Volvo's EX30 compact crossover lacks dashboard behind steering wheel

It’s hard not to like Volvo’s new EX30 compact crossover, its smallest SUV. And I did, in the main, while driving it for the first time on potholed UK roads.

This is a smart electric car with contemporary looks, a range of up to 296 miles, good performance and acceleration, a smart clutter-free interior, flexible space — including fold-down seats and a small front-trunk or ‘frunk’ — and some clever touches.

But it’s also a flawed genius. Because for all my enjoyment, there remain some irritating niggles which I hope the Swedish car firm — owned by car giant Geely — will put right in the Chinese-built SUV.

Volvo has stripped out physical buttons and knobs, and put far too much emphasis on the single central upright iPad-style dashboard screen.

As a result, there is no driver information screen behind the steering wheel. So I had to divert my gaze from the road to the screen centre of the car to check the speed limit or keep an eye on the sat-nav map.

Flawed genius: Volvo’s EX30 lacks a dashboard behind the steering wheel

Tweaking the side mirrors is also via the screen. This is surprising from a car firm that has built its reputation on safety.

This key flaw aside, I enjoyed the EX30, priced from £33,795. I drove the 272hp rear-wheel drive model costing from £38,545 which accelerated from rest to 62mph in 5.3 seconds and has a range of 296 miles.

The more powerful 428hp twin motor version costs from £42,045 and accelerates from rest to 62mph in 3.6 seconds.

Volkswagen Multivan has slowest depreciation 

New cars lose value the second they leave the dealer’s forecourt. But the degree of depreciation varies hugely between models.

A new report by magazine WhatCar? looking at cars under £50,000, based on three years’ ownership and 36,000 miles, says the seven-seater Volkswagen Multivan is the best performer with the slowest depreciation, retaining 62 per cent of its value as it drops from £48,340 to £29,975 — a fall of £18,365.

Top spot: Volkswagen Multivan has the slowest depreciation, retaining 62 per cent of its value as it drops from £48,340 to £29,975

It is followed by the Renault Scenic E-Tech, retaining 60.7 per cent of its value and the Honda Civic Type R (60.5 per cent).

Biggest depreciators are the Vauxhall Mokka Electric which retains 27.9 per cent of its value and DS3 E-Tense (28.5 per cent).

Read more