Volvo EX30 thread

[Merry]

C70R said:

As I suspected, I think we're going to end up with a Tesla at this rate.

If I needed to do serious miles in an EV I'd be having a Model 3 LR RWD. With the 18" wheels.

Not only will you have the range, you'll have the charging infrastructure too.

Whether you can live with it as a car is personal preference mind.

[C70R]

Merry said:

C70R said:

As I suspected, I think we're going to end up with a Tesla at this rate.

If I needed to do serious miles in an EV I'd be having a Model 3 LR RWD. With the 18" wheels.

Not only will you have the range, you'll have the charging infrastructure too.

Whether you can live with it as a car is personal preference mind.

It's not going to be a car for "serious mileage" per se. I'll probably do less than 8k a year. It's just that the main use will be an occasional 240-mile round trip, where charging at the destination isn't straightforward. I guess I could always just charge en route, but doing that every time would be a bit annoying.

[808 Estate]

Bannock said:

An EV called "Lynk & Co" based on this platform and broadly the same vehicle will be launched in the UK soon.

I drove a rented Lynk & Co PHEV small SUV in Italy this year. I'll give you a one word review: Flimsy.

Just had one as a rental. After 3 days parked up, the battery was flat and it wouldnt go.

[CivicDuties]

808 Estate said:

Bannock said:

An EV called "Lynk & Co" based on this platform and broadly the same vehicle will be launched in the UK soon.

I drove a rented Lynk & Co PHEV small SUV in Italy this year. I'll give you a one word review: Flimsy.

Just had one as a rental. After 3 days parked up, the battery was flat and it wouldnt go.

Presuming that would be the 12v battery being flat rather than the traction battery. When I had one the traction battery was flat the whole time, apart from when I managed to get some regen electrons into it. But it always started and went. I did get a low coolant warning once, so I stopped and looked in the expansion tank, sure enough it was a bit low. So I topped up with water and continued. Bit surprised to have a coolant level problem on a fairly new car, even though it was a rental one. Didn't inspire confidence in me.

[mikeiow]

CivicDuties said:

808 Estate said:

Bannock said:

An EV called "Lynk & Co" based on this platform and broadly the same vehicle will be launched in the UK soon.

I drove a rented Lynk & Co PHEV small SUV in Italy this year. I'll give you a one word review: Flimsy.

Just had one as a rental. After 3 days parked up, the battery was flat and it wouldnt go.

Presuming that would be the 12v battery being flat rather than the traction battery. When I had one the traction battery was flat the whole time, apart from when I managed to get some regen electrons into it. But it always started and went. I did get a low coolant warning once, so I stopped and looked in the expansion tank, sure enough it was a bit low. So I topped up with water and continued. Bit surprised to have a coolant level problem on a fairly new car, even though it was a rental one. Didn't inspire confidence in me.

12v batteries can be a problem for many EVs. The irony is large!
I assume terrible battery management algorithms: they should be recharged by the BigBattery™ when needed!

That has been the bane of many Kona owners. Ours went after over 3 years, but by then we were carrying a small USB jump starter pack which works just fine. Replaced the 12v one with a 5yr guaranteed ones no probs since.

[CivicDuties]

mikeiow said:

CivicDuties said:

808 Estate said:

Bannock said:

An EV called "Lynk & Co" based on this platform and broadly the same vehicle will be launched in the UK soon.

I drove a rented Lynk & Co PHEV small SUV in Italy this year. I'll give you a one word review: Flimsy.

Just had one as a rental. After 3 days parked up, the battery was flat and it wouldnt go.

Presuming that would be the 12v battery being flat rather than the traction battery. When I had one the traction battery was flat the whole time, apart from when I managed to get some regen electrons into it. But it always started and went. I did get a low coolant warning once, so I stopped and looked in the expansion tank, sure enough it was a bit low. So I topped up with water and continued. Bit surprised to have a coolant level problem on a fairly new car, even though it was a rental one. Didn't inspire confidence in me.

