than the chassis can handle in damp conditions, but I've got used to it now.
I’ve never in my life changed the mirrors to reverse and the temperature can be adjusted by using voice commands.
Still slower than a dial and 9/10 times it will reply “Sorry, I didn’t get that”. What do you, as a customer, gain by lack of physical controls?
I have them in my car and let me tell you, I’ve never broken them, they don’t consume any fuel or electricity, they don’t annoy me, they don’t require subscriptions. They’re just there for me to use them when and if I want to. Novel idea, I know.
Don’t tell me you’re saving on cost. Geely does, you most certainly don’t. It’s ridiculously expensive for an Open Corsa on stilts and battery.
Many commonly used functions can be controlled by voice command rather than by accessing the screen menu. Software updates have also improved the layout and functionality of the screen.
Legislation that means all steering has to be completely powered and consequently have no "feel" is moronic, and unsafe. It's absolutely central for the future of motoring that we get this reversed ASAP. Any ideas how we do that?
We should really go and install DBOX systems on all the testing rigs the UI/UX interns use. Feels like whole teams of people have never ever been close to a car, yet get to design the thing you interact with the whole time behind the wheel
The main thing this video done was remind me how cool I thought the Volvo 480 looked back in the day, I mean, a Volvo shooting brake with pop up headlights, what's not to love!
(I now, in later years, realise it wasn't a great car, but it did look cool to a teenage me)
I always wished we had those in the states, pop up headlights were fun.
But I liked the RWD redblock volvos more so I never thought of them much besides looking interesting.
@@volvo09 Name checks out :)
I'm old enough to remember when BL were importing Hondas to the UK and putting Triumph badges on them... the difference then was the Hondas were actually decent cars, or at least a lot better than what BL had been crapping out at that point in time.
@@Beer_Dad1975 I owned a Triumph Acclaim.
It was both a shite car, because it was a beige Triumph Acclaim and also, a great car, because it just worked all the time I had it.
Not sure how you came to comment on my Volvo centric post about the Honda Triumph crossover period, but welcome and glad you did.
Edit....
Triumph slant 4 and Volvo Engines.... Forgot that connection...
@@ChuckFickens1972 Weirdly I thought I was commenting on a different post!
Yes, the Slant 4 - I owned 3 cars with that engine - a Dolomite 1850, a RWD 2 door Toledo that my Dad and I swapped the 2 litre engine from a wrecked TR7 into, and finally a Dolomite Sprint with the 16 valve 2 litre in it. The two 2 litre engines both had major problems during my ownership - the one in the Toledo spun a big end bearing - fortunately did not damage the crank so I was able to deal with that one myself - the Sprint had a piston totally collapse on it - amazingly the con rod didn't destroy the block so I was able to get that engine rebuilt - but that was it for me, once I got the car back on the road I sold it and went Japanese, and haven't looked back since.
I test drove one of these. I didn't try it on any entertaining roads, but in regular traffic it was very pleasant and an absolute hoot when you put your foot down. I was even happy with the one-pedal mode. Volvo make a big thing of how environmentally friendly the interior is, so I can almost forgive that. And the car is really good value. But... ...that touchscreen was an absolute deal breaker, for all the reasons Jay lists. Just a few real buttons, and head-up display would make all the difference - Volvo have an excellent HUD in their parts bin - I know because my V60 has one. So frustrating - it's cheap, small and light for an EV and could have been so good, but ruined by incomprehensible design decisions - so un-Volvo.
Weii Lad is an amazing plate for the hilariously heavy Lotus....which I actually really like btw.
I'm sticking with my XC60 D5 Polestar (mapped to 300 ps) and independent garages. OK, most of the bits on it are Ford-sourced, but it works well and is a totally reliable AWD.
Autocar only gave it 2/5 for the reasons mentioned. Whereas others simply praise it despite the obvious flaws. But your drive was serene. Ive seen others review this and it flashing up messages like avoid driving distracted distracting you from looking out of the windscreen. And lane keeping assist that swerves you all over the road.
