2024 Volvo EX30

The new EX30 Black Edition hits the UK streets

Volvo is giving its smallest electric car a moody makeover. The Swedish automaker has launched the Volvo EX30 Black Edition in the United Kingdom. This new version of the popular compact SUV trades bright chrome for a deep, dark look that is hard to miss. The car itself might be small, but it makes a big statement with its "all-black everything" theme.

The exterior of the Black Edition is strictly about the color Onyx Black. Volvo painted almost every part of the car in this metallic shade, which sparkles in the sun but looks very stealthy at night. The high-gloss black treatment covers the front grille logo, the "Volvo" lettering on the back, and the model name badge. Even the 19-inch alloy wheels and the roof spoiler match the dark paint. If you ever wanted your electric cars to look like something out of a spy movie, this is a strong contender.

Inside, the dark theme continues with a special "Indigo" interior. Designers used deep blue textile materials and a unique trim made from upcycled denim. It is a sporty look that you can only get on this specific model. The cabin is simple and clean, centered around a large 12.3-inch vertical screen that controls almost everything in the car. This screen handles the navigation, music, and even the air quality settings.

The Volvo EX30 may be small, but there's nothing small about its performance figures. Buyers can choose between two powerful setups. The Single Motor Extended Range version has a 69 kWh battery to travel up to 475 km on a single charge. It can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds, which is a lot for a compact crossover. But if you want even more speed, the Twin Motor Performance version is available. It uses the same battery but adds a second motor to become the fastest accelerating Volvo ever made, hitting 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds.

Thankfully, charging the new Volvo does not take a whole afternoon. The car supports fast DC charging, allowing the battery to go from 10% to 80% in about 28 minutes at a 153 kW charger. To help save energy during the winter, Volvo includes a heat pump as standard equipment. This device helps warm the cabin without draining too much of the battery's range. It is a smart addition for anyone living in a chilly climate.


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Sinister-looking Volvo EX30 Black Edition revealed

Exclusively dressed in Onyx Black paintwork, Volvo has introduced the Black Edition package to its EX30 lineup.

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Exclusively dressed in Onyx Black paintwork, Volvo has introduced the Black Edition package to its EX30 lineup.

Volvo has whipped the wraps off the EX30 Black Edition. Exclusively available in Onyx Black metallic exterior paintwork, the EX30 Black Edition is equipped with a set of 19-inch alloy wheels finished in gloss black. The latter hue has also been applied to the Volvo emblem on the front facia, and ‘Volvo’ script and model designation at the rear. Stepping inside, the cabin is finished in an Indigo colourway.

The Black Edition package can be had with both Single Motor Extended Range and Twin Motor Performance drivetrains. As a reminder, the former’s single electric-motor setup produces 200 kW and 343 N.m of torque – good for a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time of 5.3 seconds. Volvo claims an operating range of 476 km for the Single Motor Extended Range model. The Twin Motor Performance derivative’s dual electric-motor powertrain delivers 315 kW and 543 N.m to the road via all four corners. On our test strip, the all-paw model dispatched the 0-100 km/h dash in 3.69 seconds; just nine-hundredths of a second slower than the Swedish marque’s claim. Volvo says the Twin Motor Performance offers an operating range of 460 km when its 69 kWh battery pack is fully charged.

“The Black Edition variants of our models have struck a chord with buyers in the past and the EX30 looks really striking with the design additions, giving it even more presence,” said Rob Deane, Commercial Operations Director at Volvo Car UK.

 
Updated Volvo EX30 is automatic for the people

The dashboard does take some getting used to with its minimalist Swedish design (you might be looking for the speedo for a while – hint: it's also on the screen), and I prefer a little more heft and girth from my steering wheel, but these are minor complaints when measured against everything else this super Swede can do.

The massive, full-length glass roof is also a treat, making the interior feel a lot more spacious than it is, and while it does have some superior UV protection, the addition of a retractable sunshade would not be amiss in South Africa's scorching summers. The sun really bakes down on the glass, and in the peak of summer, you feel it when you get into the car. But thanks to another handy feature, when the car detects the key fob is close by, it'll automatically activate and start cooling the car down.

The car is essentially "always on", and depending on the proximity of the fob will lock or unlock, start up the aircon, connect your devices, start playing music and do a little welcome dance with the front and rear LED lights. All you have to do is get in, flick the steering-mounted gear selector into D, and off you go. Once you've parked, depress P at the end of the stalk, get out, and walk away.

The Volvo EX30 truly is—to quote REM—automatic for the people.

