I have had a Volkswagen Golf for the last 8 years. Got a company car and decided to go for a Volvo XC40 Recharge, model 2024. Was really hard to pick a car but I'm sure that the Volvo will be an upgrade on most areas compared to my Golf.
You are directly comparing the EX30 with the XC40 but you fail to mention the huge price difference. In the UK, the EX30 Plus (we don't have the Core model yet) is £33,795 but the XC40 Plus is from £44,552 depending on paint (£595) and interior (£925) options, both free of charge on the EX30. And that's with an alleged "up to £8,000" discount on the XC40 reducing it from £52,555. So that's almost one third more expensive even after the discount. In that light it's not surprising that the XC40 is somewhat better in places.
There are many other factors that I could have mentioned in a comparison like this but chose to focus on space as that is the most common question I get. People know the XC40 and referring to that will make it easier to understand how the EX30 is. I don't think it comes as a surprise to anyone that the EX30 feels cheaper in some places, after all, we can all see the listing prices of these cars in our countries.
You get everywhere David! With the £8k discount on an XC40Twin, I did actually consider whether to buy that rather than the EX30 Twin I’ve ordered but, ultimately, despite the well publicised/debated compromises I’ve decided to stick with the EX30 given it suits our family needs better - i.e. is our second car and mainly be used for shortish journeys with only the two of us and the dog onboard.
Retired USA couple coming from a 2013 BMW X3 looking forward to the EX30. I expect there will be some future refinements as feedback is received. I hope there will some improvement in the range with future software updates. At 69 inches plenty of room front and back for us.
It seems that 100% of auto journalists now evaluate the roominess of the back seat with the driver's seat adjusted for themselves. So if Judge Judy (5' 1") is sitting front and back there is tons of room in the back, whereas it would be a bit cramped back there if it were Godzilla. That's idiotic! Some journalist invented that test and then all the others fell in line like sheep. What you should do is show what's it's like in the back with the driver's seat fully forward and then with it fully back. That would give the viewer a much better appreciation of the roominess in the back when they or another family member were in the driver's seat.
I picked the EX 30 Ultra over EX 40 (for two people). Way more modern and more Tech than the more old fashioned EX 40. By the way, I find Mist interior a lot nicer than the denim, unlike you - so good with different options.
I like the look of the EX30 a lot but the poor rear passenger space is a deal breaker, it's such a shame it's not a bit better. I think small hatches like a VW Polo or a Honda Jazz have better rear space/legroom than the EX30.
EX40 is best option for bigger family. The EX30 is perfect for couples or solo drivers or even small families. It ain’t as small as people say. Of course an adult won’t fit back there.
Hello, Christoffer. Do you think the responsiveness and accuracy of the buttons on the steering wheel could be upgraded with an OTA update? The same hopefully applies to the automatic on/off of the main beam. Thanks! 😊
The automatic high beams I think can be perfected with software updates. The buttons on the steering wheel is something I worry more about though, they said they were going to improve it when I first test-drove the car in Barcelona but it still feels bad. I will ask them again when I see them next time!
Thanks... I'm in the USA and live in an urban environment my wife and I are retired and in our 70s and we currently drive a 2022 Bolt EUV. We feel, like you, that the EX30 is the right choice to replace our current car. The Price-Performance Ratio is great... The XC40 is out of our price range. I hope to order the SMER Ultra White/Wool SOON!!!
EX30 is a fantastic car for a small family! Tech innovations are beyond Teslas! I drive both cars and EX30 is 2 levels over XC40. Safety futures and all driver assist systems make me order the twin ultra version! I don't mind the cost reductions due to drive feeling and safety features! It is more confortable to drive and I would choose anytime EX30 over XC40!
lol what? Isnt autopilot significantly better at lane keep, etc? The software isn’t polished like teslas in terms of being able to start and stop charging from the app etc
I waited to see the Ex30 but as expected it is not a family car unless everyone is shorter rather than tall. Im 186cm and my wife cant sit behind my driving position. The boot is noticeably smaller, because the Ex30 is basically a hot hatch. The price difference exists, but with a £10k price drop I got and 0% interest adding thousands more in savings, the price difference is survivable for a much bigger car.
