There’s a bit of trial and (user) error on some connected services with our Volvo EX30 long-termer. By Natalie Middleton.

Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range RWD Ultra

List Price £43,295 | BiK 3% | Official range 296 miles | On fleet range 210 miles | Efficiency 3.1mpkWh

Report 7:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Electric life with Volvo’s smallest EV is going swimmingly but there’s been some snags on the technology front – mainly through user error!

First up, back early September, was the loss of internet and connected services in the EX30, likely my fault. I’d tried twice to connect to the EX30 app since testing the car but failed. With a bit more time, I’d managed to marry up car and app. But then I repeatedly had a problem with a blank screen when I tried to activate my internet subscription in the app, along with a car that wasn’t connected. This led to a couple of weeks of a sat-nav without live Google feeds – making me realise just how reliant I am on dynamic traffic updates. And no ability to pick the Google Assistant’s brains on salient topics.

Worse still, it left my youngest son unable to connect to his Spotify account for the school run. Realising the seriousness of the Spotify situation, I had a brain wave, went into app alerts and activated the Vodafone Internet in the Car, via a free package, and all was well again. Even if it’s meant a return to the melancholic tones of XXXTENTACION every morning.

One of the first things I’d done with the app in situ was to check that the car was fully updated, which luckily it was. But then, when parking at an evening appointment to pick up the dog following surgery to remove a potentially malignant mass, the Volvo flashed up with an alert of an over-the-air update that would take 30 minutes. New to all of this and keen just to get the dog and find out if the lump was cancerous, I quickly clicked yes to the alert to get rid of it. But then some 28 minutes later, back with a dog wearing the cone of shame, I couldn’t get into the car and couldn’t work out why. Luckily, the app reminded me that the update was still going and two minutes later we were in the EX30. Since then, I’ve activated another update – and realised both the Volvo and the app display make it quite clear that nothing will be useable until it’s finished!

I’m now also getting alerts about activating the digital key – which lets you lock, unlock and start your car with your smartphone. This would be great to try but as it’s only for use with iPhones at the moment, it’s ruled out for me.

It would have been handy though as the key fob battery died recently, three days after warning me the battery was running out. Luckily, Volvo also gives out a key card, which was a handy backup for a few days as CR2450 coin types weren’t in the battery battalion at home. I’m now fully stocked up in case of need for future test cars!

Report 6:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

With its standout Swedish styling, it’s no surprise that I’ve spotted a fair few EX30s just around my local town over my time with the Volvo so far. There’s even a fellow driver down my road! The vast majority have been in the same Vapour Grey colour as ours, although I did spot one this month sporting the Crystal White shade that’s also available at no additional cost – and very nice it looked too.

I’ve also been pondering the appeal of the beefed-up Cross Country variant that arrived earlier this year with four-wheel drive, extra ground clearance, all-terrain tyres and chunky front and rear skid plates – and solely available in top-rung Ultra trim. Living in a town on the south coast, I’m unlikely to make use of its rugged off-road skills and it’s a big step up in price, starting from £45,460 compared to £31,650 for entry EX30 models, but it certainly looks the part.

One thing I’ve been appreciative of on our EX30 from the start is the panoramic roof – again included as standard – and giving a really light airy feel in the cabin.

Generally, visibility is decent in the compact Volvo, despite chunky pillars front and rear, and a narrow rear window. On top of this, all models come with front and rear parking sensors, plus a rear parking camera, but our top-spec Ultra also gets a 360-degree camera with virtual 3D view that means parking is an absolute doddle – I especially like the fact that you can clearly see if you’re overhanging a parking space and adjust as needed, avoiding any tickets from overzealous parking inspectors. And as well as beeping away, it even tells you on the screen how many inches you have left when reversing.

The Ultra also comes with Park Pilot Assist, whereby the Volvo can steer, accelerate and brake to park itself and even parallel park. I was a bit chicken to test this out but it worked a treat in a trial in Morrisons car park. But with a wealth of cameras and gadgetry that mean parking is already a breeze, I’m not sure it’s something I’ll be using often.

My only gripe from a visibility perspective is that the logo from the dashboard-mounted sound bar for the Harmon Kardon Premium Sound system reflects in the windscreen. Yes, first-world problems and all that…

Report 5:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After a few months with us, Volvo’s compact electric SUV continues to impress with its modern Scandi-minimalist looks and strong performance.

But, as with a number of EVs these days, the EX30 subverts quite a lot of traditional automotive practices and I’ve been left pondering in recent weeks about what’s change for change’s sake and what’s actually good progress?

It’s taken me a little bit of time but I’m now au fait with the EX30’s alternative take on traditional car layouts and appreciating many elements.

