DRIVE QUEST - Exploring the appeal of cars with guests.
Vol.08 VOLVO EX30

DRIVE QUEST - ゲストと探る、クルマの魅力。<br>Vol.08 VOLVO EX30

2025.5.9

Photo： Tatsuki Nakata

Edit： Naoya Tsuneshige

Places you can only go by car. Secret conversations you can only have in the car. Play your favorite music and go wherever your heart takes you. Cars always show us new sights. Maybe it's a little different when you've got your crush in the car. This is a series that explores those thrills and excitements with our guests. Passenger seat passenger of the month, what is the appeal of cars?

Profile

Chiaki Mitsui

After working as a press representative for a major select shop and an outdoor brand, she is now working as a freelance PR. She loves the outdoors so much that she goes hiking and camping whenever she has time. She is considering getting a driver's license. Her immediate goal is to drive a car and go outdoors.

Instagram:@chiaki_mitsui

Exploring the appeal of the EX30 with Chiaki.

Volvo will soon be celebrating its 100th anniversary. Since releasing its first car in 1927, the company has always placed safety first.

An especially big change came in 2019. This was the year that the manufacturer announced its first fully electric SUV. Since then, while maintaining the safety and robustness it had cultivated up until then, it has further accelerated its efforts toward environmental friendliness, a top priority in the automotive industry. Its goal is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from all its operations by 2040. This is just the beginning. Looking at the EX30, it is hard not to feel that a new era is dawning for Volvo.

Chiaki-san was always smiling. Coupled with the weather that day, the atmosphere in the car was happy from start to finish.
Equipped with one-pedal drive function that controls acceleration and deceleration by operating the accelerator.
The steering wheel has a unique square design that provides a wide field of vision ahead and provides ample knee room while driving.
Almost the entire roof is made of glass, allowing the sky to extend above the rear seats, creating an overwhelming feeling of openness.
The EX30 is Volvo's smallest SUV model.

The person invited to sit in the passenger seat on this day was Chiaki Mitsui, a freelance PR professional active in a variety of industries. Chiaki doesn't actually have a driver's license, but she does like cars and often goes outdoors.

"I often go camping. About once or twice a month. I also go mountain climbing. I don't have a driver's license so I always end up sitting in the passenger seat, but I get rides from friends who are into the outdoors and we go to all kinds of places together. It's not because of this project, but I'd like to get my driver's license soon so I can go outdoors by myself."

Of the materials used, approximately 25% of the aluminum, 17% of the steel, and 17% of the plastic are recycled materials.
Information shown while driving, such as the speedometer, is integrated into the center display, creating a simple and minimalist cabin.
The beautifully crafted inner door handle is actually made from recycled aluminium.
The bottom center is equipped with a pocket for charging your smartphone just by placing it in it.
The Harman Kardon soundbar is inspired by home audio, providing an overwhelming sense of realism that envelops the entire body.

While enjoying a freshly ground coffee to go at WOODBERRY COFFEE ROASTERS in Yoga, we asked Chiaki how she got into the outdoors and what it appeals to her.

"I've always loved nature, but the clear turning point was when I started working for an outdoor brand. Up until then, I had only done hiking, but that's when I started to get serious gear. The important thing when climbing mountains is to do it at your own pace without forcing yourself. Once I realised that, I began to think that this meant facing myself. I think that in our busy daily lives, we tend to neglect facing ourselves, but I feel like nature reminds us of such important things."

"By the way, the weather is perfect today. Look, you can see from inside the car that there isn't a single cloud in the sky. This car gives you a great feeling of openness."

The roof is almost entirely made of glass. When you look up, you can see the sky and feel an overwhelming sense of openness. But that's not the only reason why it feels so open. There are things that shouldn't be there, and most of them are concentrated in the center panel (and its surrounding area). These are the meters behind the steering wheel and the power window switches. Following that trend, the shift lever is also... not in the center, but on the right column (where the turn signals are in Japanese cars).

Stripping away everything is not necessarily the right thing to do, but in the case of the EX30, it is all based on a design philosophy that pursues resource conservation and ease of recycling. For example, by installing the power windows in the center armrest rather than in the door, the wiring is simpler, reducing the resources required in that area. This is linked to the background of Volvo's goal of "specializing in EVs," and it is good to see that they are not just obsessed with short-term design and style.

Finally, we asked Chiaki to look back on the day's drive.

"Even I, who don't know much about cars, could tell. It's incredibly quiet and comfortable. It's spacious and the interior is sophisticated, so you can enjoy the space. The size is just right, too. I had the impression that Volvos were big and bulky, but this one is somehow futuristic and streamlined. If I were to drive one, I might like a car like this. Ah... I guess I'll get my driver's license first!! (laughs)"

Equipped with Lane Change Assist, which supports lane changes. When the turn signal is turned on while Pilot Assist is in operation, it automatically recognizes sufficient space and timing and assists in safe lane changes.
A spatial presentation inspired by Swedish nature. Enjoy five different types of light, sound and video depending on your preference.