Of course the XC40 is bigger than EX30 but the higher price makes me consider the Tesla Model Y instead (that is definitely less expensive and more efficient). On the other side, the EX30 with LFP battery is cheaper than Model Y and makes sense as 1st car for a family with 2 children or single/couples, and as 2nd car for daily usage.
I could not cope with no driver display in the EX 30. I have purchased a C40 and I am very pleased with it.The entertainment system is user friendly and the only thing missing for me is a rear wash wipe. I dont like SUV s and i can wash my C40 without standing on anything.
I have the XC40 myself and yesterday I drove an EX30 from a colleague and really quite disliked it. The seats are less comfortable and when driving with sunglasses on it constantly alerts you because the sensor can't see your eyes. Lane assist is always on when getting in the car, ACC is always set to a 'long distance', even if you change it, it'll come back to long once you restart the car. Furthermore the ride itself fell less smooth. I'm really happy with my XC40, may be a bit old, but it's user friendly and I have my navigation on my drivers display.
@@theelectriccarmagazine I chose Vapour Gray, because it was the only color I didn't have to pay extra for 😁. But I wanted that color anyway 😁👍. First EV for me🙂.
@@JassoLama Awesome, it looks better in person than on the website :) Volvo has really made it easy to be EV owner with their cars using Android Automotive and simple settings, I'm sure you'll be happy with it, congratulations :)
I would probably go for the EX30 as I don't need the extra space and want the latest software. The XC40 feels old but if you need the space, it's the only option really (if you are sticking to Volvo)
@@theelectriccarmagazine I also thought the XC40 looked old, I have 2 young children, but we don't travel much, the use would be more urban to go to and from work (30km/day). What attracted me more to the EX30 was the more advanced software and the better price compared to the XC40 and C40.
Everyone has their own situation and you know what works best for you. I 100% agree the tech is more fun in the EX30 and looks more modern in every way so I understand the decision to go with that :)
I've wondered if the lighter touch of the EX30 OPD is because they disengaged the front magnet. Dunno if that's even a real thing. Does the OPD respond the same way when you turn on sport mode in the EX30?
"You can see the measurements in centimeters. If you don't use the metric system, sorry, not sorry" meaning that if you use the imperial system, you will have to convert cm to inches yourself :)
Honestly, the Zeekr X is closer to the size of an XC40. It's compared to the EX30 due to platform shared but it's bigger with plush materials where the EX30 is going for more modern, sustainable recycled materials.
agree with your comments, too plasticky and screen too small as single information device, they were too many cost cutting. found also seats to look rather cheap, the fake leathers looks like a surf suit and the denim feels recycled material, wonder how will be in summer time when skin is in contact .. pitty because the powertrain/ engine / steering loins on top, why so expensive? tesla/smart etc by far more competitive. on the HK we reead different feedback wonder how is stock audio
I cancelled my EX30 due to the lack of a premium interior it felt very cheap and the interior size was too small I instead bought a Tesla Model 3 Highland
This review is making the wrong assumptions based on the large body size of the reviewer. Assuming that tall passengers can’t shift to the front seat and decide accordingly. As a father with a family of 4, I take the height of my family members into consideration so I totally disagree with the review in relation to indoor comfort
Which means EX30 is higher in price and less with comfort but EX30 is made for fast or quick or low range one or two persons and use back seats with trunk then one gets more space though.............But VOLVO didnt succeed with EX30. EX40 abviously much better comparison to EX30 and XC60 even better and best EX90 but we all are missing EX60 instead came EC40/C40 got many complications with 360 camera view and few other things therefore i wouldnt buy wether EX30 and C40, dont know why VOLVO made these two and flopped due to all complaintments issues well VOLVO wouldnt agree.........