 
Volvo EX30 gains new entry-level powertrain with 148bhp

Single-motor set-up yields range of 211 miles or 296 miles and is expected to bring a notable price cut

The Volvo EX30 has gained a new entry-level powertrain that's expected to cut its starting price significantly from the current £33,060.

The nameless new set-up employs a 148bhp rear-mounted motor, down from the 268bhp offered by that in the existing Single Motor model.

It's matched with the Single Motor’s 51kWh battery for a range of 211 miles between charges, although it can also be had with the 69kWh Long Range pack for a range of 296 miles.

Volvo has yet to confirm UK pricing nor when the new model will arrive in our showrooms, but it's likely to nudge nearer the £30,000 mark, taking the EX30 closer to alternatives such as the Alfa Romeo Junior and Mini Aceman.

Chief commercial officer Erik Severinson said the new powertrain will “further increase our addressable market” and “attract more customers towards full electrification”.

In addition to the new variant, all EX30s will gain vehicle-to-load functionality (which allows the battery to power external devices) in an over-the-air software update later this summer. An adapter enabling the feature will be sold separately.

 
Volvo recalls 40,000 EX30 electric SUVs to swap out battery packs

Volvo's newest small SUV keeps giving the company a headache after a headache. The automaker announced a global recall of more than 40,000 Volvo EX30 models. The issue involves the high-voltage battery packs, which, according to reports, might catch fire under certain conditions. This is a huge blow for a vehicle that was supposed to lead the brand into a more affordable era of EVs.

The recall affects exactly 40,323 vehicles across the globe, including an unknown number of cars sold in the United States. Volvo is specifically looking at two versions of the SUV: the Single-Motor Extended Range and the Twin-Motor Performance models. If you own one of these, you might want to pay close attention to your mail. The company is reaching out to owners to explain what they need to do next to keep their cars safe.

Replacing battery modules is not a quick or cheap fix. Experts estimate this could cost Volvo nearly €166 million. That is a lot of money for a car that just hit the market. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not posted the official paperwork yet, but the news is already setting the internet forums alight. It seems the "hottest" new car on the market is a bit too warm for comfort.

The specific problem in Volvo's situation points back to the battery cells. These parts were made by a joint venture called Shandong Geely Sunwoda Power Battery Co. Volvo has not shared every technical detail, but the risk seems to be the highest when the battery is full. To prevent any dangerous fires, Volvo is telling drivers to stop charging their cars once they reach 70%.

Safety experts are also giving some common-sense advice to EV owners involved in this recall. Until the cars are fixed, it is a smart idea to park them outside. Keeping the vehicle away from your house, garage, or other cars is a simple way to prevent a total disaster if something goes wrong. It might be an inconvenience to leave your shiny new Volvo in the driveway, but it beats having a fire in your living room.

This is not the first time the Volvo EX30 has dealt with fire concerns. Earlier this year, in January, the company recalled 40 units of the 2025 model for a similar reason. In that case, engineers found a problem called "lithium plating growth" - tiny metal structures that grow inside the battery and cause a short circuit. It is not yet clear if this new recall is caused by the same exact glitch, but the symptoms and the warnings are identical.

 
Volvo EX30 gains new entry-level powertrain

Volvo has announced a new entry-level powertrain option for its EX30 all-electric crossover.

Aimed at striking a balance between everyday driving and extended journeys, Volvo Cars has announced a new entry-level powertrain option for its EX30 crossover. With the new model year, the EX30 range will gain a new Single Motor variant that produces 110 kW. This derivative will be available with the choice of either a 51 kWh or 69 kWh battery – the former and latter offering claimed operating ranges of 339 km and 476 km when fully charged, respectively.

The EX30 Cross Country, which was previously exclusively available with the Swedish marque’s Twin Motor Performance powertrain, will also gain a “more efficient” Single Motor derivative. Plus trim grade will also be introduced to this model.

While the Gothenburg brand’s local arm has yet to confirm whether the new powertrain options and trim grade will be introduced to our market, as a reminder, the current SA EX30 range comprises the Single Motor Core, Single Motor Extended Range Plus and Ultra derivatives, and Twin Motor Performance Ultra models (“standard” and Cross Country). The Single Motor variants, including Extended Range, produce 200 kW and 343 N.m, while the Twin Motor Performance powertrain is endowed with 315 kW and 543 N.m of torque – good for a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.6 seconds in the non-Cross Country variant and 3.7 seconds in the Cross Country.

 

The Volvo EX30 Shows Why Cars Still Need Buttons - Autoblog​

The EX30 in the outlet’s long-term test fleet is described as an “absolute tech nightmare.”