The column-mounted gear shifter is quick to use and quite frankly I’m loving the extra space that it liberates in front of the highly versatile central armrest, which is also equipped with retractable cupholders and a bottom storage layer.

I’m not quite there yet with the windscreen wipers and washers, which are on the end of the left stalk, but to be fair, the weather since the Volvo’s arrival means they’ve not been used much!

I’m not a fan yet of the indicators. Shift the left stalk slightly and they blink three times while a firmer press keeps them on continuously. But I’m finding they’re sometimes on when I want them off and vice versa. And sometimes I just can’t seem to cancel them at all. It’s all reminding me a bit of the old Vauxhall Vectra one-touch indicators from the early 2000s, if anyone remembers those.

Volvo’s reposition of the window control toggles and central locking button to the middle armrest is quick to get used to and the streamlined system with toggle switches to change between front and rear window operation works just fine.

The rather elegant-looking solid polished metal door handles on the interior not only look great but their position closer to the front of the door makes them easier to access. I also like the fact that to open the rear doors from the inside, you need to pull the door handle twice, preventing accidental use.

I’ve come around to having the speedo in the centre screen. It seemed for a while to take that fraction of a second longer to check, although I know Volvo has figures to prove otherwise, but I’m now fine with it.

But while sat-nav directions for upcoming junctions will pop up over the top of anything on the centre screen, I do miss having a driver display for a quick check on what’s coming next.

The climate system’s air filter and air quality sensor, which monitors fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and switches to recirculated air if needed, is appreciated. And the loops used to control the air vents, rather than dials or knobs, are actually simple yet effective. But it took me a while to fathom how to change the temperature and put the air con on. A lot of functions – such as the glove box, as mentioned in a previous report – are controlled through the central touchscreen and you need to go into two different menus to change fan speed and temperature.

On the plus side, the voice-activated Google Assistant is excellent and I’m now asking it for help with everything from activating the air con to telling me the upcoming weather forecast, or the news, or the artist for whatever song is playing on the radio. Oh and playing cow sounds – a definite sign of automotive progess in the eyes of younger passengers.

Report 4:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After a comprehensive effort on a recent long-haul journey, I’ve hit a new high for efficiency in the Volvo, racking up a figure of 4mpkWh and extracting 269 miles out of its single motor extended range powertrain compared to its official 296-mile figure.

Such efforts were led purely by not wishing to stop and charge very late at night on my own and instead wanting to get a wriggle on with getting home.

Although I’d planned the journey well and knew it would be a tall order, there were some extra problems. As it was so hot, the Volvo started out with 294 miles rather the usual 296 – although it could have been a lot worse if the weather had gone the other way.

A 2.5-hour queue to exit the venue carpark at the other end didn’t help either – and while I’d forced the sat-nav to opt for the same, shorter but slower 110-mile route back as I’d taken on the way there, it eventually made me come back via a weird 128-mile route up the M5 and along the A303 due to claimed road closures. This would have left me with a 2% state of charge but I put my best eco practices into effect and got back with 11% and a very comfortable 31 miles of range left. It was on track to actually be over 40 miles but some rather inconsiderate hills on the A303 put paid to that.

There were some highs – literally – and lows along the way. I realised I’d been driving with the one-pedal mode left on for weeks so switched that off to make the most of coasting. But then reactivating it again for heavier traffic meant going back into the Volvo’s centre display and this was too distracting on the move. Oh for a button or paddles on the steering wheel…

Outbound, despite the inclement 26-degree summer heat, I decided to switch off the air-con and open the windows slightly; when asked, the EX30’s Google Assistant advised me the latter is more efficient up to 50mph, although I’ve seen a figure of 45mph since.

My laidback eco driving probably added about another half an hour to the journey. But it equally did save me the time and hassle of stopping in the wee small hours to charge along with the cost of rapidly adding some kWh. All in all, a win all round.

Report 3:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

After a few weeks of pootling around, the EX30 and I have been on some longer trips, testing out its efficiency.

At handover time, the Volvo Brand Ambassador said that sticking around 60mph on motorways and dual carriageways should see the baby EV’s range match the distance mile for mile.

That didn’t quite work out for me on my first longer excursion – a 204-mile round trip to Silverstone and back – but I only lost around an extra 20 miles each way and used up just over 240 miles while knocking up 3.9mpkWh and an average 42mph. I’d not been able to fully charge before leaving and had about 270 miles in all, but made it back to our home charger with a comfortable 27 miles to spare. Importantly, although I was in a hurry on both journey legs, it made more sense to drive slower and carefully – as editor John Challen spotlighted in our latest Fleet World mag, it’s predominantly quicker to drive slower and make it to your destination in one go without having to charge en route.

