During a test of the Volvo EX30, the Hyundai Kona and the Smart #1, we do not look at the range, charging time and consumption. The price/quality ratio is central this time.
Of Volvo immediately distinguishes itself positively: although the EX30 shares its technical basis with the Smart #1, it is much more spacious in the front. This is thanks to the narrow center tunnel and the thin door panels, on which there are almost no buttons. The Smart has less freedom of movement due to the unnecessarily high center console.
Volvo EX30 dashboard, luggage compartment, rear seat
Hyundai Kona luggage compartment
Of Hyundai Kona crushes its competitors, it is much more spacious both front and rear. The Volvo in particular is extremely tight in the back. Second trump card of the electric Hyundai Kona is its larger luggage compartment. And here too the EX30 fails. It has a high lifting threshold, which is not useful when loading and unloading heavy objects, and the equipment has been skimped on. For example, unlike the Smart #1, it does not have a sliding rear seat.
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We further complain about the EX30, because the clarity also leaves much to be desired. In the EX30 you will only find a large touchscreen, on which you have to read all the information. There is not even a speedometer in front of the driver and the Swedes do not offer a head-up display either. The Smart, on the other hand, does have real (digital) instruments for basic information.
Smart #1 dashboard, luggage compartment, rear seat
Doing some puzzling in the Volvo
The slim doors of the EX30 are nice for freedom of movement, but not for the logic of operation. You expect four buttons for the window controls in the door panels, but you don’t find any. You have to make do with just two buttons in the center console, which also operate the rear windows with a switch. Extremely irritating, you quickly make a mistake, causing exactly the wrong window to open.
We just wrote that the big screen is the center of everything and we really mean everything. You can even open the glove compartment via the screen and you also have to rely on the touchscreen for the climate control. And please don’t leave your wallet with charging card in the glove compartment. Volvo has made software updates to fix the problem, but our car still had to make do without them. Also in the Smart you can only operate the air conditioning via a screen, but the glove compartment opens the old-fashioned way.
Hyundai Kona dashboard, luggage compartment, rear seat
Hyundai’s controls are logical
Once again it is a treat when you get into the Hyundai Kona. We see dials and buttons that we immediately understand why they are there and the buttons on the steering wheel are also logically arranged. The finish quality in the Volvo is good, especially compared to the Smart. However, as with the competition, the materials are not of premium quality everywhere.
Price: Volvo EX30 became more expensive
While the Hyundai dealer is throwing around offers, Volvo has chosen to make the EX30 more expensive. The Single Motor Extended Range recently increased in price by 2,000 euros and is now listed for 43,495 euros in the Dutch price list. The basic prices of the Kona (39,995 euros) and the Smart #1 Pro+ (42,400 euros) are slightly lower.
If you are still in doubt, the fixed costs will not help you make the decision. The intended amounts for maintenance, insurance and depreciation are neatly aligned. All three electric SUVs are also approximately the same weight, so even if you have to pay road tax in the future, the price differences will be small.
You read the complete comparative test Auto Review 10. You can see which car wins the test and we also look at range, charging times, comfort and driving characteristics. You buy the magazine in the webshop.
Source: www.autoreview.nl