12v batteries can be a problem for many EVs. The irony is large!
I assume terrible battery management algorithms: they should be recharged by the BigBattery™ when needed!

That has been the bane of many Kona owners. Ours went after over 3 years, but by then we were carrying a small USB jump starter pack which works just fine. Replaced the 12v one with a 5yr guaranteed ones no probs since.

Yeah I've heard someone with a KIA Soul having 12v battery disasters. Never been an issue with my two 1st Gen Nissan Leafses, my current (groan) 30kwh one has a solar panel for trickle charging the 12v.

[Murph7355]

Whataguy said:

C70R said:

I don't think this is a car designed for 4x adults. If that's what you want, you'd be better off with an XC/C40.

It's frustrating, I expect they will sell loads of EX30 to people that don't use the rear seats but miss out on large numbers of other sales

Perhaps it is deliberate to force you to buy an XC40 if you need just a bit more rear legroom?

VW are bringing out a polo sized car the id2 but with the interior space of a golf due to good packaging.

It will also undercut Volvo by maybe £5k-£10k as the base battery will be a bit smaller.

VW's track record with EVs isn't stellar right now!

Not seen an EX30. Am not convinced and XC40 would accommodate 4x adults of the type I know though. Even the XC60 is a pinch.

[C70R]

Murph7355 said:

Whataguy said:

C70R said:

I don't think this is a car designed for 4x adults. If that's what you want, you'd be better off with an XC/C40.

It's frustrating, I expect they will sell loads of EX30 to people that don't use the rear seats but miss out on large numbers of other sales

Perhaps it is deliberate to force you to buy an XC40 if you need just a bit more rear legroom?

VW are bringing out a polo sized car the id2 but with the interior space of a golf due to good packaging.

It will also undercut Volvo by maybe £5k-£10k as the base battery will be a bit smaller.

VW's track record with EVs isn't stellar right now!

Not seen an EX30. Am not convinced and XC40 would accommodate 4x adults of the type I know though. Even the XC60 is a pinch.

As someone who's owned one, the XC40 is remarkably spacious in the back. Interior space really doesn't feel much different to the XC60.

We've had two adults (both 5ft10ish) in the back for a couple of hours with a hangover, and both seemed very happy and comfortable. It's a bit of a Tardis.

[ajap1979]

C70R said:

Murph7355 said:

Whataguy said:

C70R said:

I don't think this is a car designed for 4x adults. If that's what you want, you'd be better off with an XC/C40.

It's frustrating, I expect they will sell loads of EX30 to people that don't use the rear seats but miss out on large numbers of other sales

Perhaps it is deliberate to force you to buy an XC40 if you need just a bit more rear legroom?

VW are bringing out a polo sized car the id2 but with the interior space of a golf due to good packaging.

It will also undercut Volvo by maybe £5k-£10k as the base battery will be a bit smaller.

VW's track record with EVs isn't stellar right now!

Not seen an EX30. Am not convinced and XC40 would accommodate 4x adults of the type I know though. Even the XC60 is a pinch.

As someone who's owned one, the XC40 is remarkably spacious in the back. Interior space really doesn't feel much different to the XC60.

We've had two adults (both 5ft10ish) in the back for a couple of hours with a hangover, and both seemed very happy and comfortable. It's a bit of a Tardis.

If the type of adults you know are obese giants, then maybe, otherwise normal adults fit in the back of an XC40 just fine. People say the same about the Polestar 2, but I travelled in the back of ours for the first time on Friday night and it's perfectly fine, in fact I'd go as far as to say it's a nice place to be.

[C70R]

ajap1979 said:

C70R said:

Murph7355 said:

Whataguy said:

C70R said:

I don't think this is a car designed for 4x adults. If that's what you want, you'd be better off with an XC/C40.

