2025 Volvo EX30 Performance AWD Ultra Review: Fastest, But Frustrating?

Exterior and Performance

• ⚡ The 2025 Volvo EX30 Performance AWD Ultra is Volvo's smallest and quickest SUV, boasting 422 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque.
• 🚀 With a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds, it's the fastest Volvo ever, though its handling is described as average for its class.
• 🔋 It features a 69 kWh battery pack offering an estimated 253 miles of range and can fast charge from 10-80% in about 26 minutes.
• 🎨 The exterior is noted for its unique "moss green" (highlighter yellow) paint and aerodynamic 19-inch wheels.

Interior and Technology

• 📱 The interior heavily adopts a minimalist, Tesla-like approach with most controls centralized on a responsive 12.3-inch vertical touchscreen.
• 💡 Materials include eco-friendly recycled elements, but some glossy surfaces and plastics are prone to fingerprints and can feel less premium.
• 🪟 A fixed panoramic glass sunroof with tint provides an open feel, but lacks a shade.
• 🔊 The infotainment system runs on Android Automotive OS, featuring Google Maps, Apple CarPlay, and a Harman Kardon sound system.

User Experience and Frustrations

• ⚠️ A significant frustration is the mandatory lane-keeping aid, which causes the steering wheel to vibrate frequently and requires navigating multiple menus to disable.
• 🗣️ Voice-to-text for CarPlay has not worked, and controlling features like following distance requires deep menu dives.
• 🪟 Window controls are unconventional, with only two buttons for front windows and an additional button to activate rear window controls.
• 🔌 The lack of physical buttons for essential functions like volume and climate control is highlighted as a point of annoyance.

Driving Dynamics and Safety

• 💨 While acceleration is impressive, the EX30 exhibits noticeable understeer and a slight hesitation that can feel like a downshift.
• 🚦 The steering feel is adjustable (soft, medium, firm), but the overall driving experience is described as distracting due to numerous alerts and the car's inability to fully drive itself.
• 🛡️ Safety systems, while present, are criticized for being overly intrusive and contributing to a potentially dangerous distraction.
• 🔊 The Harman Kardon sound system is considered decent, and brake pedal feel is praised for its linearity and smooth calibration.

Overall Impression and Value

• 🇨🇳 The reviewer feels the EX30 doesn't quite capture the traditional Volvo feel, likening it more to a Chinese Tesla copycat with some execution flaws.
• 💰 While the performance trim is fast, the reviewer suggests that a less expensive, single-motor version with more range would better suit the EX30's intended market.
• 🤔 The vehicle is seen as a standard EV that checks boxes but lacks standout features to differentiate it from competitors, leaving a lukewarm impression.
• 🛣️ The reviewer notes that the car's numerous alerts and reliance on the touchscreen for controls make it a distracting and potentially dangerous driving experience.