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When the Volvo EX30 subcompact electric crossover launched in 2023, it raised quite a few eyebrows due to its minimalist interior that moved almost all controls and driving information to a single 12.3-inch tablet-style central touchscreen.

As you can imagine, that wasn’t the best idea. Pretty much every review of the Volvo EX30 has pointed out that the infotainment screen is the crossover’s biggest problem by far. The central screen is known to crash frequently, which is a big problem because many vehicle functions are buried in it, such as the climate control, mirror adjustments, glove box opening, and more.

If you want to know how bad the situation is, online automotive guide Edmunds has been running a Volvo EX30 for a while now and their verdict is unforgiving for the Chinese-made Swedish crossover’s digital tech.

The 2025 EX30 owned by the outlet is part of its one-year test fleet, which means that the reviewers have had plenty of time with the EV to be able to offer credible, non-biased feedback.

There’s no way to sugarcoat this, so here it is: the EX30 is described as an “absolute tech nightmare,” which may sound excessive until you read the reviewer’s actual experience with the vehicle.

According to the article, Volvo has gone too far with the EX30 when it comes to interior austerity. Nearly everything goes through the “slow-reacting touchscreen, and the handful of remaining physical controls are weird,” the author notes, pointing to the switches that open and close the rear windows, which are the same as the fronts, so you need to touch a toggle button first.

According to the reviewer, “the tech gets in the way of nearly everything you need to do with the EX30,” even when going to a car wash. Upon taking the EX30 to a car wash, even though “car wash mode” was activated (a six-step operation, by the way) and the transmission was put in Neutral, the car refused to comply as the automatic parking brake had engaged unknowingly, even though car wash mode was on.

The trouble is there’s no physical button to engage or disengage the parking brake; to shut it off, the driver needs to tap the brake pedal, but the reviewer learned that through trial and error and the entire car wash had to be shut down until he figured it out.

Then there’s the Volvo EX30’s safety suite. Turning the driver aids on is easy via a steering wheel button, but if you want to adjust the following distance when active cruise control is on or the lane keeping assistant, you’re forced to use the touchscreen. In doing so, you have to take your eyes off the road, which triggers “the overly sensitive driver monitor camera.”

Almost every time the driver needs to look at the touchscreen—and they need to do that a lot since so many basic features are buried in the screen—the driver monitoring system issues an alert, and it does so even when taking a long turn on a winding road because the steering wheel blocks the monitoring camera placed atop the steering column.

Read the full article at the link below:

 
The new EX30 Black Edition hits the UK streets

Volvo is giving its smallest electric car a moody makeover. The Swedish automaker has launched the Volvo EX30 Black Edition in the United Kingdom. This new version of the popular compact SUV trades bright chrome for a deep, dark look that is hard to miss. The car itself might be small, but it makes a big statement with its "all-black everything" theme.

The exterior of the Black Edition is strictly about the color Onyx Black. Volvo painted almost every part of the car in this metallic shade, which sparkles in the sun but looks very stealthy at night. The high-gloss black treatment covers the front grille logo, the "Volvo" lettering on the back, and the model name badge. Even the 19-inch alloy wheels and the roof spoiler match the dark paint. If you ever wanted your electric cars to look like something out of a spy movie, this is a strong contender.

Inside, the dark theme continues with a special "Indigo" interior. Designers used deep blue textile materials and a unique trim made from upcycled denim. It is a sporty look that you can only get on this specific model. The cabin is simple and clean, centered around a large 12.3-inch vertical screen that controls almost everything in the car. This screen handles the navigation, music, and even the air quality settings.

The Volvo EX30 may be small, but there's nothing small about its performance figures. Buyers can choose between two powerful setups. The Single Motor Extended Range version has a 69 kWh battery to travel up to 475 km on a single charge. It can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds, which is a lot for a compact crossover. But if you want even more speed, the Twin Motor Performance version is available. It uses the same battery but adds a second motor to become the fastest accelerating Volvo ever made, hitting 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds.

Thankfully, charging the new Volvo does not take a whole afternoon. The car supports fast DC charging, allowing the battery to go from 10% to 80% in about 28 minutes at a 153 kW charger. To help save energy during the winter, Volvo includes a heat pump as standard equipment. This device helps warm the cabin without draining too much of the battery's range. It is a smart addition for anyone living in a chilly climate.


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WOW! - Why not make a 'special edition' with a COLOURFUL exterior & interior - instead of this hideous abomination of bland, uninspiring, mind-numbing, monochromatic dullness?
 
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