Parked our Skoda Citigo next to one yesterday and was surprised by the size of the Volvo. And pleased. The world needs smaller cars.
Chinese innit: more like a transport system for an iPad 😮
Thank you, makes me feel good about my lovely iPace 😊
This is the car that Top Gear drove around a car park along with other cars and declared the best small EV in the world!
and they were right but some people need edgy content for the clicks
Extensively testing a car on the road and getting feedback from (at least one) owner is now clickbait, while driving cars around a car park is detailed, trustworthy automotive journalism? Good to know, have a nice day but don’t forget your tinfoil
@@grigorioschristodoulou5229 Well based on me owning one for 6 months I know which is more accurate
@@metriclondon If you’re so happy with your car why are you in the comments section of a review? U have Geely shares or something? The less they sell the better (as much as it can go above 10k) the resale value
@@grigorioschristodoulou5229 What are you waffling on about. I watched it because it came up in my feed.
Totally agree with a lot of what you're saying.
First time I stepped in a Volvo saying to myself "Nah, this ain't for me".
The amount of bleeps and errors make me go nuts. Not having any information in front of you (speed etc.) just doesn't feel right. And little things such as the mirrors not adjusting when parking are just weird not to have in this day and age. Worked perfectly fine in my old V40.
I get that from a budget point of view choices have to be made but this just doesn't feel like a proper Volvo. Oh... and you're not even able to put a baby Maxi Cosi child seat behind you if you're 180cm.. not a family car at all.
Looks like an alternate universe Renault from a quick glance
It’s so much fun this car, nice, funky small car, but I do think the Smart #3 is nicer inside. Most people will go for the slow one, they built this one for headlines.
Think that maybe a rebaged geely.
Nothing like a Volvo
Speaking as a 2017 v60 T4 driver
Sad to see
Its definately a Geely lol
Ford engine
Actually shared with the Zeekr X (another subsidiary under Geely). Not the worst Chinese EV I’ve ever driven but I can say it’s one of the softest ones I’ve experienced (in a bad way) and the ADAS systems are as paranoid as a schizophrenic.
Having owned a 2015 s60 for 4 yrs I disagree. It was a dog. Terrible handling and not nearly as tight as the ex30
The irony with all this power is that all the new distractions (including headlights being too bright) make it increasingly dangerous to use. I have a new VW based car and the distraction are scary even without the power, fiddling to find controls which are unlit (heating), or out of sight and touch sensitive is outright dangerous....like trying to turn on fog lights and finding you actually turned all your lights off (!), then fiddling to get them on again as there are down by your right knee. we are going backwards with tech at a very high rate.
As a happy owner of a beautiful, well designed, 2018 Volvo V90, this Geely monstrosity is a mockery of the brand.
I understand totally and am sorry for your loss. As a Alfa 159 V6 owner, I feel the same looking at that horrific Junior thing they have launched..i.it is a total affront to actual real Alfas.
@@Crispy99999 We are truly in a new dark age for cars.
Hi I have owned eight Volvos over recent years V90 CC +V90 T6 PHEV most recently.Just"upgraded" to a (used) £100k+ Taycan CT and it is not that much of a step above the V90 in terms of ride and smoothness/quietness! Volvos-like Saabs were great cars.
It is designed and engineered by the same teams that designed and engineered your car. This is not a Geely car. The only Volvo that isn't really a Volvo is the XM90 and that's sold in China only. That is a Zeekr.
@@dancam3269 Are great cars. The EX90 is smoother and quieter than any SPA Volvo, including the V90s.
All in the eye of the beholder. I absolutely love my RWD Ultra, and any "issues" I consider minor niggles. Overall the car is excellent - best I've ever owned or driven.
The heater temperature, fan speed, on/off, heated rear window, etc are voice controlled.
