Volvo EX30: Compact e-SUV with power

The EX30 is not a thoroughbred Swede. It is manufactured in China and shares its platform with the Smart #1. At a length of 4.23 meters, the EX30 is the smallest Volvo and competes with the Smart, Jeep Avenger, Opel Mokka, and Hyundai Kona. For the first time, the premium design brand Volvo offers a compact vehicle with the EX30 that can also score with a low price.

Form follows function

For the German premiere in Berlin, the designers of the EX30 traveled all the way from Gothenburg. T. Jon Mayer, Head of Exterior Design for the EX30, explains the details directly at the vehicle. Every form has a function, and even details must have a function. And of course, the compact SUV must be immediately recognizable as a Volvo. With its smooth front, the purist and powerful lines, and the striking taillights with a new interpretation, the "Little One" makes a confident appearance. The front headlights proudly display "Thor's Hammer." The cameras and sensors are hidden in a sort of black cladding that structures the front and connects to the front headlights through side air guides – form follows function, as Mayer emphasizes.

Like an Espresso Shot

Strong, intense, and flavorful – that’s how the exterior design of the EX30 should be, explains Mayer further. Despite its compact dimensions, the compact EX30 has the presence of a large SUV. A long wheelbase, almost identical overhangs at the front and rear, and the large wheels shape the character of the EX30.

“As designers, we are inspired by the world around us. In this case, we were inspired by the sci-fi helmet designs from the film industry,” explains Mayer. “This helped us create a character in the closed front of the car and give the EX30 a completely electrified look. The architecture of the front, including our own unique rendition of Thor’s Hammer, our signature lighting for the EX30, is particularly noteworthy.”

The new design language of Volvo electric vehicles can also be admired at the rear. The taillights are split, with the upper and lower parts of the lighting appearing segmented.

Five Colors Available

The EX30 will be available in five colors. Crystal White, Vapor Gray, Onyx Black, and Cloud Blue are the more conventional ones. The bright yellow called “Moss Yellow” is, according to Mayer, inspired by the lichen growing on the rocks along the coast of Sweden and is recommended for the more extroverted buyers.

Scandinavian Minimalism in the Interior

The interior design is credited to Lisa Reeves. In her view, the EX30 combines the best elements of Scandinavian design and reduces it to the essentials. All functions are centralized in the middle of the car. This is very practical in a small car, says Reeves, as both the driver and the passenger can easily reach everything. The centralization also allows for a spacious feeling without sacrificing comfort and functionality.

The high-quality materials of the three equipment lines and the ambient lighting themes create a pleasant atmosphere in the EX30. The leather-free, minimally designed interior features recycled and renewable fabrics such as denim, flax, and wool, as well as a variety of striking colors and surfaces. This also shows what Volvo understands by responsible and sustainable design, explains Reeves.

But despite the airy ambiance, the Volvo is still a compact. Accordingly, the space for the legs in the rear is limited, and the trunk is dimensioned class-typically for short trips.

Between the front seats, the designers have placed an element with a sliding drawer that provides space for various items that would otherwise be scattered around – or also serves as a cup holder. The operation of the EX30 is mostly done via the central display, which, as Reeves emphasizes, has the same user interface, the same graphics, and functionality as the top model EX90.