EX30 looks really cheap. Also, with the big screen in the middle, it looks like a Tesla rip-off. Volvo is moving to a different demography it seems (budget cars instead of premium/luxury). Too bad but luckily there's a nice set of German cars to choose from :-)
Not so at all. I don't think the EX30 looks cheap and it looks much more modern and sleek inside and out than the XC40 (which shows its age next to the EX30). It's using sustainable materials. How is Volvo moinvg to "budget cars" when they have the EX90 coming out (more expensive than the XC90)? This is a budget entry level Volvo but most Volvos will be more expensive than the ones out now or just as expensive.
I have had a Volkswagen Golf for the last 8 years. Got a company car and decided to go for a Volvo XC40 Recharge, model 2024. Was really hard to pick a car but I'm sure that the Volvo will be an upgrade on most areas compared to my Golf.
That was a great option !!
You are directly comparing the EX30 with the XC40 but you fail to mention the huge price difference. In the UK, the EX30 Plus (we don't have the Core model yet) is £33,795 but the XC40 Plus is from £44,552 depending on paint (£595) and interior (£925) options, both free of charge on the EX30. And that's with an alleged "up to £8,000" discount on the XC40 reducing it from £52,555. So that's almost one third more expensive even after the discount. In that light it's not surprising that the XC40 is somewhat better in places.
There are many other factors that I could have mentioned in a comparison like this but chose to focus on space as that is the most common question I get. People know the XC40 and referring to that will make it easier to understand how the EX30 is. I don't think it comes as a surprise to anyone that the EX30 feels cheaper in some places, after all, we can all see the listing prices of these cars in our countries.
You get everywhere David! With the £8k discount on an XC40Twin, I did actually consider whether to buy that rather than the EX30 Twin I’ve ordered but, ultimately, despite the well publicised/debated compromises I’ve decided to stick with the EX30 given it suits our family needs better - i.e. is our second car and mainly be used for shortish journeys with only the two of us and the dog onboard.
Thanks for posting now I can safely ignore this video
Retired USA couple coming from a 2013 BMW X3 looking forward to the EX30. I expect there will be some future refinements as feedback is received. I hope there will some improvement in the range with future software updates. At 69 inches plenty of room front and back for us.
I know Volvo is working hard to continue developing the EX30. Will be interesting to see what comes out of it :)
It seems that 100% of auto journalists now evaluate the roominess of the back seat with the driver's seat adjusted for themselves. So if Judge Judy (5' 1") is sitting front and back there is tons of room in the back, whereas it would be a bit cramped back there if it were Godzilla. That's idiotic! Some journalist invented that test and then all the others fell in line like sheep. What you should do is show what's it's like in the back with the driver's seat fully forward and then with it fully back. That would give the viewer a much better appreciation of the roominess in the back when they or another family member were in the driver's seat.
For sure 😂 Godzilla 😂
I picked the EX 30 Ultra over EX 40 (for two people). Way more modern and more Tech than the more old fashioned EX 40.
By the way, I find Mist interior a lot nicer than the denim, unlike you - so good with different options.
I like the look of the EX30 a lot but the poor rear passenger space is a deal breaker, it's such a shame it's not a bit better. I think small hatches like a VW Polo or a Honda Jazz have better rear space/legroom than the EX30.
They should have made the rear seats slidable, so you can sacrifice trunk space for rear legroom if needed. And vice versa.
EX40 is best option for bigger family. The EX30 is perfect for couples or solo drivers or even small families. It ain’t as small as people say. Of course an adult won’t fit back there.
Hello, Christoffer.
Do you think the responsiveness and accuracy of the buttons on the steering wheel could be upgraded with an OTA update?
The same hopefully applies to the automatic on/off of the main beam.
Thanks! 😊
The automatic high beams I think can be perfected with software updates. The buttons on the steering wheel is something I worry more about though, they said they were going to improve it when I first test-drove the car in Barcelona but it still feels bad. I will ask them again when I see them next time!
