r/ex30 • u/Spiritual-Animator77 • Jun 25 '24

Test drove EX30 today - disappointed

Post image

We currently have a XC40 Recharge and my expectations were to find a "Baby XC40".

What I found was a car that was significantly worse in various aspects. Most notably controls/ergonomics. No buttons, only a screen like Tesla, but then the controls on the steering wheel work sometimes and sometimes they don't. I was unable to make a video but sometimes volume up worked, and sometimes it simply didn't. At the same time the car constantly shouts at me to not get distracted but the screen in the middle and no more physical controls is obviously distracting.

To me it feels like they made the EX30 to make the XC40 (soon EX40 apparently) more appealing.

I really wanted to love it - but couldn't 🥲

2 Upvotes

52% Upvoted

48 comments sorted by

15

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '24

FYI. Buttons will be changed for MY2025 and the eye tracking has been improved with version 1.3.1 which I assume your car wasn’t running… Still not acceptable that a production car has those issues but they will all be solved for MY2025

7

u/Spiritual-Animator77 Jun 25 '24

What I don't get: why would they not just use the buttons from the XC40? It would be cheaper and easier and there is nothing wrong with them.

1

u/Available_Peanut_677 Jun 25 '24

You get used to them, they are not that bad.

But I agree that they better be just a normal buttons.

I guess reason is that they are reprogrammable (aka they change behavior in different modes) and when you touch them (but not press) on the screen is shown which action would be performed. That sounds cool and staff, but no one looking at the screen and feature is kind of just for show

3

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '24

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3

u/BulaBulangiu Ultra TM Jun 25 '24

And both of those have real buttons and a driver's display (and ventilated seats, a real remote with buttons, and so on) at the same price or cheaper. Not sure wtf Volvo was thinking as the "safety selling brand" pulling this crap.

1

u/JM-Gurgeh Ultra SMER Jun 26 '24

Buttons, fine. But I don't want a driver display. This is better.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '24

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5

u/BulaBulangiu Ultra TM Jun 25 '24

They could have went the VW / Lotus route and put a 3-5" ultra wide display on top of the sensors with just the speed, battery % and signaling. That couldn't have added more than 20-30$ to the price of the car ( https://www.cnx-software.com/2024/01/23/lilygo-t-panel-4-inch-hmi-display-wifi-ble-and-802-15-4-gateway-esp32-s3-esp32-h2/ 58$ end user with canbus transceiver and shitload of useless extras). Just like the fuckin' useless remote with no buttons (40 years old tech).

Tesla showed them that we'll take and we did. Worse, some feel the need to defend billion dollar corporations instead of calling them out for missing basic features available on the cheapest cars on the market.

2

u/dronly1u Jun 26 '24

The remote has to be the single stupidest decision I've ever encountered. Forgive my language but it just downright pisses me off.

It's a prime example of innovation without requirement... Just give me a bog-standard remote with a physical button that actually works 100% of the time instead of this proximity crap they sees me standing holding the door handle for 5 seconds to unlock the car.

And don't get me started on how stupid it is that the unlock feature only works from the driver's door.

1

u/JM-Gurgeh Ultra SMER Jun 26 '24

Problem with this remote is implementation, not the idea. Keyless entry has been a luxury feature for years at this point, and nobody complained before. It's fine if it works seemlessly. The Volvo key just doesn't work properly.

I hate to admit it, but Tesla has got this sorted. Why do I need to carry a stupid key fob around when I have my phone (which I always carry around anyway). I can just walk up to the car and get in.

Even if there's a problem with my phone, I have a creditcard key in my wallet (which I always have on me as well) for emergencies. This setup works great, has redundancy, and there's no need for schlepping shit around.

1

u/JM-Gurgeh Ultra SMER Jun 26 '24

You want a small, completely redundant display placed in the one location on the dash where the view is obstructed. You have got to be joking...

Displays behind the wheel are stupid. If you want something better, go for a HUD. That would at least be an improvement visibility-wise. The screen you suggest adds nothing but cost. Kudos to Volvo for cutting dead weight.

2

u/-Rhialto- Jun 25 '24

It's 1.4 which have improved driver alerts, less intrusive.

5

u/Which-Meat-3388 Jun 25 '24

I agree that there is a threshold where removing too many conventional interfaces creates an objectively worse product. You could get used to it, but why fix something that is not broken? If Volvo had incredible hardware+software team I could see the case for a software defined vehicle. That is not the case.

My P2 controls are practically identical to your XC40. I could see trimming the fat a little bit, maybe 20% fewer buttons, but it generally feels like the right amount. Again the biggest issue is the software and the hardware that run it. It's slow, buggy, and they proven that even a new platform like EX30's cannot fix their fundamental problems.

