Anyone who has driven a new car in the last two to three years will know that technology is king. The vast majority of new cars on the market today have at least 10 or more inches of centre console touchscreen to play with. Most know their role; housing infotainment, navigation and driver preferences.
Regretfully, there is a certain car that has taken this one step too far. And that is the Volvo EX30. It's the brand's smallest SUV to date, and while pretty and reasonably priced from entry, it has one glaring fault – its over-reliance on the touchscreen. Once you get past needing to hold a keycard up to the door to get into the car, you are met with a minimalistic interior that's dominated by a 12.3-inch portrait touchscreen. And because there's no heads-up display, the touchscreen really does rule the roost.
If you dare take your eyes off the road to check your speed or driving route, the car's driver monitoring system beeps at you for doing so. You even need to use the touchscreen to open the glove box or to adjust your wing mirrors. It's just a bit too much.
And it's a shame really, because the Volvo EX30 has a lot going for it. The centre console system itself is good. It uses Google Automotive Services for entertainment apps, while the Google voice recognition is easy to use. The EX30 has a Harman Kardon surround sound system as standard, as well as two USB-C sockets at the front and two in the rear. There's also two cup holders that can slide in or out of the centre armrest to create more space. The car's impressive upholstery is made from recyclables such as PET bottles and bio-attributed material from forests in Sweden and Finland.
The Volvo EX30 range starts from €38,596 for the 51kWh single motor base model. I drove the single motor extended range 'Ultra' version, which currently comes in at €51,095 (after grant ). This is powered by a 272hp 69kWh lithium-ion battery with a quoted range of up to 476km – which I found to be fairly accurate during real-world driving. The Ultra trim benefits from a 22kW three-phase onboard charger, and can be charged at speeds of up to 175kW on DC.
In the rear, the EX30 is left wanting. Leg space for adults is poor but headroom is fine thanks to the panoramic sunroof. Boot space is up to 400-litres without the luggage cover, and a max 318-litres with it on. Rear seats don't3There's also a seven-litre 'frunk' under the bonnet.
Being a Volvo, the EX30 is loaded with safety features as standard. One example is the feature for bikes that helps to prevent so-called ‘dooring’ accidents. This alerts the driver when they are about to open the door in front of a cyclist, scooter or runner.
While my gripe over the irritating touchscreen is a sentiment shared by my peers, the all-electric Volvo EX30 has won its fair share of global awards over the past 12 months, including 'World Urban Car 2024' and the 'Best of the Best' Red Dot design award – so what do I know?
