22 minutes ago, Alex.S said:

yes an EX30.

Out of interest, how do you get on with virtually everything on the touchscreen? I've seen some very positive reviews on the EX 30, but that aspect seemed to get a few negatives.

The range thing is very interesting to me. Legislation has pretty much killed off the ICE car as I've known it for the last 50 years or so, so any future purchase is likely to be FHEV or BEV.

I would have no charging problems closer to home even if I relied on public chargers. However, based on availability/capacity of chargers in places elsewhere that I go frequently, I'd be more comfortable with something approaching 300 miles. (There aren't many petrol stations in some places either, but even the Fiesta can manage 350-400).

Interesting comment recently from Steve Cropley, editor in chief of Autocar. He's got an R5 on long term test, and is pretty complimentary about it. He gets 200 miles at this time of year, which works for him, but recently tried the Alpine A290 "hot" version, and found it got 30-40 miles less, which didn't.

Seeing the post updates come through on this thread, I felt it was about time I come on here and say that I don't own a Ford anymore.

Had my EV for about a month now and based on the conversations in this thread, I would highly recommend you add it to your shortlist and consider a test drive (you can adjust the steering weight, I found it a little light in its normal setting). I spent a long time looking at options which weren't too big, too expensive, built in China or on a Chinese platform, still had physical controls for most things and wasn't painfully slow, boring or trying to be an SUV.

I settled on the (imo much underated and overlooked) Megane E-Tech. The interior of the new Espirit Alpine is really nice and finally a splash of colour (blue) compared to so many grey interiors. 220 PS, it will do 6.9s 0-60 in the dry in tests.

I love the new Renault 5, but after switching between Focus and Fiesta previously with Ford, I knew I wanted something slightly bigger than the 5.

6 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

how do you get on with virtually everything on the touchscreen

It’s very easy. A bit daunting to begin with but within a half hour drive u realise how simple it is. Intuitive I think is the word. A plug in hybrid yes economical but if you’re installing a charging point at home you might as well take full advantage. Your home electric is probably around 20 - 30p per kWh. With an EV tariff (usually overnight ,which is very convenient) you’re talking 7p. An ultra fast public charger is around 60p at best, more like 85p usually. It’s rip off Britain, apparently on the continent it’s 30-40p for quick public charging. 
The screen there’s a lot of info on there but u soon learn where the particular info you need is , means your only taking your eye off the road temporarily but the more you use it the quicker you get. 

2 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

I spent a long time looking at options which weren't too big, too expensive, built in China or on a Chinese platform

Good choice on the Renault. Chinese products have a poor reputation but things change. Volvo owned by Geely a Chinese company still design their cars in Sweden. They still manufacture all over the world. Mine was made in China but they’re now built in Belgium. I think it comes down to work ethic, there’s no reason why they can’t build a quality product. 

4 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

 I felt it was about time I come on here and say that I don't own a Ford anymore.

This is all starting to sound like joining Alcoholics Anonymous - "My name is ?????? and I used to be a petrolhead"!😀

Does the Megane have The "My safety perso" button for the ADAS features, Alex?

Just now, Alex.S said:

Good choice on the Renault. Chinese products have a poor reputation but things change. Volvo owned by Geely a Chinese company still design their cars in Sweden. They still manufacture all over the world. Mine was made in China but they’re now built in Belgium. I think it comes down to work ethic, there’s no reason why they can’t build a quality product. 

It's more about wanting to support European (and Japanese because it's developed with Nissan) car companies and platforms.

China can build quality, they do it enough as a contract manufacturer for companies around the world, but I don't want to see the market competely dominated by them and I certainly don't yet trust a Chinese manufacturer not to cut corners or have good spare parts availability.

15 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

, too expensive, built in China or on a Chinese platform, still had physical controls for most things and wasn't painfully slow, boring or trying to be an SUV.

 

You’ve pretty much described my car. Have you driven an EX30 ?

Just now, Eric Bloodaxe said:

This is all starting to sound like joining Alcoholics Anonymous - "My name is ?????? and I used to be a petrolhead"!😀

Does the Megane have The "My safety perso" button for the ADAS features, Alex?

Haha, it is a bit like that.

Yeah the Megane has a physical button just to the right of the steering wheel and a double press puts it in safety perso mode which loads your preferences for turning any (or pretty much all) mandated nannies off.

Renault have clearly designed their EVs for owners who like driving. Even if you don't trigger the perso mode, the overspeed warning has a few mph threshold and is very subtle and quiet. Have the radio on at any reasonable volume and you can't hear it.

16 minutes ago, Alex.S said:

A plug in hybrid yes economical

I mentioned FHEV not PHEV but I agree, you might as well go 100% electric if you're using a charger anyway.

4 minutes ago, Alex.S said:

You’ve pretty much described my car. Have you driven an EX30 ?

No but I did have a good look in to it watched many a video. I was very interested when they first announced it, but it didn't make it to my test drive list because of the lack of driver instruments and lack of physical climate controls. For a company that brought the world the seat belt, I can't understand how they signed off on the "all on a tablet" in the middle of the car. That one bit felt very Geely over Volvo. 

1 minute ago, alexp999 said:

No I did have a good look in to it. I was very interested when they first announced it, but it didn't make it to my test drive list because of the lack of driver instruments and lack of physical climate controls. For a company that brought the world the seat belt, I can't understand how they signed off on the "all on a tablet" in the middle of the car. That one bit felt very Geely over Volvo. 