Thanks... I'm in the USA and live in an urban environment my wife and I are retired and in our 70s and we currently drive a 2022 Bolt EUV. We feel, like you, that the EX30 is the right choice to replace our current car. The Price-Performance Ratio is great... The XC40 is out of our price range. I hope to order the SMER Ultra White/Wool SOON!!!
Sounds like the Volvo EX30 is perfect for you :)
EX30 is a fantastic car for a small family! Tech innovations are beyond Teslas! I drive both cars and EX30 is 2 levels over XC40. Safety futures and all driver assist systems make me order the twin ultra version! I don't mind the cost reductions due to drive feeling and safety features! It is more confortable to drive and I would choose anytime EX30 over XC40!
lol what? Isnt autopilot significantly better at lane keep, etc? The software isn’t polished like teslas in terms of being able to start and stop charging from the app etc
What are the safety features the the xc40 doesn't have?
My 8 year old is not happy in the back Seat if the Ex30. She has to take her boots off to be comfortable. No issues in my Xc40 🤔
I waited to see the Ex30 but as expected it is not a family car unless everyone is shorter rather than tall. Im 186cm and my wife cant sit behind my driving position. The boot is noticeably smaller, because the Ex30 is basically a hot hatch.
The price difference exists, but with a £10k price drop I got and 0% interest adding thousands more in savings, the price difference is survivable for a much bigger car.
I'll definitely go for the one with heating for our bottoms 😅 - well done, excellent review
Of course the XC40 is bigger than EX30 but the higher price makes me consider the Tesla Model Y instead (that is definitely less expensive and more efficient). On the other side, the EX30 with LFP battery is cheaper than Model Y and makes sense as 1st car for a family with 2 children or single/couples, and as 2nd car for daily usage.
Some of your EX30 issues can be fixed with a software update. The system connects to home WiFi. The CX40 cannot be updated.
XC40 recharge (or now EX40) is fully OTA capable and has been receiving OTA updates quite regularly, actually
I could not cope with no driver display in the EX 30. I have purchased a C40 and I am very pleased with it.The entertainment system is user friendly and the only thing missing for me is a rear wash wipe. I dont like SUV s and i can wash my C40 without standing on anything.
The C40 is a great car, would choose this one as well now that I have driven the EX30 for some time.. :)
I have the XC40 myself and yesterday I drove an EX30 from a colleague and really quite disliked it. The seats are less comfortable and when driving with sunglasses on it constantly alerts you because the sensor can't see your eyes.
Lane assist is always on when getting in the car, ACC is always set to a 'long distance', even if you change it, it'll come back to long once you restart the car.
Furthermore the ride itself fell less smooth.
I'm really happy with my XC40, may be a bit old, but it's user friendly and I have my navigation on my drivers display.
How do the safety features compare between these two cars?
The XC40 is more sofisticated. But hard to say since Volvo wont release any test results for the ex30
@@theelectriccarmagazine It's been a while. Why isn't Volvo not releasing crash test results for the EX30?
Nice cars, i ordered here in Finland EX30 twin motor plus.I
should get a car in April 👍.
Nice, the Twin Motor goooooooees! What color?
@@theelectriccarmagazine I chose Vapour Gray, because it was the only color I didn't have to pay extra for 😁.
But I wanted that color anyway 😁👍.
First EV for me🙂.
@@JassoLama Awesome, it looks better in person than on the website :) Volvo has really made it easy to be EV owner with their cars using Android Automotive and simple settings, I'm sure you'll be happy with it, congratulations :)
@@theelectriccarmagazine Thanks, i cant wait to get the car. I placed the order in June😁.
Comparing the EX30 single motor ultra version versus the XC40 single motor, which of the two would you buy?
I would probably go for the EX30 as I don't need the extra space and want the latest software. The XC40 feels old but if you need the space, it's the only option really (if you are sticking to Volvo)
@@theelectriccarmagazine I also thought the XC40 looked old, I have 2 young children, but we don't travel much, the use would be more urban to go to and from work (30km/day). What attracted me more to the EX30 was the more advanced software and the better price compared to the XC40 and C40.