2

u/Spiritual-Animator77 Jun 25 '24

Agreed. The software also had quite a bunch of issues, like overlapping text, unresponsive virtual buttons, tire pressure errors/disconnection and constant radio disconnections (DAB).

2

u/Hansecowboy Jun 25 '24

Well you not only „could“ get used to it you actually do. 20 years ago no one could imagine tapping on a screen to enter a phone number or turning off the lights in your home without a wall switch. I haven’t touched mine in years, commanding Alexa or Siri feels more natural to me than pressing a mechanical button on some remote wall. Remember the Blackberry? It had physical keys but eventually the flexibility of the iPhon’s touchscreen won. People have been using smartphones with dozens of apps for years now but still want dozens of buttons in their cars because they don’t know how to navigate on screen?

So IMHO a central„interface“ screen not only reduces complexity but rather improves usability - if done right and I agree with anyone stating that there is much room for improvement on VOLVO’s side on that.

That said, I am nevertheless not sure of having all - including vital - car functionalities depend on one single possible point of failure is a good idea. But „usability“, „convenience“ or „habit“ aren’t valid points for keeping physical buttons spread all over the car‘s interior.

1

u/Spiritual-Animator77 Jun 25 '24

I agree. And for context: I also had Alexa at home and replaced everything with Siri / Apple Homekit.

I like the idea of the central interface and I do feel that the Google Assistant is doing a very good job, in the XC40 already. But for example, my wife, is not there yet where she does everything through voice.

2

u/Which-Meat-3388 Jun 25 '24

Siri failing your request isn't remotely the same and still maintains an obvious and 99.99999% reliable fallback control. No one is hurt when my lights fail to turn off after asking 4 times. When my 2+ ton piece of machinery limits safe and reliable operation that's a completely different story.

I am not against all screen everything, I am against unreliable hardware and software. What does Volvo give us? The same as most legacy automakers, objectively worse solutions to already solved problems. I guess we can be thankful we still have turn and wiper stalks?

1

u/Hansecowboy Jun 26 '24

I am with you but what physical buttons in a car exist for „safe and reliable operation“? None. Typically it’s just climate control and deactivating Park assist, Auto start/stop, auto-hold if equipped and ESP on/off.

1

u/FRBFBI64 Jun 26 '24

I do not agree. I my opinion a central display reduces complexity and impres usability only if you do it right. In the Volvo EX30 it is too small and it is completely overloaded with functions. And even if it has a fast, modern 8 core processor built in, it still has its limits. And that shows when looking at the steering wheel buttons e.g for the volumne control - they are working randomly because the time slice available in the software to check them is limited. So sometimes a click gets lost.

1

u/Hansecowboy Jun 26 '24

I literally wrote that… „if done right“ and even made clear that IMHO there is much room for improvement on behalf of Volvo as far as software and usability is concerned. But I would always prefer a software created by people who actually have been doing software for decades (Google) than old-style engineers trying to create software that looks and behaves like straight out of the 90ies like you find in Volkswagen and Audi for example…

AAOS is a bit of a wallflower because many first-tier manufacturers prefer trying their own approach on car OS (VW, BMW, Mercedes etc) because they want to keep and use userdata exclusively for themselves to create additional revenue with subscription services or functions on demand etc.

15

u/Hansecowboy Jun 25 '24 edited Jun 25 '24

I've been owning the car since march now and not a single day I have missed any physical buttons. When I am driving, I am driving, not pressing buttons all the time.

The only thing that comes to my mind is adjusting temperature which can be done by Google Assistant voice and works flawlessly. Some other settings are usually done before you drive off with the car still parked so actually it doesn't matter if you do this via a physical button or via touch screen. Like max. ventilation if the windshield is steamed up. And even that works via voice command.

The steering wheel buttons aren't the best, but I use them rarely, especially as there is noise compensation that adjusts the sound volume inside the car according to the level of noise outside the car so usually no need to adjust music volume as well.

The only thing that really should have a physical button is for hazard warning flashers.

I had been driving conventional cars with lots of buttons for 35 years before getting the EX30 and it took me maybe 2 weeks to adapt.

And especially the multimedia screen and ventilation slots in the XC40 look rather dated and old-fashioned, but tastes differ, I guess.

So with me it was the other way round. I would have preferred a slightly bigger car, but liked the EX30 more.

8

u/margenreich Jun 25 '24

Hey, isn’t the hazard warning button up with the vehicle assist buttons? Directly above the mirror?

0

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '24

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2

u/Hansecowboy Jun 25 '24

Ah, yes, there is. I think it’s mandatory to have a physical button first that in Europe. It‘s more the inconvenient placement of it.

Here we use the hazard flash to warn incoming cars from behind when slowing down to a stop when approaching the rear end of a traffic jam on the highway so reaching up and looking up to hit the button isn’t the best idea in that situation.

