2025 Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance Ultra - Just too weird for me.

I've said this before, and it bears repeating, if you want to attract a wide customer base for an EV it should not be, or look, weird. And make no mistake, the 2025 Volvo EX30 is weird.

I have a theory, or rather I just made it up. If you get into a new car, whatever make or model, it shouldn't take you more than 5-10 minutes to identify and operate the necessary controls (lights, wipers, climate control, sound system, turn signals, etc.). Another point is that I don't believe anyone should have to take their eyes off the road to operate anything while driving - NEVER. 

Let's start with the exterior, the least weird part of the EX30. It is a good looking vehicle, there's no doubt about it. But the weirdness starts with access. 

When I am travelling with my wife, or any woman (but primarily my wife), I open the passenger door(s) first. But you cannot unlock the doors from the passenger side, and you have to lock the doors to shut down the car. The photo above is of the driver's side door. To unlock the vehicle you put your finger on the indentation (as long as you have the fob on your person).

This is the front passenger door handle - no indentation. And before you ask, there are no buttons on the fob. So my passenger has to stand there waiting for me to unlock the driver's door.

Then there is the button for the tailgate. It was hard enough to see it in daylight let alone in the dark. I can't imagine what it would be like, what any of these door openers would be like on a snow or ice covered car!

The little button directly above the L in Volvo is what you push to open the hatch. 

There is a key card that comes with the car, like those you use to get into a hotel room. I did not have the card.

Last but not least on the exterior, although it affects the interior, is the Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof. Volvo says it blocks up to 80% of the sun's heat radiation. Maybe but there was still too much sunshine, glare, and heat inside the EX30. 

That's it for the outside. You'll notice I didn't mention the mode of power. The EX30 is all electric. I'm not completely sold on EVs but I'm not against them. 

Twin Motor Performance means more power, and in this case AWD. Volvo says the EX30 has 422 hp and 400 lb-ft. This gives outstanding acceleration of 3.4 seconds for 0-60 mph, and a range of up to 253 miles. Frankly I'm tired of hearing how quick EVs are, if you're measuring your life in standing start acceleration you really need to reevaluate things. 

Now let's turn our attention to the interior, specifically the driver's environment. I freely admit I am not the most tech savy person but the Volvo EX30 tested my patience right from the get-go.

When I got in the driver's seat it was adjusted so that the lumbar support poked me in the back. I like the seatback either flat or concave. It took me forever to adjust the lumbar support. Instead of using the almost universally accepted pictograph.

The seat adjuster is a round, multi-function button. Push it in to select what you want to adjust (back, seat, lumbar, etc) and twist/push to adjust. Sounds easy right? It wasn't.

Take the screen/tablet/iPad - PLEASE! I would guess that 90% of anything you want to look at, access, or adjust in this vehicle is only accessible on the tablet thingy. 

The sound system is an excellent Harmon Kardon system. The rub? There are no controls (well maybe on the steering wheel). Even the owner's manual is in that computer.

As you can see there are no gauges directly infront of the driver. NADA. Do you see the P on the screen? That becomes the speedometer. I have become accustomed to Heads-Up-Displays for speed, they allow me to keep my eyes on the road. In these days of increased traffic, and often erratic drivers, it is an imperative that a driver keeps their eyes on what is going on, not taking a sly glance sideways to make sure they don't incur a speeding ticket.

Take a look at the buttons on the steering wheel. I'm not sure what they all do. On the right side I see a microphone and arrows. I thought the up and down arrows were for the sound system volume but no (I don't remember what they changed but it wasn't what I wanted). I would pay for teeny-tiny words so I knew what the heck the buttons did!

I'm used to power window switches being in different places but this was a first - only two switches and a button to toggle between front or rear door windows. Was this different for the sake of being different?

Someone asked me "How does it drive?" My reply was "Fine on a smooth road." I've found many EVs to have an unforgiving, stiff ride, and the EX30 was no exception. I expect a suspension to absorb many of life's little imperfections. I swear my old pickup truck gives a smoother ride than the Volvo EX30. My mom had a '74 Volvo 142. I bought it from her in the '80s and drove it for a couple of years. It was far from a luxury car but it handled the rough stuff better than the 2025 EX30. 

So I'm really torn about the 2025 Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance. It is such a good looking car. Just make the interior more traditional looking, and make things more accessible. Focus more on range than acceleration. 

A base EX30 Plus starts at $46,195, and an Ultra at $47,895. The only option is a Climate Package that includes heated front seats and steering wheel. Prices are from volvocars.com as of 8/6/2025. 

Only you can decide if the Volvo EX30 is too weird. For me it is. It doesn't need to be, EVs do not need to be weird. There is a reason that many early automobiles looked like wagons or carriages.