Review
Test-drove the EX30 single motor Ultra out of curiosity as I've sent in my XC40 Recharge for its routine servicing at 20,000km. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it is, but there are some small compromises.

What I like
First off, the good things about this car. And there's plenty of it. When one looks at the spec sheets, nothing quite stands out compared to the myriad of new EVs out in the market today. However, as a entry level cross-over, its quite possible that it has one of the best and proportionate exterior designs out there which is likely to stand the test of time, without overly complicated angles and excessive lines.

The overall drive and handling of this crossover is also exceptionally good and smooth. Its a rear driven EV with its motor driving the rear wheels, coupled with the shortest wheelbase in Volvo's line-up means its an agile handler. Straight-line punch from 0 to 100km/h in 5.3 secs is pretty much hot-hatch territory, although Volvo has never marketed this car with performance credentials. Light but still sharp and accurate steering is also something I can appreciate as a city car.

Suspension is tuned for comfort but yet it still has a European firmness to it, without being overly soft as on many Chinese EVs. To me this is better than my XC40 Recharge which is a tad stiff due to its heavier weight. I've checked what it says on the TPMS, the test car's tires are at 40 psi. For this small car to have this level of ride comfort at such high tire pressures it's commendable.

This Ultra variant also has all the ADAS features as one would expect on a Volvo, with 360 camera and Auto Parking Assistant as standard. It's Harman Kardon soundbar is also worth a mention, with its strong bass performance.

The price for what is essentially a Cat B EV is also quite competitive. Final price today is sub $200k including COE easily once you negotiate.

What I do not like
In the name of sustainability, I do feel the interior of the car is a tad plasticky at the lower areas although there are nice little touches like the metal door handles. I've read a lot complaining about the lack of a driver display in front of you but I guess its a matter of getting used to it. Heck, a lot of Tesla owners have the same set-up and they aren't complaining. The rear leg-room really isn't the best compared to Smart #1 and Zeekr X, but it does has a deeper boot compared to the #1 and X. The central glovebox is also small on the EX30, although it now has more storage space under the arm-rest along the central console. Most things are controlled using the touchscreen or voice command, so understandably, this might piss some people off.

Review
Pros: feels well-built, planted drive.
cons: Feels smaller than it looks. Very dated and spartan interior. Boring drive, borderline clumsy ... I want to say it is typical volvo but it is a disappointing product from volvo.

Review
It's a fast, compact, and mighty adorable little electric crossover, if, that is, you can live with some of its failings.

What I like
Power aplenty, finely judged driving controls, and a cabin (recycled parts aside) that feels premium and is reasonable well built.

What I do not like
Clumsy control layout for many of the settings including the seat adjustments, accessing the infotainment, air-conditioning, etc. Rear passengers are expected to stretch to reach the window controls, since they are not on the armrests as they should be. Just very clumsy all round.

Review
If its minimalism you're after this will be it. Volvo's new mini crossover offers a clean exterior alongside a blank slate cabin that hides plenty of smart thinking.

What I like
Clean, simplified exterior aside, the cabin make prestigious use of recycled material that means there's plenty of textures to look at, although they are perhaps not as great to touch.

Drive is sharp and the car always feels alert and lively as a result, with sufficient damping, high quiet levels, and respectable sovereignty once you're up to speed.

What I do not like
No instrument cluster means you're left to look at the infotainment screen, which is ok if you just want to check your speed, not so great if you're trying to kick on adaptive cruise, etc.