Everyone has their own situation and you know what works best for you. I 100% agree the tech is more fun in the EX30 and looks more modern in every way so I understand the decision to go with that :)
I've wondered if the lighter touch of the EX30 OPD is because they disengaged the front magnet. Dunno if that's even a real thing. Does the OPD respond the same way when you turn on sport mode in the EX30?
When in Performance mode, OPD is switched off for whatever reason...
@@theelectriccarmagazine ughhhh
thanks ......from Portugal.
Nice video, I would have thought you can change the font size on that screen as it google driven?
Not possible :(
“You can see the measurements in centimeters, if you don’t use the metric system” 🤔
Great in depth review!
"You can see the measurements in centimeters. If you don't use the metric system, sorry, not sorry" meaning that if you use the imperial system, you will have to convert cm to inches yourself :)
will you make a comparison with the EX30 and the zeekr x anytime soon?
If I can get access to a Zeekr X, I will. Zeekr is currently not providing test cars for media and I dont’t know when they will start with that.
Honestly, the Zeekr X is closer to the size of an XC40. It's compared to the EX30 due to platform shared but it's bigger with plush materials where the EX30 is going for more modern, sustainable recycled materials.
agree with your comments, too plasticky and screen too small as single information device, they were too many cost cutting. found also seats to look rather cheap, the fake leathers looks like a surf suit and the denim feels recycled material, wonder how will be in summer time when skin is in contact .. pitty because the powertrain/ engine / steering loins on top, why so expensive? tesla/smart etc by far more competitive. on the HK we reead different feedback wonder how is stock audio
I cancelled my EX30 due to the lack of a premium interior it felt very cheap and the interior size was too small I instead bought a Tesla Model 3 Highland
I understand that, happy with eh M3?
@@theelectriccarmagazine yes, very much, it’s incredible
Ex30 is a 2person car, with occasionaly someone in the back. Its to small for a family car.
I agree
Nice review
This review is making the wrong assumptions based on the large body size of the reviewer. Assuming that tall passengers can’t shift to the front seat and decide accordingly. As a father with a family of 4, I take the height of my family members into consideration so I totally disagree with the review in relation to indoor comfort
Jättebra! Tack
ex30 is nice, but too small, what is the point of it? a car for only small people? how do you make money off that?
Which means EX30 is higher in price and less with comfort but EX30 is made for fast or quick or low range one or two persons and use back seats with trunk then one gets more space though.............But VOLVO didnt succeed with EX30.
EX40 abviously much better comparison to EX30 and XC60 even better and best EX90 but we all are missing EX60 instead came EC40/C40 got many complications with 360 camera view and few other things therefore i wouldnt buy wether EX30 and C40, dont know why VOLVO made these two and flopped due to all complaintments issues well VOLVO wouldnt agree.........
The 30 is perfect for commuters
You mean the EX30 vs The EX40. Volvo is changing the name of the XC40 to EX40
EX30 looks really cheap. Also, with the big screen in the middle, it looks like a Tesla rip-off. Volvo is moving to a different demography it seems (budget cars instead of premium/luxury). Too bad but luckily there's a nice set of German cars to choose from :-)
Not so at all. I don't think the EX30 looks cheap and it looks much more modern and sleek inside and out than the XC40 (which shows its age next to the EX30). It's using sustainable materials. How is Volvo moinvg to "budget cars" when they have the EX90 coming out (more expensive than the XC90)? This is a budget entry level Volvo but most Volvos will be more expensive than the ones out now or just as expensive.
Frunk is truly worthless. Better to have in the trunk.
I think a Range Rover evoque is more suitable for you
So EX30 and then the next step is Range Rover Evoque? You give the EX30 way to much credit!
all EV:s are useless crap and way way to expensive
Thanks for the comment ❤️
why would you bother to come to this site and comment, if you're not interested in EV's. Is it an insecurity thing?
welcome to the future. say hi.
Why even bother clicking on this video mate
Not entirely useless my friend. They make great troll bait…😈