Even their flagship SUV the EX90 has the same or similar screen but also an instrument cluster in the usual place. They call the EX30 design Scandinavian minimalist. Geely desperate to keep some Swedish heritage. The EX30 was crying out for a HUD , a perfect opportunity on the empty dash. I too was looking for EV with some physical buttons but now I’m not bothered. 

8 minutes ago, Alex.S said:

Even their flagship SUV the EX90 has the same or similar screen but also an instrument cluster in the usual place. They call the EX30 design Scandinavian minimalist. Geely desperate to keep some Swedish heritage. The EX30 was crying out for a HUD , a perfect opportunity on the empty dash. I too was looking for EV with some physical buttons but now I’m not bothered. 

Yeah I think a HUD would have solved the lack of instruments. That’s what Mini have done on their latest models. 

20 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

Yeah the Megane has a physical button just to the right of the steering wheel and a double press puts it in safety perso mode which loads your preferences for turning any (or pretty much all) mandated nannies off.

This is what the Volvo really needs! All the annoying things about it come back on as default every time you get in the car. I’ve had  to learn to live with lane keeping etc infuriating 

Kona 64 usable and with heat pump.yeah, 200 bhp. More than enough to make the car lively from stationary. Extra bhp only to blame if your using that extra. Once the novelty of launching off the lights next to BMW, mercedes etc wore off i drove leisurely like normal.😂

Luckily with mine being a 2020 Kona , the annoying bings and bongs of today's cars( regardless of fuel type)  are limited to lane assist which has a physical button I press as soon as I get in. 

Partner's gwm ora is a different thing. Got camera watching to make sure  your paying attention. Even nags you there a bend ahead ! All switched of via the infotainment screen . Found short cuts to access the bit you want now. 

The Volvo was in for first service yesterday 18k miles , more of a health check. Brakes tyres and suspension mainly. They gave me a Volvo XC40 courtesy car, a b3 trim. Really disappointed, 160bhp which for such a large car was inadequate. Interior felt more premium than my EV is about the only pro about it. A mild hybrid. , a 25 plate but released 9 years ago it’s a bit dated. There is a higher spec T5 which is about £10k more, it’s a plug in hybrid 280bhp. I’m not sure about this but I think they’re made in Sweden rather than China. That shouldn’t matter these days but definitely bit more luxurious feel about the cabin. Can’t remember if I mentioned the EX30 recall about the batteries? Geely are suing a Chinese battery manufacturer for quarter billion dollars!

Mines not affected !

On 3/29/2026 at 4:45 PM, Alex.S said:

The Volvo was in for first service yesterday 18k miles , more of a health check. Brakes tyres and suspension mainly. They gave me a Volvo XC40 courtesy car, a b3 trim. Really disappointed, 160bhp which for such a large car was inadequate. Interior felt more premium than my EV is about the only pro about it. A mild hybrid. , a 25 plate but released 9 years ago it’s a bit dated. There is a higher spec T5 which is about £10k more, it’s a plug in hybrid 280bhp. I’m not sure about this but I think they’re made in Sweden rather than China. That shouldn’t matter these days but definitely bit more luxurious feel about the cabin. Can’t remember if I mentioned the EX30 recall about the batteries? Geely are suing a Chinese battery manufacturer for quarte tr billion dollars!

Mines not affected !

Last I heard the XC40 for UK and Europe was produced in Ghent, Belgium :). AFAIK they produce locally for China as well though.

On 3/29/2026 at 4:45 PM, Alex.S said:

Really disappointed, 160bhp which for such a large car was inadequate

Some friends of ours have a B4 which is about 200 bhp. Seem happy enough with it as its their second XC 40 B4, but they both preferred diesel when they could get one.

Biggest gripe they seem to have is the gear selector in manual mode which is side to side rather than fore and aft like most autos with a selector lever - not the biggest deal!

Serial Volvo owners though, we've known them over 20 years and they've never had another brand in that time.

On 4/1/2026 at 11:16 PM, tarbyonline said:

Last I heard the XC40 for UK and Europe was produced in Ghent, Belgium :). AFAIK they produce locally for China as well though.

The EX30 is now made in Ghent which probably means other EVs they make will be from there. Although China has its own geographical advantages manufacturing for the countries that drive on the left. Australasia , Thailand, India , Indonesia etc huge markets.

21 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Some friends of ours have a B4 which is about 200 bhp. Seem happy enough with it as its their second XC 40 B4, but they both preferred diesel when they could get one.

Biggest gripe they seem to have is the gear selector in manual mode which is side to side rather than fore and aft like most autos with a selector lever - not the biggest deal!

Serial Volvo owners though, we've known them over 20 years and they've never had another brand in that time.

That extra 40bhp will make all the difference. Have volvo discontinued diesel? I think they dropped manual transmissions too. There’s XC40 EVs around but they must be ICE cars converted to EV , I don’t know the ins and outs but a chassis built specifically for a battery car must have advantages. Gear selector in manual mode is that paddles you’re talking about? My EX gear selector is the right hand stalk , all lights and wipers are on one stalk on the left. The way it’s set up very alien to begin with is actually very well thought out. Pity they didn’t think about rear legroom, ford fiesta is probably roomier !

17 minutes ago, Alex.S said:

Gear selector in manual mode is that paddles you’re talking about?

No, the gear selector lever on the centre console - don't think it has paddles iirc. Yes, they dropped manuals and diesels some years back afaik, much to the chagrin of our friends who preferred both!

i believe the XC40 EV (EX40) is on the adapted ICE chassis, so some packaging compromises - though it sounds as if the EX30 is not free of those either.