The Volvo EX30 is the overachiever that refuses to quit. This week, the Swedes added another trophy to an already crowded cabinet, picking up a 2025 Good Design Award for the small electric SUV. It is yet another reminder that while other carmakers are busy overcomplicating everything with fake vents and plastic chrome, Volvo is quietly winning by stripping things back to basics.
The Good Design Award is no participation trophy. It is one of the oldest and most respected global design awards, run by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. Since 1950, they have been judging everything from staplers to skyscrapers based on whether they actually work and look good doing it. For the EX30, the win confirms what we already knew: small can be premium if you do it right.
What makes this little electric pocket rocket stand out is the “centralisation” theme. Instead of cluttering the doors with speakers and switches, Volvo moved everything to the centre. They put a massive soundbar across the dash and grouped the window switches in the middle. It sounds like a cost-cutting exercise—and it probably was—but the result is a cabin that feels remarkably airy and clean. It also means less wiring, less plastic, and a smaller carbon footprint.
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ABOVE: Volvo EX30 Snags Another Major Win
Volvo designers went all-in on sustainable materials too. We are talking about recycled denim, flax, and a wool blend that actually feels expensive rather than like something salvaged from a skip. It is a masterclass in Scandinavian minimalism that manages to be warm instead of clinical. The exterior follows suit, with the “Thor’s Hammer” headlights and a stance that makes it look like it belongs in the city and on a coastal run.
This award follows a string of wins for the EX30, including World Urban Car of the Year. It is clear the market is hungry for EVs that do not look like spaceships or cost as much as a small apartment. By focusing on smart design rather than just bigger batteries, Volvo has managed to build an EV that people actually want to be seen in. The EX30 proves that you do not need a giant car to make a giant statement.
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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