The radio on/off, volume level, station etc are voice controlled.
The navigation, find chargers, find parking etc are voice controlled.
If you just say "Settings" it takes you to the settings screen,
I could go on but what I am trying to say is you don't have to look at or touch the screen for a lot of the controls, you just have to learn the right phrases.
The speedo, it has an audio warning of over speed limit which adjusts when the speed limit changes, if its beeping you're over the limit.
I never had any inclination to own a Volvo until I tried one of these on some twisty peak district roads, its very fast, admitted the handling and brakes are "good enough" but that's what makes it interesting to drive for me.
Except your passenger can't change the radio channel or volume without proper buttons, can they?
As the CCP monitor everything you say.
@@garethkreike3263posted my original reply in the wrong place, so in answer to your question "can you?" Yes the passenger can change the radio station or the radio volume or the heater settings through the screen controls or by voice control, my son does it all the time while I'm driving.
Sorry, I didn’t get that. Can you repeat it?
Tempture, radio, and all bar lights and wipers can be controlled by Voice. Therefore the screen comments are incorrect. Constant updates over the air too, such as one Pedel.
Great if it works but it is a well known fact that voice control is notoriously unreliable in most cars. also means you may - sorry, will - need to interrupt a conversation, phone call or listening to your music or a broadcast. And it will cost a small fortune to fix when it inevitably fails. The number one reason for phones failing is screen failure. Do you think these things, subjected to being bounced around the UK's roads for tens of thousands of miles, are likely to fare any better? How is all that better than using a button?
If you are saying the owner bought it “sight unseen” then I haven’t got much sympathy….however, considering the other related Volvo and Polestar EV’s who seem to have made less of a pigs ear than the VAG group, I sort of get the method to the madness. Good review nevertheless James.
You can use the voice control for the volume or cabin temperature. Although, with climate control you set the cabin temp once before you drive of the forecourt and never touch it again. I haven't changed mine in four years. I'm not sticking up for the car mind, it's well sh*t.
The sooner these over loaded screens do one the better. I want little to do with any car that doesn't have at least basic HVAC, driving controls and volume as a knob, dial or button.
@michaelcole3998 there are volume controls on the right hand side of the steering wheel, they're the up and down arrows.
@mikejones0967 fully aware. Except haptic controls are flavour of the month and are not designed for ease of use in many cases
The more I see of new cars.
The more I wish I'd hung on to that mk2 Escort.
Drove one again a few years back.
A poverty spec 1.3 and couldn't believe the steering feel and connection with the road.
When did we pass peak car and how did we let it happen?
Id much rather have 150hp and 1000km range instead of 300hp with 500km range
You’d be really disappointed with the single motor EX30, it doesn’t have 300hp or anywhere near 500km range.
I also went from an i3 to a Tesla, and had initially shortlisted the EX30 as my next lease car because, on paper, it looked to be an absolute steal. Then I test drove it and can confirm everything Jay says. I am flabbergasted at how well reviewed the car is in the mainstream press. I haven’t seen a single review mention the reflected Harmon Kardon logo, yet it was the first thing I noticed and immediately annoyed the hell out of me. It’s ludicrous the car has shipped with so many fundamental issues.
I also had a Polestar 4 pre-ordered for a while, but again decided to cancel after seeing early owners report on issues. I get the sense that Geely have a very ‘just get the thing released’ mindset that severely undermines what should be otherwise great (and in the case of the Polestar 3 and 4, really quite expensive) cars. I won’t consider another Geely group car until they mature.
It's as much a volvo as an MG is an MG
I've heard that several of the later Volvos are prone to niggling electrcal problems. A friend of mine bought an XC 60 that has spent a lot of time going back to the main dealer to have them fixed.
i personally feel volvo now is utterly based on character based marketing, if your a eco friendly hipster that doesn't want a tesla here you go. other than that they've missed the boat with so many things.