It's frustrating, I expect they will sell loads of EX30 to people that don't use the rear seats but miss out on large numbers of other sales

Perhaps it is deliberate to force you to buy an XC40 if you need just a bit more rear legroom?

VW are bringing out a polo sized car the id2 but with the interior space of a golf due to good packaging.

It will also undercut Volvo by maybe £5k-£10k as the base battery will be a bit smaller.

VW's track record with EVs isn't stellar right now!

Not seen an EX30. Am not convinced and XC40 would accommodate 4x adults of the type I know though. Even the XC60 is a pinch.

As someone who's owned one, the XC40 is remarkably spacious in the back. Interior space really doesn't feel much different to the XC60.

We've had two adults (both 5ft10ish) in the back for a couple of hours with a hangover, and both seemed very happy and comfortable. It's a bit of a Tardis.

If the type of adults you know are obese giants, then maybe, otherwise normal adults fit in the back of an XC40 just fine. People say the same about the Polestar 2, but I travelled in the back of ours for the first time on Friday night and it's perfectly fine, in fact I'd go as far as to say it's a nice place to be.

I see quite a few Polestar 2s getting used as Ubers, and I've even taken a couple of airport runs in them. Absolutely fine in the back, aside from the high waistline making it feel a bit like I'm looking out through a pillarbox.

We looked at the XC60 after ordering our XC40 blind (lockdown leasing was fun), expecting to be disappointed. But in terms of front and rear legroom, I couldn't see a significant difference between the two cars.

[Steve57]

Rather late to the party here.

our Tesla Model 3 is due for a change in sept and being its the wifes commuter car i have left it to her to choose whats next. a few months ago she said book the morning off as were going to look at the new EX30. was quite surprised she really liked it and ordered a Ultra twin performance. who knows when it will arrive yet but been told june ish.

[SDK]

dino_jr said:

Before writing off the car based on reviews, a test drive is still a good idea. The screen may be actually OK to use for some people ...

I agree with this - I’ve watched a lot of car reviews which I’ve also driven myself and the things they complain about have been non-issues.
Often then need to ‘pad’ out a video, or they have a category to talk about ‘worst things’, which is impossible to know when they are only driving the car for a couple of hours.

[JQ]

SDK said:

dino_jr said:

Before writing off the car based on reviews, a test drive is still a good idea. The screen may be actually OK to use for some people ...

I agree with this - I’ve watched a lot of car reviews which I’ve also driven myself and the things they complain about have been non-issues.
Often then need to ‘pad’ out a video, or they have a category to talk about ‘worst things’, which is impossible to know when they are only driving the car for a couple of hours.

A lot of the time, once you get used to it it's fine. My wife's had a car with everything controlled via a touch screen since 2014, it also has a central speedo display. It's really not an issue once you've had it a few weeks and I don't get frustrated with it, however, we've had hire cars with the same, that you may only have for a few days, and like the car testers, it's quite irritating as it takes time for things to become intuitive.

[soupdragon1]

JQ said:

SDK said:

dino_jr said:

Before writing off the car based on reviews, a test drive is still a good idea. The screen may be actually OK to use for some people ...

I agree with this - I’ve watched a lot of car reviews which I’ve also driven myself and the things they complain about have been non-issues.
Often then need to ‘pad’ out a video, or they have a category to talk about ‘worst things’, which is impossible to know when they are only driving the car for a couple of hours.

A lot of the time, once you get used to it it's fine. My wife's had a car with everything controlled via a touch screen since 2014, it also has a central speedo display. It's really not an issue once you've had it a few weeks and I don't get frustrated with it, however, we've had hire cars with the same, that you may only have for a few days, and like the car testers, it's quite irritating as it takes time for things to become intuitive.

Watched a few videos over the weekend. The carwow one was good. Matt Watson describing that moving the wing mirrors is a real faff but on the otherhand, if you set them for each driver profile, they'll automatically go to your preferred position when you get in the car. So there will a few bits like that where you can set it up.

