Updated Volvo EX30 is automatic for the people
SUV stance, hot hatch heart: the Volvo EX30 surprises on the road.
Image: Christo Smith / Volvo Cars
I was incredibly shocked that the Volvo EX30 was not named South African Car of the Year last year.
The SA COTY is supposed to be a vehicle that changes the game, moves its segment forward. I've already argued why I thought the EX30 should be awarded this honour. But sadly, it was beaten by BMW's X3 for top honours in 2025, with Suzuki's Swift and the X3's stablemate, the M5 hybrid, in second and third overall.
I was surprised the EX30 didn't win the performance category either, despite the Twin Performance model pushing out a stupefying 315kW and 543Nm for its small body, vaulting it to 100km/h in just 3.6 seconds, making it Volvo's fastest-accelerating car ever.
Be that as it may, I've had the pleasure of testing the EX30 on more than one occasion, and its latest update offers owners even more convenience.
The EX30 isn’t just electric — it’s electric with attitude, style, and Swedish intelligence.
Image: Volvo Cars
Everything remains in the massive screen that dominates the dash – and by everything, I mean everything. You open the glovebox using a button on the screen. Adjust your side mirrors? On the screen. Open the boot? On the screen. Climate control? On the screen. Vehicle settings and drive modes? On the screen.
There is a dearth of buttons in the cabin. I only discovered two more on my last test drive of the EX30 Twin Performance: the two small buttons facing the rear passengers at the back of the centre armrest console, operating the rear windows.
For those sitting up front, there are only two switches for all four windows, with a haptic touch button to toggle between front and rear controls close to the haptic touch pock/unlock button. Apart from the haptic buttons on the steering wheel, that's it in the way of buttons.
What's changed?
Previous EX30 models used to have to do with pairing to your mobile network for over the air updates and to power its Google-based operating system (think, "hey Google, where can I charge my battery and get a bite to eat at the same time?" or "hey Google, I'm feeling a little bit warm" to which she responds: "sure, I'll turn down the temperature by a few degrees").
Minimalist Swedish interior, clever storage, recycled materials — Volvo EX30 impresses inside and out.
Image: Jason Lottering / Volvo Cars
Test models came with a pocket router plugged into one of the USB Type-C ports hidden below the false floor of the centre console storage space. Another problem with the previous generation is that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a wired connection.
Now, things are a helluva lot easier. The EX30 now comes with a satellite uplink, so your car's operating system is permanently connected, and better still, Apple CarPlay now connects wirelessly.
One of the interesting things about the manner in which Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connect is that it doesn't dominate the entire screen. You can still access the climate control, volume and audio, glovebox and vehicle settings shortcuts, as well as the Google shortcuts on the screen, while Apple CarPlay only takes up the central portion of the touchscreen.
This makes accessing your bits and bobs so much easier than in other vehicles where Android Auto and Apple CarPlay take over the entire infotainment interface, with a shortcut to the car's native operating system in the main CarPlay menu. It removes a few extra clicks on the infotainment system, which means less time being distracted from the road.
These subtle updates have cemented the EX30's place in my mind as one of the best cars out there at the moment, not only in terms of its purely electric competitors, but in the hot hatch segment overall.
But wait, isn't this an SUV?
Well, yeah, I guess, but it certainly prioritises the "Sport" in Sport Utility Vehicle.
The 20" wheels, shod with 40-profile "SUV Performance" tyres, also seem to suggest it's an SUV. But in terms of size, cabin comfort, driving position and dimensions, it's more like a hatchback than an SUV. And if you're going to be comparing this to other hot hatches, it blows them out of the water.
Volvo EX30: 315 kW, 543 Nm, 3.6 seconds to 100 km/h — yet overlooked at SA Car of the Year.
Image: Volvo Cars
It's heavier and taller than the GTI, and has a smaller boot, but even the entry-level EX30 is cheaper and quicker to 100km/h than the VW – 5.7s vs 6.4s. The Twin Performance model is cheaper and quicker to 100km/h than Audi's RS3 - 3.6s vs 3.8s. Although in the Volvo, you won't get any throaty exhaust notes you'll find in the petrol-powered hot hatches.
The EX30 also benefits from an incredibly practical cabin – there are storage spaces and hidey holes aplenty, although, while the door bins don't have mouldings to keep your bottles from flying around, they are lined with the woven material that adorns the door cards, meaning you won't get any irritating rattles from your keys or loose change.
You also get to feel pretty good about the environment – a large percentage of the EX30 is made using recycled or recyclable materials, and while the insulation from NVH isn't the best I've experienced from Volvo, it's enough to make you feel protected enough from the outside world.
One minor complaint I have is that the windows are relatively loud when winding up and down, especially when you compare it to Chinese or Japanese rivals, but I can overlook this thanks to the superb sound system that features a full-width sound bar across the top of the dash.
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.
IOL Motoring