Totally agree
That's always been there market quirky liberal professors or the car for the person that's different to be different.
Which is fucking weird, as their core clientele is nothing like that.
@rasmusansin3273 it is the tweed wearing liberal professor that lives in Washington state.
@@TwoDollarGararge im not diagreeing with that but now I would say they're completely reliant on that and producing vehicles with no thought behind them for those people. just praying off them to buy because its different when offering no differences at all. No more estates their bread and butter for example.
The "phantom acceleration" on the driveway the owner mention was probably because he engaged D without the seatbelt on. The EX30 has a creep mode if in D without the seatbelt on, for manoeuvring, same in reverse, I use this feature to get through my gate as its a tight fit, so I let it creep and control the car on the brake pedal.
The phantom acceleration is not the creep in D without the seatbelt on or OPD off, it’s rapid acceleration without touching the pedals. It’s not common and fortunately, it has only occurred once for me and stamping on the brakes stopped it but it was a scary at the time.
More frequent is the phantom emergency braking when the car imagines there is an obstacle, but that’s another problem.
No driver display & no buttons = a No from me. Having to avert your eyes from the road to select everything via the central tablet is, in my eyes, a safety issue. Very un-Volvo like. Same reason I wouldn't have a Tesla.
- You drive above 190 km/h in Germany?
Volvo: Way too dangerous for Volvo?
- Want to turn off the heated seat before your ass is burned to the ground?
Volvo: Haha u ded lol
I agree with your assessment. I thought of buying one but after test drive was put off entirely for very similar reasons. You forgot to mention that the seats aren’t all that good either.
Still 200kg heavier than my Jaguar XF 3.0S V6. For a poxy footpumped hatchback. Also my Jag doesn't have a poxy iPad knock-off blutacked to the dash.
The EX30 is running Android automotive and the older cars are expected to update to this skin of Android in the next year. C40 owner here. Happy to supply a source from Volvo
I don't do EVs. Leaving aside that I live in a first floor flat in London, so home charging is not an option; leaving aside that the very few public charging points available locally are almost permanently occupied by black cabs; leaving aside that any EV both costs twice as much and weighs twice as much as its ICE equivalent; plus plus plus, etc. etc. etc., who on earth wants to drive a tablet on wheels anyway?
Yup, you're a city dweller, the type of people these are supposedly being aimed at, and it's completely impractical for you for the reasons you described. The big push for EV's has never been grounded in well thought out reasoning.
Great video, as usual!
Regarding the touch screen interface at 07:26, The EX30:s infotainment is based on Android Automotive, just like their other cars.
I really love the EX30! I think they look great, they have some lovely touches too and I like the minimalist interior. Touchscreens are annoying but if voice activation works well (IF) it can ameliorate much of the pain. I feel the EX30 could be much improved with some software updates, let's hope they get some as I really really like them.
I also think they look good on the road.
Sorry, I couldn’t hear you
I live in the Netherlands and used to own an XC40. My car started to brake and reduce its speed suddenly-a very serious safety issue. I immediately took it to the main dealer in Amsterdam. They told me it was a software update issue and assured me it was fixed. However, just five minutes after driving the car out of the dealership, the same issue occurred.
In total, I had to bring my car to the dealer four times. After spending 2 months back and forth in the end had to make a long phone call to the manager of the Volvo dealership, afterwards they finally resolved the problem, which turned out not to be related to the software at all. After that frustrating experience, I sold the car and bought a german suv. Volvo is not Volvo anymore which can be also said for Lotus. These brands lost their unique character (safety, lightness), which made them special or different.
It is not zero emissions; it is remote emissions. And likely much, much more of them.
Don't confuse the poor plonkers, you'll only give them a headache.
EaaS: Emissions as a Service
The phantom acceleration is a deadly problem. A bloke died in Norway when his volvo fired him out of the 2nd floor of a multi storey in Sandvika. Full throttle, through a barrier, smash to the ground.
