The EX30 unfortunately features more than a few very un-Volvo practicality shortcomings…
The EX30 is currently the cheapest (and in this writer’s opinion, best looking) Volvo you can buy…but all that cheapness does unfortunately come with a few (very un-Volvo-like) practicality shortcomings.
And this is not just from the EX30 being a comparatively compact crossover (although it is really small within). Such is because there’s also a surprisingly sizeable spread of small practicality niggles that would likely make one wonder whether anyone at Volvo actually lived with one during its development, as to be elaborated on right here:
1. No Sunroof Shade
Starting with perhaps the most immediately obvious and discomforting practicality issue of this EX30: it has no closable shade for the massive panoramic sunroof. This means that under our blazing Malaysian sun, occupants in this Volvo should get used to wearing a hat (and having the air-con consistently at full blast) when out and about.
Now, it is of course worth highlighting that this isn’t an exclusively Volvo problem, but still a frustrating niggle the EX30 suffers from nonetheless…
2. Confusing Climate Controls
Likewise, the EX30 is not the only modern car to do away with all physical buttons in favour of a single central tablet on its dashboard, but this Volvo also suffers from some rather confusing climate control configurations.
Adjusting the cabin temperature for the dual-zone climate control is for instance done by pressing a button in the middle of the bottom row, but adjusting the fan speed in turn is performed on a separate slider situated in a completely distinct menu page that is accessed through another button entirely. Not really the most intuitive of UI designs.
3. No Passenger-Side Keyless Entry
Despite having the indent for it on the passenger side door, this Volvo only has keyless lock/unlock functionality for the driver’s side door. This could be construed as a safety feature (only the driver can open the door), but you quickly realise how often you’d want to unlock the passenger side to grab something — or let someone in — when the feature is missing.
4. Useless Key Fob
While on the topic of unlocking/locking the Volvo too, there are no buttons on the Volvo’s key fob, making it functionally useless in its primary purpose. Instead, Volvo says to use its smartphone app to lock/unlock the car instead, which while high tech, is really more steps for what should be a really simple press and beep-boop lock/unlock action.
5. No Vanity Mirror Light
For what is supposedly a chic car that targets itself to chic people, the EX30 strangely doesn’t come with an integrated light for its sun visor vanity mirrors. So those who wish to give their makeup that final bit of touch up when it is dark outside will just have to rely on the moonlight (or more likely the overhead cabin light instead).
6. Missing Seat Back Pockets
With this being a small car that will typically only have the front two seats occupied, it is somewhat understandable that Volvo did not include a rear armrest in the EX30. But did it really have to go so far as to remove the front seat back pockets as well?
7. Missing Interior Grab Handles
And while on the roll of some rather basic things that are missing within the Volvo EX30, this tiny Volvo doesn’t even come with interior overhead grab handles. Not for the driver. Not for the passengers. Not one anywhere at all.
8. Glove Box Only Opens Via The Screen
The EX30 has a central glove box right below its screen, and the only way to open it is through tapping a button on said screen. Hence begging the question: Is putting a physical push button there really more expensive than an electric actuator?
9. Haptic Rear Window Selector Button
It is already pretty annoying that Volvo decided to cut cost and feature only two window switches up front (located in the centre console at that), with control for the rear windows from the front done by pressing the ‘Rear’ button. But what really adds insult to injury is for the rear window selector button to be a haptic unit instead of a physical button, which doesn’t provide any tactile response to when you’ve actually activated it or not.
10. Buried Cruise Control Distance Settings
Unlike other cars where adaptive cruise control following distance is controlled by a steering wheel button, the EX30 instead buries this setting deep within a submenu in the vehicle settings. Not exactly something you want (or are safely able) to fiddle with while driving.
11. Regen Braking Is All Or Nothing
Also unlike other EVs which offer multiple levels of regenerative braking strength, the EX30 regen configuration is only limited to one pedal driving mode. This pretty much means you either get full force regen, or none at all.
12. Cruise Control Speed Limit
While not exactly the most pertinent practicality niggle (nor the most legal one), it’s worth pointing out that cruise control speed in the EX30 is limited to 130 km/h.
13. Missing Wing Mirror Turn Signal Repeaters
The EX30 interestingly has no turn signal repeaters on its wing mirrors, meaning the only way to see if the indicators are on from inside the car is via the tiny icon on the central screen. This isn’t helped by the indicator sound either, which is more of a soft wooden thud—soothing, but not exactly audible, especially with music playing.
This is just one of those unnecessary quality-of-life omissions that could have easily been addressed, especially considering the blind spot indicator already lives on the wing mirror…
14. Annoying Self-Centring Turn Signal Stalk
Also, the indicator stalk itself is of the self-centring type. Meaning they are somewhat hard to cancel on occasion, and more often than not will activate the turn signal for the other side while attempting to cancel it.
15. Surprisingly Shallow Seats
The seat bases are surprisingly shallow for what is supposedly a Swedish car designed for tall Swedes, for both the front and rear seats. There’s noticeably little thigh support for those with longer legs, especially over longer drives.