Climate control is a big one for me on day to day use. If thats fairly intuitive, its not so bad. Would much prefer buttons of course but its a value proposition so some things just had to go. I honestly don't mind the door speakers getting removed as from a music point of view, the closer the speakers are to ear height, the better, so a soundbar across the front seems better to me, rather than a compromise. I haven't heard it though, but from a physics point of view, it makes sense to me. Window buttons in the middle is no big deal to me, something you would get used to.
;
But climate control, volume control and radio/media ease of use are the absolute 'must get right' options for me.

With all that said, wow, what a car this could be. From a driving point of view, its not just mission accomplished, it seems that they've knocked it out of the park for being a good car to drive. That has certainly pricked my ears up and put it back on the cars I might like to buy at some point.

Was giving my son a lift in my ID3 on Sunday morning. Nobody about on the roads, in through urban streets, roundabouts etc and the point and squirt dynamics make for incredibly quick and efficient progress. I wasn't driving like a lunatic or anything but moving swiftly from 5mph, up to 30, down to 10, nip out of a junction, up to 40mph, round a mini roundabout type stuff and would likely be in the teens MPG in a hot hatch but with regen braking, probably getting 100mpg equivalent. That's where EV's come into their own and where the ID3 excels. This EX30 is everything I like about the ID3 but better in nearly every department. An interesting car and I can't wait to get it out for a test drive.

[CloudStuff]

With salary sacrifice, I'm looking at >550 per month, all in for the Ultra version. Including insurance seems to be to be the biggest bonus of all.

Looking at a Kona or this. EX30 looks like it could be the one to go for.

[l354uge]

CloudStuff said:

With salary sacrifice, I'm looking at >550 per month, all in for the Ultra version. Including insurance seems to be to be the biggest bonus of all.

Looking at a Kona or this. EX30 looks like it could be the one to go for.

Whilst looking at a used Kona on the weekend we also had a snoop around the new Kona, alot more space in the back and boot and very nice inside, but the price is way too close to the ioniq 5 now to make sense. Seems like they're stepping on their own toes and the ex30 is going to steal their lunch

[Tractor Driver]

l354uge said:

Whilst looking at a used Kona on the weekend we also had a snoop around the new Kona, alot more space in the back and boot and very nice inside, but the price is way too close to the ioniq 5 now to make sense. Seems like they're stepping on their own toes and the ex30 is going to steal their lunch

Personal view, but I find the looks of the new Kona rather challenging. Likely makes sense for me on many levels - space, range, cost, decent standard equipment; but I’m just not keen on the front end, rear end or side profile!

Smaller wheels on the Ultimate make sense as they eke out considerably more range, but I suspect they’ll make the side profile look even worse!

[mikeiow]

Tractor Driver said:

l354uge said:

Whilst looking at a used Kona on the weekend we also had a snoop around the new Kona, alot more space in the back and boot and very nice inside, but the price is way too close to the ioniq 5 now to make sense. Seems like they're stepping on their own toes and the ex30 is going to steal their lunch

Personal view, but I find the looks of the new Kona rather challenging. Likely makes sense for me on many levels - space, range, cost, decent standard equipment; but I’m just not keen on the front end, rear end or side profile!

Smaller wheels on the Ultimate make sense as they eke out considerably more range, but I suspect they’ll make the side profile look even worse!

Have you seen it ‘in the flesh’?
I felt the same, but in the showroom (as our older one was serviced), I felt it looked fine.
It is indeed a bit on the pricy side though….luxury car tax anyone?

[Danm1les]

Volvo Slough posted yesterday online that they had 3 cars turn up yesterday, will go for a nosey this weekend. I would quite like to change my i3S for one in maybe 6-12 months.

[gralegav]

Any more news on delivery dates? Ordered in early August, was estimated end of march, before the red sea shenanigans