In August this year, Volvo announced the EX30 as the next standard in EVs (electric vehicles). With the new compact electric SUV model garnering a great deal of attention, Taku Takemura, a writer/editor and car enthusiast, went to Barcelona to participate in an international test-drive event. What did this rare opportunity to experience the driving experience of the EX30 reveal about the future that Volvo is aiming for? Beyond the people of Barcelona, who live in their own way, and the EX30, Taku Takemura saw a new way of interacting with cars.
Text_Taku Takemura
Edit_Yusuke Suzuki
. to the first international test drive.
My first visit to Barcelona . It was held in this cityVOLVOI participated in the test drive of the new model "EX30" by ¡ÈBarcelona! We arrived in Barcelona at night via Paris and Charles de Gaulle airport. We stayed at a hotel in the city, and the next day we went back to the Barcelona airport, where the test drive was to take place. We met up with Volvo staff who welcomed us and first explained the test drive course at the conference. The course was set up in a variety of road conditions, including coastal, highway, winding, and city streets, and was a route that would allow us to fully enjoy the driving experience of the EX30 while viewing the scenery of Barcelona.
Two grades were prepared for the test drive: the "Single Motor Extended Range," which is scheduled to go on sale in Japan, and the "Twin Motor Performance," which is scheduled to go on sale in Japan later. The two body colors, Cloud Blue and Viper Gray, both have a calm, Volvo-esque look. The interior specifications also differ according to the exterior color.
For me, it was almost the first time to drive an EV. . I was first impressed to see the car parked neatly in the airport parking lot with not the slightest deviation. The car was easy to start; just place the keycard key in the designated spot, shift into drive, and away you go. I am still used to having to insert the key into the keyhole and twist it, so I was a bit disappointed. I was glad to find that the air conditioner was already on and the temperature was appropriate when I got into the car. The temperature that day was over 25 degrees Celsius. Since the car was parked where the sun was shining, it would have been hot inside. Well, I felt the advantage of being an EV before we started driving.
A new way of seeing each other from EX30.
The EX30 is Volvo's smallest SUV, measuring 4,235 cm in length, 1,835 cm in width, and 1,550 cm in height, making it a comfortable size for everyday use. The "Single Motor Extended Range" has a maximum output of 272ps, maximum torque of 343Nm, battery capacity of 69kW, and cruising range of 560km, so you can enjoy a long drive without worrying about battery power.
Launch date in Japan_Wednesday, November 22, 2023 , Start of delivery to customers_from the beginning of the year 2024. Suggested retail price ¥5,590,000
Starting at the airport , we quickly merge onto the highway. The car accelerates smoothly as you step on the accelerator pedal. The feeling when turning the steering wheel and decelerating when stepping on the brake pedal was very natural, and there was nothing to be overconcerned about. I had heard from other car enthusiasts that "EVs generate maximum torque from the moment you step on the accelerator pedal, so the acceleration feeling is on another level. When I pushed the accelerator pedal all the way down to the floor to try it out, I was surprised at the powerful acceleration performance, which was hard to believe for a compact SUV. Although I was drawn to the powerful acceleration, I thought that the fact that I could always get the acceleration I needed, when I needed it, was a greater advantage than the fact that I could drive without stress in my daily driving.
After a while, we stopped the car at a scenic spot along the coast. I looked at "EX30" from a short distance away. The well-honed exterior design blends naturally with the blue of the Barcelona sky and sea. The design does not assert itself more than necessary, but one can clearly read the creator's intention in each line and detail. It never gets boring or tedious. . The exterior makes you want to look back one more time when you park the car and leave the place. The ease of use and appearance of the car will make it a partner that will make our lives more enjoyable.
Volvo's new EX30 has the smallest carbon footprint in the company's history, from raw material sourcing, production, and user use, to disposal and recycling. It uses approximately 25% recycled aluminum, 17% recycled steel, and 17% recycled plastic. Compared to Volvo's existing C40 and CX40 electric vehicles, the carbon footprint has been reduced by 25%. But I am sure that not many people would be able to grasp these figures when they are explained in this way. In fact, I was one of them. Instead of the numbers, the interior of the car is the best way to understand this achievement.