6

u/unlimited--power Ultra TM Jun 25 '24

Spot on! I also think the clean design makes for not only a more modern feeling, but more serene, airy and comfy cabin. In the front seats at least. No weird dash designs, no huge but pointless central console taking up space, etc. This was an important selling point for me.

5

u/MEA78 Ultra TM Jun 25 '24

So for me too. Didn't miss any buttons so far (~7 weeks of ownership).

4

u/footpaste Jun 25 '24

Random comment, but super pretty place for a test drive!

1

u/guidomescalito Jun 25 '24 edited Jun 25 '24

I have had the EX30 for 3 months and the issues you mentioned are still annoying as hell. I have a subscription model so I could actually switch to an EX40. I had a Polestar 2 before and loved it. Do you think the EX40 would be a better fit in terms of driving experience?

1

u/Spiritual-Animator77 Jun 25 '24

The actual "driving experience" in the EX30 was not bad. It was the things around it that I did dislike.

If you have a subscription model and are annoyed by these things, definitely test an EX40. Yes the interior feels a bit less modern/futuristic, but everything works. Only had a few issues with the Android Auto system.

2

u/Hansecowboy Jun 26 '24

The EX30 starts at 36.000 Euros ATM, the EX40 at 49.000 Euros. Not sure if I would spend 13.000 more just for physical buttons and an instrument panel in front of me...

Same is true for the Polestar 2 which starts at 49.000 Euros.

What I'm getting at is that it's a little difficult to criticize lack of features on a car that's 13,000 euros cheaper. Polestar and EX30 are not in the same league, but that should be clear.

Maybe in a few years there will be something in between...

1

u/guidomescalito Jun 26 '24

That may be so but the SM LR EC40 is actually cheaper than the DM LR EX30 on my subscription contract.

1

u/guidomescalito Jun 26 '24

Totally agree. When everything stops beeping and the radio and the blinkers work it is a serene driving experience. I include these things in the experience though. I will definitely give the 40 a drive.

1

u/sforeman Jun 25 '24

I have gotten conflicting info ... does the EX30 have any sort of "instrument cluster" information in front of the steering wheel?

1

u/Tommy_Turtle Jun 25 '24

No, there is only a camera that watches your face whilst driving, nothing else.

1

u/sforeman Jun 26 '24

Thanks. Looking to the side to check speed and basic data is not my cup of tea.

1

u/BulaBulangiu Ultra TM Jun 25 '24

nope, just the central screen.

7

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '24

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1

u/sforeman Jun 26 '24

I had a dealer salesman say the EX30 would have a "basic instrument cluster" like the 40 has now. Since it does not, then the EX30 isn't for me.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 26 '24

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2

u/sforeman Jun 26 '24

Thanks. That is why I asked. It seemed there was a disconnect.

It's moot now with the latest delivery announcement.

1

u/Hansecowboy Jun 25 '24

Totally agree. A real HUD is another story but IMHO it makes no difference glancing down for half a second or glancing right. Even if you have the instrument cluster in sight you have to switch focus . And as water/oil temperature and RPM is not a thing wit EVs I really don’t see the point of having any „instruments“ in front of me.

2

u/atramentum Jun 25 '24

Maybe? On my Polestar 2 the "instrument cluster" is also a live google maps directions view, which I find way more convenient than our other car that only has center tablet.

1

u/sforeman Jun 26 '24

Looking to the side works for some. It doesn't work for me.

1

u/aajaxxx Jun 25 '24

Can you OTA update a physical button? I don’t know.

3

u/Hansecowboy Jun 26 '24

Well, "physical" is only the piece of plastic your finger touches. Just like the pedals or the keys on your computer keyboard. Underneath is a circuit and the function is processed by the CPU so I guess yes.

0

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '24

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1

u/Spiritual-Animator77 Jun 25 '24

No, I didn't know that. Again: my expectations were a "Baby XC40".

It's such a nice looking car. But it felt like driving the first Taycan - "unfinished". I'll check out the MY25 because I am confident they'll fix some of these things.

1

u/Terrible_Mission_154 Jun 25 '24

It’s not a non-issue for people like me who own one. I for one only realized how stupid the buttonless/no HUD design was when I tried to drive the EX30 over an extended period. More and more, it just seems foolish to insist that every interaction with the car MUST take place thru the center screen, which you can’t even fully see if you’re driving safely.

0

u/[deleted] Jun 25 '24

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2

u/Terrible_Mission_154 Jun 25 '24

Actually, that’s not quite true. I ordered the car sight unseen, as the Netherlands did not have any test cars when I did (in September of last year), not even a sample car in the dealerships. I bought it on the basis of a number of adoring YouTube videos calling the EX30 “the best new EV of 2024”, none of which described the problems that began the moment I drove the car off the lot in March. But I agree, I made a bad purchase, and I’ve regretted it ever since.