In a XC40 :( Police & Volvo’s Report Nov 11th ‘24 states it was not because of a fault in the car, and throttle pedal actually pressed for 3 seconds before impact.
@chrisving91 how do they know the throttle was pressed? They know the computer recorded it was pressed, but was it pressed? Other Volvo owners in Norway have come forward to say they experienced similar scenarios.
@ It’s a shame. That is impossible to know. I should clarify though. Something’s very off and I’m not trying to say it was the driver’s fault, as I do not know and there is no video of the pedal area.
@chrisving91 true, and you are right it was the XC40 in all the Norwegian cases. NAF tried to recreate the possibility of the man climbing across the centre console and stepping full on gas, but they reported it was almost impossible to recreate, given the geometry and other controls necessary. First the brake must be pressed, then the drive selector used, and finally gas pedal. That was published in Motor magazine 5th December. It's an interesting read. I find it odd that the road authorities seem to have accepted the simple findings from the data recorder and vehicle inspection and dusted their hands. Of course Volvo sent experts from Sweden too who concluded the same. I wouldn't trust these cars personally.
@@simon5263 I’ll have a look at that report too. Yes, I agree 100%. If I had the XC40 I’d triple check with dealer / shop to completely get rid of any phantom acceleration. What if it happened in front of a school or kindergarten parking lot, or else where with many people? The thought is scary. Other than that, solid car with good AWD.
It doesn't scream quality when even in the promo video shown at 3:48 you can see condensation in the rear light😂
Perhaps you need to get your eyes tested.
We have the EX30 single motor and this feels like the right set up for this car. It is not a drivers car and the twin motor variant seems more like the PR stunt than a genuine attempt at a sporty hatchback/SUV. You do get used to the "one screen to rule them all design", and the Ultra trim is definitely a bit of a step up. It absolutely should have had some kind of additional driver display though.
Sorry James, but don't mince words. @ 22:09 this isn't "so painfully close" to being brilliant, when: 1) the styling is ugly and the same as every other piece of Chinese crap, 2) the interior is full of cheap materials and is also ugly, 3) the suspension is crap, 4) the steering has no feel and there is no driving experience, and 5) none of the controls are easy to use...that's not a short list; that is virtually everything central to a vehicle. All that is in addition to all the usual EV problems such as faux environmental benefits, dangerous in a crash due to fire and sealed doors, easily written-off with even small accidents, expensive to re-battery, massive depreciation, ages needed to re-charge and increasing restrictions where you can park it because even a tiny spark can generate an inferno that makes the sun look like the North Pole. Sorry, this is a horrendous piece of cookie-cutter Chinese garbage that I wouldn't own and drive if I was GIVEN 35K, let alone PAY 35K to own and drive.
You're right but EVs are better for the environment, if not by a lot. The idea they aren't is straight out of ExxonMobil's press department unfortunately
Yeah, but apart from that... 😆
This review is what I was worried about and sums up, in a nutshell my concerns. I've been a Volvo owner for over 20 years (V70 D5 SE, XC60 Drive and V40 D3 cross country) all have been reliable, fairly nice to drive and we have enjoyed fantastic levels of service from Ray Chapman Volvo. My issue now is my V40 D3 is 7 years old and is still drives like a 1 year old car, but Volvo and a lot of other manufacturers are turning out, what are, in my opinion cars with too much useless gimmicky tech, numb to drive, too expensive, madly depreciating EV's that I simply don't want and can't afford to drive.
These modern EV’s are so depressing and you’ve really captured why. So overweight, so gimmicky, way too much power but no feedback, nannying electronic interference, bland, hard to use…
You also just described many car buyers. Overweight, gimmicky, nannying, interference, bland, hard to use so it looks like the marketing department have made the dream car for some people.
Smartphones on wheels.
That has nothing to do with EVs. Gas Guzzlers are the same.