Volvo EX30: what attracts new customers? Conciseness, comfort or dynamics?
The new Volvo EX 30 crossover, despite its small size, is actually a “big” thing: it opens the SUV line from Volvo, attracts with its design, demonstrates cool dynamics. But what about the range? What about the interior space? And how much does such an electric car cost? Answers to all key questions – in a detailed review!
Design: conciseness outside and inside
It's simply amazing how well the stylists managed to combine Volvo's characteristic features and a sense of "freshness" of design, and to embody all this in compact dimensions! The front part demonstrates the new execution of the headlights in the corporate style of "Thor's Hammer", the hood line wraps around and emphasizes the front wheel arches, the deep stamping on the doors seems to add a feeling of a solidly knocked-down design of an electric car, and the rear part attracts with lights from separate segments. Under the familiar hatch – also quite familiar CCS 2 charging port.
And it is highly desirable to abandon black for the Volvo EX 30, choosing bright and light colors instead. So the electric car itself looks visually lighter, and numerous black-glossy details will not be lost: the insert at the bottom of the front bumper, a pair of stripes between the lights at the back, a line with the model designation that cuts through the rear roof pillar. And the black housings of the side mirrors, which are made of a single solid element, will not be lost either - that is, the mechanism for adjusting the position of the mirrors turns or tilts the entire housing, and not just the mirror element itself inside it.
The Volvo EX 30 crossover looks compact, but solidly built, like a well-fed baby with loving parents. By the way, it is not without some meaning for two reasons at once. The first is the truly small dimensions: length – 4.23 meters; width – 1.84 meters; height – 1.555 meters; wheelbase – 2.65 meters; the declared ground clearance is 177 mm. The second reason is that this Volvo EX 30 Twin Motor Performance (the largest battery and two electric motors for all-wheel drive) weighs 1960 kg; wow, that’s a lot! Moreover, even the entry-level version of the Volvo EX 30 with a smaller battery and one electric motor weighs at least 1840 kg.
But let's talk about the technical specifications later. Instead, let's get back to getting to know the design, only now the interior. Similar to the exterior, the interior is dominated by a sense of minimalism and laconicism. The front panel seems to be made of one large solid element, which is divided into two zones - for the driver and passenger. The lower part of the front panel is decorated with a decorative insert that resembles fabric and has contour lighting. Under the windshield is the inscription Harman Kardon, which hints at hidden speakers; and instead of the traditional instrument cluster, there is a small unit for monitoring the driver's attention. I admit, it would be better if there were instruments there. After all, while driving, you constantly have to glance sideways at the upper part of the 12.3-inch display, which is installed in the center of the front panel and is responsible for everything-everything-everything: electric car settings, climate control, music and navigation; even opening the "glove compartment" and the hazard warning light button. Although the latter is also duplicated on the ceiling, next to the solid panoramic glass roof (this is not a sunroof, it does not open).
Interestingly, when you dive deep into the settings menu, some of the buttons are already hidden and are not available until you return to the start page of the menu. Or here's another nuance: certain settings are made via the display, but then require confirmation with the OK button on the steering wheel. That is: just now all your attention was on the display – and now you need to shift your gaze to the steering wheel. Moreover, if you try to switch something on the display (music or climate) and distract your gaze there, the driver's attention control system gives a signal: don't be distracted, watch the road! But this is additionally distracting and the usual operation takes longer, the driver is even more distracted from the road - what's the point of all this then? Hey, Volvo EX 30 company, you're supposed to be for road safety, right? And this safety also consists in the driver watching the road, and not being distracted by trifles. Instead, I try to raise/lower the windows, switching between the front and rear windows, and reach the speed limiter – that’s another quest. Frankly, the pursuit of brevity and minimization of controls in the cabin turned out to be excessive. I would really like to get traditional instruments (or at least a projection of data in the field of view) and add a few of the most important physical controls, thus also simplifying the menu.
And in many ways, the interior is actually almost ingenious. For example, the armrest contains retractable cup holders: you can choose the position (for one or two glasses), you can slide the lid and get an open niche. Below is a large shelf for bags, and under it there is another niche, already hidden from prying eyes. At the end of the center console there is a place for two phones, plus a rubber stop that presses and holds them. For rear passengers there are their own pockets and charging ports for phones, there is a retractable center shelf with funny deers and a pair of side niches next to the sofa. By the way, there is not much space behind (I will give the measurements below) and the floor is quite high. However, I remember how we once drove in such a Volvo EX 30 with three people behind, three adults - and this is a personally verified fact.
