IS there anything more annoying than not being able to get into your car just as the heavens open?
Any delay, in the circumstances, is frustrating and the longer your all-electric (and hence no key) transport refuses to play ball borders on the fuming.
Which really is a shame, because in just about every other respect Volvo’s EX30 is a very good car.
True to the Swedish firm’s current fad, the interior is minimalist but retains an exceptionally well finished feel to it.
The minimalism extends to not having any switches on the doors – just an aluminium handle.
They might well have done a bit of cost cutting to achieve the competitive price at which the EX30 sits on the market, but you’ll be hard pressed to spot it on the inside.
It comes with the traditional Thor hammer headlights but with no front grille the Volvo badge is bigger and incorporates the forward camera.
Recycled materials have been utilised, including denim and old pvc window frames, but don’t let that put you off. The end result is a special feel to the bit you sit in.
Just about everything is controlled by the Tesla-like central screen, which is a bit daunting at first if you’ve never encountered one before. Amongst many other tasks, you have to adjust the door mirrors from there, and also open the boot – until you discover there’s a small well hidden switch on the bootlid to perform that task.
There’s no head-up display so you’re always going to have to look left for info, but there’s a re-assuring clarity to the screen once you get used to the location of the icons. The Google Map sat nav is a definite plus point.
Top-spec Ultra trim has 20-inch alloy wheels, a 360-degree parking camera, a fixed panoramic sunroof, a self-parking system, electric front seats and a 22kW on-board charger.
The least expensive EX30 has a single-motor driving the rear wheels with 268bhp, and it comes with a 51kWh battery pack.
If you want a greater range go for the Single Motor Extended Range which uses the same electric motor as the cheaper model, but adds a bigger 69kWh (64kWh usable) battery for just under 300 miles of range.
The ride quality has a firm feel but it never borders on being harsh and everything is well controlled when you use the available impressive point and squirt acceleration, which always proves to be addictive.
Like most electric vehicles EX30 has regenerative braking that generates a bit of electricity that goes back in the battery as you lift off to slow down.
There are five exterior colours to choose from, and thankfully, all of them are free, which makes a pleasant change these days.
Volvo EX30 Ultra
Price: £42,045
Engine: 69 kWh battery
Power: 268bhp
Torque: 253 lb/ft
Transmission: single speed auto
Top speed: 112mph
0-62mph: 5.1 seconds
Range: 298 miles
CO2 emissions:0 g/km
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Volvo EX30 Cloud Blue Exterior