Video Summary
Here's the summary of the YouTube video:The 2025 Volvo EX30 is the most compact vehicle from Volvo since the C30, with a similar footprint to the Chevy Bolt EV. It is not exactly cheap; the tested dual motor EX30 has an MSRP of $48,395, which is close to the price of a base XC60. The vehicle is bolted together in Chengdu, China, though production has also begun in Belgium; Belgian-made cars will arrive in the USA by late summer 2025.
The 30's size and form factor raises the question of whether it is an SUV or a hatchback. As long as it delivers functionality, it doesn’t matter.
This car wakes up and unlocks automatically as you approach; to drive, you sit down and buckle your seatbelt. There are very few hard buttons in the car, though one such control is the shift lever. To get into cruise control, one has to hit "drive" twice, and it has a single speed transmission.
All US-bound EX30s move with a dual motor power system that cranks out 422 horsepower with 400 pound-feet of torque; the car is lightweight for an EV at 4,100 pounds.
The 64 kWh floor-mounted pack delivers an EPA-estimated 253 miles of range, but it tests to around 230 with mixed driving. The charging times can be long, as 10-80% charging at 175kW commercial stations takes 26 minutes. For owners driving less than 50 miles a day, a regular 120-volt outlet might suffice. The driving experience can be tailored using the screen, but the reviewer finds many controls too deep in menus for their liking.
Sheet metal has crispness and panache that Smart #1 and Zeekr X do not have. There are small touches like having corduroy as a trim. The seats are heated but not ventilated. The Harmon Kardon sound system is punchy, though it lacks some spatial quality.
The low rolling resistance tires and suspension make the vehicle fun for city driving. It squirts into openings in traffic like a caffeinated chihuahua. While the steering is light even in the heaviest setting, enthusiastic canyon road driving might not be as ideal.
There are three back seats that can realistically accommodate two adults or three small children. There is no armrest in the back, and the door openings are on the small side. The load floor can be dropped to the bottom to give more space, which is generally good, at about 32 cubic feet. One Easter egg the reviewer appreciates is a diagram that lets you know what you can fit into the trunk.
It has a lot of safety assist features, like automatic emergency braking for cars, pedestrians, bicyclists, and large animals. Blind spot warning and semi-autonomous driving tech are also included.
The reviewer’s overall assessment is that this small Volvo is big fun to drive.
