A quick glance is enough to let you know it’s a bona fide Volvo. It measures at just 4.233 meters in length, but because of its chunky stance and disciplined surfacing, it looks larger than it seems. Upfront, there’s the trademark “Thor’s hammer” headlights, but digitalized with pixel-like segments for that high-tech flair. There’s no grille sandwiching these lights, but the large Volvo badge and diagonal stripe help definite it as a member of the family. The same goes for the vertical taillights, but split into two segments.

The door handles are reassuringly chunky—as you’d expect from a Volvo. And that’s probably down to a practical purpose. Because the key fob has no buttons, the door handles serve as your first touchpoint with the EX30.  The only way to open it would be to hold the driver’s, and only, the driver’s door. It can be unlocked by proximity, but it’s buried in the vehicle menu. It’s the same when you want to close it—it’s done either by the driver’s door sensor or as you walk away automatically.

Volvo’s decision to eliminate something as mundane as key fob buttons summarizes what they’re trying to do with the EX30, and that is to reduce complexity. It also happens to give it a strong Scandinavian character. Once you step inside, you’ll notice that the dashboard’s symmetrical left-to-right, down to the glove box which is situated in the middle. There are no speakers at the front save for the large Harman Kardon sound bar. Then, there’s just the solitary screen: a 12.3-inch portrait style screen that happens to act as the gauge cluster (top part), infotainment system (middle part), and climate control interface (bottom part). Thankfully, the system, running Google Android Automotive OS, works snappily with an easy-to-understand interface. At least for the most part.

On one hand, it’s understandable as to why the EX30 would want to eliminate as much physical controls as possible. On the other, Volvo may have taken things too far. Want to adjust the sideview mirror? That takes a couple of menu clicks—four to be exact. Ditto when you want to override the automatic headlights or switch on the rear fog lights. There’s a fixed quick access menu, but as to why they chose more eclectic things to put in there like changing the ambient lighting is just plain weird. And no, there’s no way to personalize which commands reside there.

Even the seats and the windows can be quirky or irritating, depending on how you feel on that day. The seats, for example, with the single square knob, will require you to cycle through three sub-menus by pressing the middle button to adjust it first for its basic movements, then for tilt, and lastly, for lumbar. The driver’s seat can be memorized, but only via the driver profile. The windows, meanwhile, only have two physical toggles. If you want to open the rears, you’ll need to press the “REAR” button first, then operate the toggles. Window locks and child locks are operated via on-screen menus too. The steering wheel does have a full set of physical switches, but these are the ones that feel the cheapest.

Volvo may have taken its Scandinavian minimalist approach a bit too far on this occasion, but at least you can’t criticize the EX30 for feeling cheap (except for the steering wheel switches). In fact, it can stand on its own against other premium SUVs. Not only is the color palette—the black and blue—cool on the eyes, but the choice of interior materials coupled with the interesting textures is smart. For instance, there’s not an ounce of leather in here, but it’s not missed. The use of fabric, denims, and Nordico—a material made of recycled PET bottles and bio-PVC—do their job of creating a unique interior look and feel.

The driving position is more hatchback than SUV, but it’s easy enough to get comfortable. The front seats offer plenty of head room, although the central glovebox may intrude a bit on the driver’s knee, especially if he or she prefers to sit a bit close. At the back, the flat floor helps free up knee room, but generally, the rear seats still aren’t as roomy. Fitting two adults is fine, but three will feel cramped. There’s also no center arm rest.

Small the EX30 may be, but its scores high when it comes to maximizing the available space. There are plenty of well-executed cubby holes too including a dedicated compartment for the wireless device charger, a flip drawer to place keys and wallets, and a cup holder that slides from the center arm rest. There’s also a removable trash bin for the rear passengers in the same center arm rest. When it comes to the cargo hold, it’s sizeable enough at 318 liters. The rear seats can also collapse in a 60/40 split that’ll line up flush with the luggage compartment. Plus, there’s a false floor that can fit more stuff. Lower the two-tier parcel shelf though, and that can grow to 400 liters. There’s also a small 61-liter pocket in the engine compartment to accommodate the charging cable.

Another way Volvo’s managed to reduce manufacturing cost is down to its platform. Unlike the EC40 and EX40 that use the CMA platform, the EX30 uses Geely’s SEA or Sustainable Experience Architecture. It’s something it shares with the Zeekr X, Smart #1, and the Lynk & Co 02. Don’t let that bother you it’s every bit Volvo feeling from behind the wheel.

For one, there’s the ride. The EX30’s strikes a good balance between ride comfort and handling. Its ride is cushioned and well-damped—polishing off both big humps and small irritations with little fuss or noise. As the speeds go up, the 45-series tires mean things get a bit choppy, but it’s still comfortable overall. Plus, it’s extremely hushed at high speeds with only a small amount of road and wind noise making its way inside.

For second, there’s the confident handling. Through the twisty bits, it’s composed and stable, even when driven in a more spirited manner. The steering is quick off center, but is too light even in its weightiest of three settings. It’s off-putting, but once you are keyed into it, it feels agile and disguises its mass very well. Plus, the rear-drive traction keeps things neutral under power.

The solitary variant available in the Philippines is the “Ultra Extended Range.” With that, the sole motor generates 272 horsepower and 343 Nm—enough for a century sprint in 5.3 seconds. It’s no nonsense fast, enough not just for confident merges on the expressway, but enough to shame Geely Coolrays who think they’re the fastest things on the road these days. With a 69-kWh (65-kWh usable) battery pack, Volvo says it can go up to 475 kilometers combined. Based on our experience, it fell somewhat short of these numbers, but 385 kilometers between charges is still pretty good all things considered.

Like any other Volvo, the EX30 doesn’t take shortcuts when it comes to safety. You get all the usual alerts and warnings that cover all directions and all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians. They’re even displayed as real-time icons near the speedometer for good measure, if you wish. Complaints? Perhaps the driver attention warning’s too sensitive. If you find yourself trying to skip an unwanted track on Spotify, or lowering the temperature, you’ll get rewarded with a series of beeps.

Realizing that they want to attract new buyers to the brand, Volvo has pulled out all the stops in designing and engineering the EX30. By aligning it closely with its Scandinavian roots and adding a dose of playfulness and a dash of quirkiness, it’s the most refreshing thing to come from Volvo in a while. Even better, it scores high marks for its performance and refinement. Plus, at P 2.99-million, it’s the most affordable model Volvo’s come up with in a while. Yet, because it’s brimming with character with solid execution to boot, it ends up being a brilliant EV SUV.