In the 11 years I have owned my BMW I could count on one hand the number of time someone has ridden in my back seat. Love the design of the EX30.

@taomahNEGEV

2 ай бұрын

You must be lonely.

@rod2625

2 ай бұрын

@TaomahNEGEV, not really. Grandkids are grown. We can walk to most of our social activities or meet friends at a destination.

@taomahNEGEV

2 ай бұрын

@@rod2625 Yes, walking with family members and friends is a great activity and fun.

I mean, I usually don’t care that much about aesthetic… but Smart is changing my mind about it. The #1 is so ugly to be a deal breaker honestly. #3 a lil better, but is 20cm longer than the Volvo. :/ I think I’ll stay with the EX30 order… for now.

Volvo looks so much nicer - if only they had the smart's adjustable rear seats. Good to have the flexibility between rear seat vs boot space.

Great review but...I much prefer the Smart. I reckon the Volvo will date quicker and the flexibility of the Smart's extra 100mm makes it a much better prospect for most people. Also I feel the interior of the Smart is way...er...Smarter! Like everything it's all subjective...?

Awesome video man 🙌 Great punchline at the end

@KrisRifa

2 ай бұрын

Thanks dude! Great to have you in the video 🤩

I’ve owned the EX30 for about 3 weeks now and I think it’s worth addressing a few of the issues that everyone seems to be getting so hung up about. Firstly, this is definitely a compact car so may not be suitable for a family however if you’re not carrying around 6ft people all of the time then there is plenty of room in the back. Secondly, the speedo sits in your peripheral vision in the top corner of the central tablet and you will naturally start glancing at it, I haven’t missed a central speedo or HUD once. Lastly, I’ve just completed a 4 hour round trip into central London the first half done in clear daylight, the second half done at night in heavy rain. During the 4 hours I was driving I needed to touch the central display all of about four times - you can play music and radio using voice, you can set temperature using voice, you can set satnav using voice, wipers are automatic, lights are automatic, gears and cruise control use the stalk, volume uses the steering wheel buttons (which are complete garbage by the way). What is it that everyone feels they need a button for?!

@AR-1806

Ай бұрын

I don‘t wanna talk to my car

Test drove both, Volvo EX30 Ultra & Smart #1 Brabus, here’s what I think. Design - Volvo is very generic inoffensive Eurobox design. Not bad but not outstanding. Can’t mistake it for anything else but a Volvo. My Grandad, if he were alive, would love it. Smart is different, stands out and can evoke mixed emotions. I especially like the clamshell design of the bonnet. Reminds me of the Mini Cooper I use to have. Interior - Volvo too minimalistic and stark. Contrary to what Kris says I thought that the recycled plastics felt nasty. The seat material was like any other cheap fabric used in lesser cars. Again inoffensive but too boring, not an interior I would like to spend a lot of time in. Smart interior for me has much more flair and sitting in the drivers seat you feel much more cocooned and at one with the car. The seats were a mixture of pleather and alcantara, as was the steering wheel and leagues above that of the Volvo. Infotainment - I’ll give this to the Volvo as I’m an Android user and much prefer its Android based UI although the Smart earns some brownie points for offering Android Auto & Apple CarPlay. The Volvo Harmon Kardon sound system ties with the Smart Beats system but I do like how the Volvo has a soundbar in what would be negative space. Driving - I’ve never owned an electric car so I’m not an expert here, but if I had to choose one it would be the Smart. Both cars are stupidly quick and probably would be dangerous in the wrong hands so thumbs up for all the safety systems built in. I felt that the ride in the Smart was more supple and it felt more planted on the road. Road & wind noise was more subdued as well. So the Smart #1 wins it for me but i wont be buying one and definitely not the Volvo.

Great video, enjoyed the collab

Great review lads.

It reminds me of when Ford owned Volvo, the Mondeo and V70 were built on the same platform, the Volvo was better looking and nicer to sit in but the Ford was much bette to drive. The interior of the EX30 looks nice but it has been clearly built to a budget.

I was shocked when I discovered at the dealer the 2 EX30 in different colour themes. The interior is... empty. Materials are hard, every command has to be executed via the tactile display. The interior space and trunk volume is so small. Who is going to buy this at that price? The Smart #3 that I test drove just after was so much better in every aspect.

You are my new favorite car journalist. Exactly what I think of EX30 also. Superb car!