I repeated this formula a couple of weeks later on a trip to Bath University. At just 112 miles all in, this was a mere walk in the park for a Volvo and its 296-mile official range. The country roads along the way dropped the average speed to 33mph but hiked up the efficiency to 4.2mpkWh.

Overall, I’m getting 3mpkWh at an average 26mph – but that’s with no attempt at eco driving, other than the two aforementioned journeys, and with me normally battling to meet some deadline.

I’m also loving the driving experience in the Volvo. Not just the sheer straight-line speed mentioned last time but its ability to pull away instantly and cleanly from standing, and at low speeds (making it less worrying to overtake parked-up buses, for example) and on the motorway (putting paid to anyone trying to attempt a cheeky undertake). It also handles well – pleasingly agile, stable and comfortable whether that’s on a country road or a motorway. This is the only test car I have found to date that can make the speed humps in the local business park palatable and unlikely to shift a molar or two.

My only gripe is the overzealous driver safety features. The lane keeping assist can suddenly yank you over, the road sign warning system thinks that a fair few local 60mph roads are actually 30mph and I’ve lost track of the number of times that the Volvo has warned of a imminent collision as it’s not aware of cars turning off in front of me. I’m now deactivating these systems on start-up for most journeys.

The Rear Cross Traffic Alert is amazingly helpful however when you’re reversing out among parked cars. The funniest of all is the driver alert when it thinks I’m tired. I’ve lost track of the amount of times I’ve been doing my best Carpool Karaoke, only for the EX30 to think I’m yawning and suggest I take a break! Probably doing everyone a favour though…

Report 2:

“Woah…” That was pretty much what I was left thinking after hopping into the driver’s seat of our new EX30 long-termer in the wake of turning down a handover from the Volvo delivery driver (you know you’re in for a premium experience when they’re called a ‘Brand Ambassador’) and heading out from the drop-off lane at the train station in the nearby city.

I knew the gear selector and park brake are on the right-hand-side steering wheel stalk, the glove box is only opened via a button on the 12.3-inch central portrait touchscreen and that the car powers down automatically after you walk away with the key fob. But that was it.

Therein followed a quick learning experience; that the window controls are on the central armrest (ditto in the rear), that I wouldn’t be able to adjust the wing mirrors until I was stopped (via the touchscreen, it turns out) and that I really wasn’t sure where the wipers were (on the left-hand-side steering wheel stalk with the indicators). This is quite a radically different driving experience to match the radical looks.

But by the time I got home some 10 minutes later, I was zipping around like I’d been driving the car for days and quite happy behind the wheel.

The youngest Middleton, meanwhile, was more than happy to be picked up in front of his school mates in the Volvo – and quickly playing with the settings (he found the wing mirror controls!), adjusting the ambient lighting and linking to his Spotify account. And days on, both junior Middletons are still enthralled by the EX30 interior.

Interestingly, they were also rather enthralled when I first found a stretch of empty open road to stretch the baby Volvo SUV’s legs and partially test its acceleration capabilities (0-62mph in 5.3 seconds!). A car to end teenage complaints about family road trips!

Report 1:

Volvo’s recently revealed c.£70k ES90 electric saloon may be turning heads as the brand’s technological flagship but our new longtermer is a little more mainstream and certainly more accessible.

A challenger to models such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, plus the Kia Niro EV and EV3, it may be Swedish in spirit and its minimalist looks – including Volvo’s iconic Thor’s hammer LED headlamp design – but it sits on the modular Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform developed by Volvo parent firm Geely and also used for new models such as the technically linked Smart #1.

It’s also decidedly futuristic in design, both inside and out, while tying in nicely with the EC40, EX40 (formerly the XC40 Recharge) and the top-rung EX90 and incoming ES90.

Notably, it also comes in with a very competitive £32,850 lead-in price for the entry Single Motor version in Core trim.

Ours is kitted out in the top Ultra grade and comes in at £43,360 OTR, sadly putting it in scope of the VED expensive car supplement, but with an extensive list of equipment that means there’s zero options on our model – everything, from the panoramic sunroof to the Harman Kardon Premium Sound system and the 20-inch five-spoke diamond-cut alloys come as part of the Ultra spec.

We’re also in the mid-range Single Motor Extended Range RWD powertrain, which marries up the 272hp rear motor also used in the Single Motor version but with a larger 69kWh battery for an official 296 miles of range (versus 210 for the entry model). To my mind, a range of around 300 miles is where you can really start to relax, even for longer journeys, although it’ll be interesting to see how it translates in real life and with my predominantly suburban mileage.

The figure I’m most excited about though is the 5.3 seconds for the 0-62mph time. That’s certainly not the profile for our typical long-termers and definitely one we’re looking forwards to testing out on the open road.