@movernie
In my opinion, no car is perfect! I think every car has its pros and cons and there are always room for improvements.
During this entire week, I got to test drive this 2026 Volvo EX30, it’s a subcompact all-electric SUV. And here are things that I like and dislike about this sporty 4-door sedan.
Like (Pros):
– Luv the looks on this EX30. It looks good from all angles. I luv the front digital headlight pieces that puzzled together to form a long LED headlights. I also like side profile. In particular, I really like the rear lights design, it’s 2-layered of rear LED lights.
– This EX30 Cross Country comes with twin motor performance. That’s 400 hp and 422 lb-ft of torque, for a mighty subcompact in this EX30, it’s quick, and I mean super quick acceleration. Lots of power.
– Great handling and accurate steering wheel cornering. The turn is very precise and good turning radius when parking. This mighty subcompact is easy to maneuver, it’s nimble and easy to park in tight spaces.
– Cool interior design and material. This interior is funky, modern and simple. Although many of the materials are made from recyclable materials, but it doesn’t look or feel cheap. It looks interesting. I felt like I was in a IKEA showroom and it’s not a knock, it’s simple, comfortable and adquate.
– This Volvo EX30 is quirky, weird, odd or funky. If you are an open minded person, you will appreciate and understand why the Volvo design team opted for minimalistic approach. There is no start/stop engine button. No speakers on the side doors, no mirror adjustment buttons or window switches. No dashboard in front of the driver. Everything runs thru the central screen, even to open a glove box, you need to use the central screen, find the button to open the glove box.
– If you are used to Tesla layout and design, this Volvo EX30 is pretty much setup in the Tesla approach.
– Luv the multi-level heated steering wheel and heats. Not all vehicles offer heated steering wheel or seats. Even if they do, they offer one level of heated steering wheel or seats. For this Volvo to offer multi-level of heat to your steering wheel or seats is a major win for me.
– Amazing sound system. Despite no speakers around your headrests or seats and no speakers on the side doors. One giant big piece of sound system located at the front of the EX30 pumping out smooth, flawless audio from the famous Harman Kardon. No distorted sound. Just pure sound and music. I felt like I was sitting at the front row of a live band on stage. That’s how amazing this sound system is in this EX30!
– No more keyfobs or keys. Instead, this Volvo EX30 offers you with a pass card, a card similar to a credit card, which is great. One less bulky stuff I have to carry in my pockets. Instead, I can put it in my wallet and only need to take it out when I need to tap the B-pillar to open the doors. Sometimes, you don’t even have to tap, when you approach the vehicle, the doors will be unlocked for you.
– For this subcompact segment, it’s a good surprise that a power liftgate is standard in this Cross Country trim.
– The Cargo Roof Rack. One of the highlights when I picked up this Volvo EX30 is the cargo roof rack that was added at the top of the EX30. It definitely added storage space but gave a nice visual rugged look to this ride, more like an outdoor adventure ready vehicle.
Dislike (Cons):
– I know this is a subcompact EV, but one major complain would be the lack of space in the rear seats. It’s small. I think unless Volvo is targeting a young couple with a small dog and no kids and nothing to haul around, otherwise, it’s hard to convince buyers to buy such a small EV.
– Starting price is a bit pricey. You can get a single motor EX30 basic starting at $48,919 CDN + tax. For this Cross Country trim, it starts at $52,919 CDN + tax. I think with such tight cabin space and storage, it’s hard to convince people to pay this price range for a subcompact SUV. However, there could be some buyers who doesn’t need that much space, don’t plan to have kids and can’t drive a big ass SUV, so this EX30 will be sufficed.
– Ok, so…the official Volvo website claims this Cross Country to have a range of approximately 422 km. However, I charged this EX30 a few times to full charge, and the max I could get is 287 km. So, I don’t know where the 422 km comes in. Quite honestly, a full range of 287 km these days isn’t enough, it means you either constantly have to charge and plug it at home. I think nowadays, a full charge on a EV should be around 400 km to 500 km, that’s not too much to ask.
– Central Screen could be a distraction and safety hazard. When almost everything relies on the central screen in this EX30, it could become a safety hazard. You can’t feel any radio or ventilation knobs, no buttons to press while driving. That means…you will have your eyes off the road trying to find the features you are looking for in the central touch screen. Is this how Volvo wants to “Built for Life” as their safety slogan? Seriously, even if you want to turn on the volume of the speaker or a glove box, you still have to do it in the central screen.
– I understand you want to be simplistic. But having just 2 switches to open the front and rear windows is a bit annoying. I have to click the “Rear” button in order to open the rear windows. Once I want to open the front windows, then I have unclick the “Rear”. By the way, having these window switches at the centre console is also annoying coz if I want to open my left window, my hands constantly go to the left only to find no window switches to the left side.
– When there are no start/stop engine button, I am ok with it. However, what I don’t like is that…I don’t like the central screen is automatically on when I just want to sit in the vehicle. I don’t necessary needs all these gadgets to be on and drain my battery.
Overall Summary:
These are my likes and dislikes when test driving this 2026 Volvo EX30. If you are Genesis G70 owners, what do you like or dislike about your ride?
For this Volvo EX30, you either luv it or hate it coz of the Volvo approach to make this simplistic and minimalistic. It’s clearly not for everyone. If you are OGs, you would pretty much prefer touchy feely with knobs and switches. But if you are used to Tesla approach, you will find familiarity with this Volvo EX30. And if you are the new generation where everything runs thru a SmartPhone, you will find it no problem operating everything via the central touch screen.
Funny or not, I thought I will have a hard top trying to understand or adapt this layout and design in this Volvo EX30. It turns out, I adapt very quickly and I really don’t mind this EX30 layout and how everything is going thru the central touch screen. In fact, after I returned the EX30, I actually miss the way this mighty EX30 drives and feels and I miss how simplistic this EV works. I can’t believe how much I miss driving this Volvo EX30.
For more INFO about this 2026 Volvo EX30, you can click here.
Special shoutout to Volvo Canada for providing us with a week of test driving this 2026 Volvo EX30 Cross Country AWD!