Sitting in the driver's seat, the first thing you notice is that there are almost no physical buttons except for a large monitor in the center. There is not even a speedometer, which should be on the other side of the steering wheel, and there is no power window switch, which is usually located on the door panel. Fewer buttons, switches, and wires are eliminated as much as possible, and as a result, CO2 emissions are reduced. The power window switches are also located in the center console to keep wiring as short as possible, I see. The speed display, which is most often seen while driving, is located on the driver's side above the monitor. The speed display is located on the driver's side of the monitor, which is easily visible to the driver, so I did not find it difficult to see during the test drive.
Equipped with a high quality audio system by Harman Kardon, you can enjoy your favorite music in high quality sound.
What I liked even more was the materials used. Recycled materials were used in many parts of the interior. Instead of using them in places where you can't see them, the designers have successfully incorporated the texture and characteristics unique to recycled materials into the interior. A car is an expensive purchase. We tend to demand a sense of luxury because we are paying a lot of money for it, and automakers have been trying to respond to this demand. However, the "EX30" is a change of mindset that makes good use of recycled materials. The creator's sense of style is evident in this proposal, which turns the conventional values on their head. The aluminum door handles, made of recycled material, are a nice accent to the door panels.
We live on a beautiful planet called Earth, sharing it with others. How can we preserve this wonderful scenery while enjoying the convenience and pleasure of automobiles? Global warming and environmental issues have been discussed in the past, but how do we think about these issues in our daily lives, rather than just measuring them by numbers? I feel that "EX30" offers us an opportunity to tackle these issues with a broad perspective and awareness.
Certainly, there was no part of the car that would have been easier to use if there had been a physical switch here. Volvo dared to break away from this and propose a car that is more environmentally conscious than ever before. It is even fun to adjust yourself to this car, away from the conventional wisdom. Isn't that the most fascinating thing about the EX30?
After returning to the hotel, we had the opportunity to freely ask questions of the staff members involved in the development of EX30. The staff members in charge were eager to hear our impressions after the test ride! They answered all of our questions enthusiastically and happily. And once the conversation started, it never seemed to end (laughs)! They were all that passionate and enthusiastic. I could feel their passion for the development of "EX30.
Courtyard of Barcelona.
We were also able to test drive the high-performance version, "Twin Motor Performance," which is scheduled to be released in the Japanese market. This is an AWD vehicle with motors mounted on both the front and rear wheels, with a maximum output of 428ps and maximum torque of 543Nm! The specs are far beyond what one would expect from the exterior design! . We enjoyed an even more stable ride due to the fact that it is a 4-wheel drive.
When I learned that the venue for the EX30 test ride was Barcelona, I knew that before the Sagrada Familia, this city was a mecca for skating in Europe. The Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona , a famous skate spot called MACBA , came to mind. . It is my habit to check out a city I am visiting for the first time on Google Maps or Street View beforehand. Looking at an aerial view of the city, it caught my eye that the city is built in such a way that each block is surrounded by buildings and has a courtyard inside it. I looked it up and found out that it was designed in such a way to allow sunlight to enter each room. . I was curious to see how the courtyard was being used now. The courtyard side of the hotel where I stayed is used as a restaurant patio , where people are eating comfortably.
After the test drive, we had some free time to go for a walk in the city. Walking through the narrow alleys of the old town, I found courtyards everywhere. There were people enjoying meals and coffee at tables set up there, people relaxing in the streets, and street musicians playing music. In a town built up with many old buildings, it seems very easy to live in such an open space with many open patios. Having always driven gasoline-powered cars, I had thought that the electric car society was still a long way off. The "EX30" experience in Barcelona this time made me rethink my lifestyle and the car society from a new perspective.