At first glance, the interior gives a pleasant impression of its visual "lightness" and high-quality materials; leather trim is not offered, but the seats can be trimmed with fabrics with wool. The laconic style is traced even on the door cards, which are made with a minimum number of elements. But what are these elements: if there was a competition for the design of door handles, the Volvo EX 30 electric car would definitely be among the finalists. The trunk offers a volume of 318 liters (taking into account the lower niche), plus there is a small 7-liter compartment in front under the hood; moreover, it is also present on the electric car with all-wheel drive and a front electric motor. Another cover under the hood provides access to the tanks of technical fluids.
Finally, a few measurements of the interior; traditionally, we start with the front seats. The length of the front seat cushion is 50 cm and this is a plus or minus average figure. The distance from the edge of the driver's seat cushion to the accelerator pedal can vary in the range of 47-70 cm depending on the longitudinal adjustment of the seat. The trunk/headroom from the seat cushion to the ceiling is a maximum of 104 cm (measured along the backrest and headrest, the seat is lowered as much as possible, the backrest is set at an angle of about 110 degrees).
Now about the rear sofa. The body/legroom in the back is 53-75 cm (measured from the base of the rear sofa to the back of the front seat, depending on the adjustments and position of the front seat). Next: the distance from the rear sofa cushion to the ceiling is 99 cm (measured along the back and headrest of the rear sofa).
And finally, a few words about the trunk. The width of the latter is 100 cm between the wheel arches; and taking into account the side niches, you can count on 124 cm. The depth of the trunk, from the edge to the stop in the back of the rear sofa, is 72 cm; with the rear seat backrest folded, the depth of the trunk is 137 cm (measured to the edge of the folded back of the rear seat) or a maximum of 155 cm (measured to the stop in the back of the front seat).
It is clear that the Volvo EX 30 electric car is relatively small; hence the corresponding dimensions of the cabin. And I would also like to separately note the rather massive thresholds and the high floor position – all because of the battery below. By the way, about the design…
Equipment: SEA platform, two batteries, rear or all-wheel drive
The Volvo EX 30 electric car is built on the SEA platform, which is designed exclusively for electric cars: there are no gasoline or diesel versions of the “thirty”, in principle, only electric ones. But there are versions with different batteries and different types of drive. And this is where the most interesting thing begins.
The entry-level version of the Volvo EX 30 Single Motor features a battery with a nominal capacity of 51 kilowatt-hours, and it is an LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery. The promised range is 337 km in the WLTP combined cycle ; energy consumption is stated at 17.1 kilowatt-hours per 100 km. Charging from an AC source with a capacity of up to 11 kW is supported (a full battery charge takes about six hours), and the possibility of “fast charging” the battery up to 80% in 26 minutes is also provided. In addition, the entry-level version of the Volvo EX 30 Single Motor means the presence of only one electric motor in the rear-wheel drive: thanks to the power of 200 kW or 272 hp and torque of 343 Nm, you can get an acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and a maximum speed of 180 km/h.
The middle option is the Volvo EX 30 Single Motor Extended Range, which differs in many details. Firstly, it is an increased battery capacity of 69 kilowatt-hours, which is now made using NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) technology. The promised range is up to 476 km in the combined WLTP cycle; energy consumption is declared at 17 kilowatt-hours per 100 km of travel. Secondly, this battery can now be charged from an AC source with a capacity of 11 or 22 kW (depending on the built-in charging unit), as well as the possibility of “fast charging” with an increased capacity of up to 175 kW – and therefore recharging the battery within 10-80% is also promised in 26 minutes, even despite the increased battery capacity. Thirdly, the Volvo EX 30 Single Motor Extended Range version still uses a single electric motor in the rear-wheel drive, developing an unchanged power of 200 kW or 272 hp and torque of 343 Nm. But acceleration from 0-100 km/h is promised in 5.3 seconds; although the maximum speed remains unchanged at 180 km/h.
Finally, the maximum option is the Volvo EX 30 Twin Motor Performance. This electric crossover has a large battery (similar to the Extended Range); however, the promised range for it is up to 450 in the combined WLTP cycle, and energy consumption is declared at 17.5 kilowatt-hours per 100 km of the road. But the most interesting thing is that the all-wheel drive is implemented thanks to two electric motors. The total power reaches 315 kW or 428 hp, and the torque is 543 Nm. Thanks to such indicators, the Volvo EX 30 Twin Motor Performance electric car should accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds; although the maximum speed is still 180 km/h.
And this is only the main story about the technology of this electric car; there are also many secondary, but no less interesting ones. For example, about the Harman Kardon audio system, which offers nine speakers, where five of them are combined in one element ("soundbar") under the windshield. Or it is worth mentioning the T-shaped "Thor's Hammer" hammers made of individual LED elements, the interior with various drawers and niches, as well as numerous safety systems - including Pilot Assist and a driver monitoring system.