The EX30 hands down but there is room to improve, a panoramic screen Mercedes style instead of the giant Ipad, rear arm rest, a bit more space on the rear seats even if the cargo area gets a bit smaller and some extra options like leather interiors and electrochromic panoramic roof will give this vehicle that luxury badge from Volvo.

Thanks for the video, guys keep them coming. As for the EX30 just give me the drivers display that EX90 and Zeekr x have, which as i understand can be easily retroffited to existing cars.

Huh. You guys are both great reviewers, but when you collaborate you’re even better. Hope to see more collab videos!

Which one has the better sound insulation? Volvo's interior soo budget...sad..thanks guys for review

The EX30 ouzes quality, simple design is far much better and classy. Totally get the buttons on the steering wheel need changing, option for HUD too. Screen is fine, as long as the essential speed indication is large enough it should do the trick, all you need is a quick glance just like you do with a normal dash. Volvo any day for me, also waiting for the EX30 cross country model instead. Great video guys.

@waynealexander7148

2 ай бұрын

Volvo software not fit for purpose it’s worse than the horizon from the post office Far to many issues to mention The radio stops when you brake 👴 The charging is a mess at 6amps No apple car play The proximity key is temp& half time you can’t get in No armrest in back No HUD STEERING SHEEL BUTTONS JOKE I RETURNED MINE AFTER 3weeks full refund & all the car insurance back as a sweetener Just out & now new buttons on the wheel ffs The sound system less said All Rear Driver They all sound the same and don’t change another OTA update needed SHAMBLES As the keyless plus still not out 4th quarter 24

@waynealexander7148

2 ай бұрын

🤦🏼‍♂️

@warrenfontana1325

2 ай бұрын

@@waynealexander7148 🤣 ok 🙄

Cool, its like the Norwgian TopGear gang you two :D

I went for a test drive in the EX30 a couple of weeks ago, prior to the drive I was expecting it to be my next car, after the test drive it was ruled out, poorly designed, poorly built, and not that nice to drive. Today I drove the #1, a much better car, better to get in and out, doesn't have the A pillar 'in your face', better controls, better displays, and better to drive, I'm just not sure I would like to look at it on my drive, although in real life it looks a little better than in videos. p.s. what where Volvo thinking in releasing a car with so many software problems, and a bonnet that on half the cars takes two people to open.

Buttons, display, and back seat room needed in EX30, for me to buy.

Thanks, nice video. Smart better for children becuse rearseat bigger. Ex30 with mobileholder in front of the stearingwheel, then you can se the speed in an app. Volvo mutch nicer look. Keep on your good work.👍

Volvo EX30 is really good for urban. As soon as you leave the city, you notice the cons

I enjoyed, as a buyer who ordered his 'Volvo EX30 extended range plus' 'blind' in last july and still waiting for delivery (will be 26 of april as I understood today). The positive and the negative observations I saw in the video's didn't change my expectations. This video is a good prove for that: some conclusions are very personal but nevertheless good to read. Specially when the personal view is the same as yours i.c. the Scandinavian interior (and the exterior but that is for all) of the Volvo EX30 is beautiful in our opinion. So we agree with Kris and, sorry, not with you Kristian :-) We are Dutch, living in a Finn loghome, with Danish furniture and driving Swedish cars since 1985 (Saab, Volvo) . Maybe a deviation, but not dangerous.... ;-) Both of you thank you for your individual and this video together!

Enjoyable review! Aww, are you sure it's "Smart hashtag one" and not "Smart number one?" We only have the tiny Smart car in California ( I wouldn't dare drive one on the freeway). The Volvo is definitely a "2+2" with its tight rear seating, but I always prefer an open front cabin layout to the cockpit-like design of the Smart.

They both need better charging curve and more highway range.. without it they both are only for urban use

Just put the excellent interior of the Smart into the terrific EX30 and we'll have the best small EV out there.

The only real downside to the Smart is its looks.... (Ok and the infotainment). I know, i lease one! Quality of interior is great, space insane, drive is great, i have the Brabus and the alcantara feels brill. Overall i like the car more than i thought i would. I have kids so back space is important.... Jeep avenger and ex30 good options if you dont!

