Mission start! The EX30 pioneers Volvo's net zero emissions goal

Volvo's on a mission. They want to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040—one of the first carmakers to do so.

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The first-ever EX30 is a step in that direction; it's designed to have the lowest carbon footprint of any Volvo car to date. It's also a brilliant small EV SUV.

A quick glance is enough to let you know it's a bona fide Volvo. Up front, there's the trademark "Thor's hammer" headlights, but digitalized with pixel-like segments for that high-tech flair. There's no grille, but the large Volvo badge and diagonal stripe help define it as a member of the family. The same goes for the vertical taillights.

The door handles are reassuringly chunky—as you'd expect from a Volvo. Because the key fob has no buttons, the door handles serve as your first touchpoint with the EX30 as 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 menu. It's the same when you want to close it—either by the driver's door sensor or as you walk away automatically.

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).

It's understandable as to why the EX30 would want to eliminate as much physical controls as possible. On the other hand, Volvo may have taken things too far. Want to adjust the sideview mirror? That takes a few menu clicks—four to be exact. Ditto when you want to override the automatic headlights or switch on the rear fog lights.