Volvo’s just dropped one of the biggest over-the-air updates the industry’s seen, with around 2.5 million cars globally getting a proper in-car refresh – no dealer visit required.
The new Volvo Car UX focuses on simplifying everything. Fewer taps, cleaner layout, and a home screen that actually prioritises what you use – maps, media and phone – so you’re not digging through menus mid-drive.
There’s also a smart contextual bar that adapts as you go. Manoeuvring at low speed? Camera controls pop up. It’s simple stuff, done properly.
Plug-in hybrid drivers get quicker access to drive modes too, including a one-tap switch to electric-only driving – no more menu hunting.
This all builds on Volvo’s wider push to improve cars over time. We’ve already seen that with things like its Abbey Road Studios sound mode update – this is the same idea, just applied to the whole user experience.
And it’s not stopping there. This update also preps cars for Google Gemini-powered conversational AI, landing later this year.
Best bit? It applies to models going back to around 2020 with Google built-in, so older cars won’t feel left behind.
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