Just test drove both of these back-to-back at a show in London. I went in with the Volvo as an expected favourite, but came out the other way. one main difference was the road noise - Smart has infinitely better soundproofing and I felt a better ride. Only issue Volvo wins on was rear boot space, while Smart won on rear seats legroom (I'm 2m /6'7" so pity anyone behind me in the Volvo. I found the #3 even better.

I think you should probably compare the volvo to the #3 actually.

13:15 could use it if need a bathroom break while driving

Both good cars but the Volvo is very cramped in the back. The Smart looks better inside, Volvo looks cheap. Overall, the Smart for me.

I prefer the Smart Brabus, but why must there be so much headroom? The car is to boxy.

@kamz_a_legend

2 ай бұрын

Because of the company's other car maybe, the Smart #3 is lower sleeker shape

一週間後にEX30が納車されます。 とても楽しみです。

Didn’t you have any clean socks?

this KRifa is completely bias towards Volvo..that is why is censored the conclusions .. Owned Volvo and bought now smart, each one has its plus and minus, opted for the smart (actually #3 which drives better than #1 and cheaper than EX30), here you get beautiful exterior, great dynamic and comfort. saying that Volvo is better at everything except space..well.

@krizndzone

2 ай бұрын

KRifa doesn’t know what he is talking about. I’ve seen his Smart #1 review and wasted my time watching it. Test driving a car and doing a full review without knowing the exact spec is so stupid. Then here goes the comparison of EX30 and #1 with his bias comments. 😂 I wonder if Volvo paid him a lot for this video to be released 😂😂😂

If you drive the EX30 for a week, you'll want the name of the person responsible for having the car warning you whenever you check the speed on the middle (i.e. only) screen. We all know that they simply tried to imitate Tesla with that, but having no driver's display or HUD was one of the worst ideas Tesla's ever had, and copying that has to be truly absurd.

Geely vs Geely

Isn’t it more fair to compare to its direct cousin the zeekr x?

@CoxJul

2 ай бұрын

These are 2 of the 3 cousins!

Where are colours, Volvo? All the options seems to be borrowed from a Ingmar Bergman movie.

IMO, the Natural competitor of the EX30 Is the smart#3, not the #1

@volvo_kristian

2 ай бұрын

Why do you think that? The #3 are "much" bigger. It's XC40 size

@Quello_di_una_volta

2 ай бұрын

​@volvo_kristian I saw it in presence, the #3 looks closer to me, the #1 looks shorter.

The Smart #1 is so ugly, so based on looks alone the EX30 crushes it.

@frankeriksen1273

2 ай бұрын

The Smart is not ugly!

@MoragDrummond

2 ай бұрын

You’ve got them the wrong way round.

Let's face it, they are both... shit! I really welcome more small(ish)EVs for a lower price! But! We used to have a his and hers Smart car and share a parking space. There's none of that quirkiness in this Smart, just ugliness from the outside. And the Volvo..., there's nothing in this EX30 showing me that the future Vovo EVs are ever going to replace the current Volvo with a plug I have parked up on the driveway today. Quite the contrary. The route they are heading down is really pushing me towards other brands. Pretty certain there will be a car with a crested badge Kris has intimate knowledge about on our drive next time instead of a Volvo because of the way they are clearly heading....

Conclusion, bad to copy from Tesla, they are not good influence. Volvo interior with no HUD, driver display, touch buttons, etc. and Smart with the bad tesla egg-like design 😢 A combination of the best from each would have made a stellar car. Volvo design, with Smart interior functionality and wheelbase.

OK, so I need to buy a car. Buy the Volvo, or grit my teeth for a year and get a better one next year? Or get a Tesla?

@davidcottrell570

2 ай бұрын

Buying a new car and selling after a year isn’t a good value proposition - you’ll pay on depreciation. Tesla, depending on model has some good deals on some models, but in the UK at least, they’re a pretty big car, which is where the Volvo/Smart shines. If you have off-street parking and access to an outlet for home charging, you’re set. The other complication would be lease vs buy, and if there are tax considerations to your decision. Some brands have good lease offers in some countries, and if finance is an issue, you need to shop around. Finally, what is your use case? Do you do a lot of long trips and high mileage, how many occupants and how much luggage? I already own a Volvo XC40 Twin and like it, being a good compromise in size and comfort. I’d certainly look at an EX30 if I was repeating the process, but I would shop around. Oh and the other big thing is having a good dealer close to home.

Life's too short and their are too many good cars for me to drive something as ugly as the #1.