It all starts quite expectedly: a load-bearing body and fully independent wheel suspensions (McPherson struts in front and multi-link in the rear), a platform only for electric vehicles, a battery within the wheelbase, rear or all-wheel drive. However, everything is very interesting in the details: the layout of the cabin; not only different capacity, but also a different type of battery; and also – the Volvo EX 30 Twin Motor Performance version with a promised 3.6 seconds to “hundreds”, which turns out to be the most dynamic Volvo model in the entire history of the company. This is exactly the version that was presented for a test drive! So we have the opportunity to check the record figure, as well as energy consumption and the promised mileage: let me remind you – up to 450 km. So…
Behind the wheel: record-breaking dynamics and comfortable suspension
A quick and short answer to the first question is yes, the Volvo EX 30 crossover is very dynamic. I didn’t manage to reach the promised 3.6 seconds to “hundreds”, but 3.7-3.8 seconds are quite realistic with a fully or almost fully charged battery. Interestingly, the Volvo EX 30 electric car doesn’t shock with its dynamics at the first moment of acceleration, there’s no dramatic blow to the back and head thrown back into the headrest. However, after half a second, you feel such powerful acceleration that it becomes difficult to breathe and you can shoot these popular “tik-tok” videos again and again with children squeezed into the back of the seat (I hope the seat design is designed for such loads). And if you’re tired of playing with starts from a standstill, then you can play “roll-on”, that is, acceleration on the go – there’s enough traction reserve for the next portions of wow impressions. Just kidding, but it's a fact: the Volvo EX 30 electric car is really very dynamic.
At the same time, this dynamics and power do not turn it into a sports car. The main feature of the Volvo EX 30's driving character is relaxation and comfort. A fairly soft suspension, careful processing of irregularities, silence in the cabin, a steering wheel with medium sharpness (2.7 turns from lock to lock) and ease in the hands. I note that the on-board computer menu provides steering wheel settings; however, I did not play with them, and my memory recorded exactly this character – light, relaxed, comfortable. You may ask: why so much power then? Perhaps, for a reserve during overtaking – such dynamics, such acceleration will be enough always and everywhere. By the way, in the settings menu you can also find "one-pedal control", when the electric car significantly brakes and maximally collects energy when the accelerator pedal is released. This setting is for connoisseurs and fans of this driving style. However, personally, I am not one of those people – after all, you have to constantly keep your foot on the accelerator pedal and at the slightest release of it, the electric car does not coast, but has quite intense recuperation. Instead, I would rather install paddles under the steering wheel to control the intensity of recuperation. However, have you forgotten? Laconicism, a minimum of controls…
Okay, now let's move on to the second most important issue - range. In short, this declared energy consumption figure of 17.5 kilowatt-hours per 100 km of travel is quite fair. However, I can't divide the nominal capacity of the battery (69) and the declared figure (17.5) so that it turns out 450 km of range – arithmetic calculations give about 400 km. That is, we have about 10-11% difference. Which is confirmed by our own measurements and observations: I drove 58 km, and the range counter decreased by 65 km. And also keep in mind that the battery will almost certainly never be used at full capacity.
Usually I put a photo of the engine in this block, but for an electric car, another photo is much more important – the range meter. At the beginning of the test, I take a fully charged electric car and the display shows almost 450 km! However, in reality, the meter is somewhat optimistic; at least – by 10% of the promised; at most… And it depends on how you drive. So, on average in the city I got 16-17-18 kilowatt-hours per 100 km of mileage. At a minimum, I managed to get 11 kilowatt-hours and this potentially means a very large range. For example, in the city cycle alone, 590 km is promised for the Volvo EX 30 Twin Motor Performance and I do not exclude that this can be achieved. But is this what people buy a 428-horsepower 3.6-second crossover for? The maximum energy consumption (if you drive for pleasure) significantly exceeded 20 kilowatt-hours per 100 km of the road; that is, we have, in the best case, about 300 km of range. On the highway, at a speed of about "hundreds", energy consumption was 18.5 kilowatt-hours per 100 km of the road, which promises 370 km in terms of the nominal battery capacity. But if we take into account, as they say, "with a margin" in terms of battery capacity, then it is better to expect to make a stop on the highway every 300 km or even earlier.
Price: how much does the Volvo EX30 cost and who can compete with it?
As of now, the Volvo EX 30 electric car is offered in Ukraine in three versions in terms of technology (Single Motor, Single Motor Extended Range, Twin Motor Performance), in three different trim levels (CORE, PLUS, ULTRA), as well as with a separate version of the Volvo EX 30 Cross Country. So there really is plenty to choose from.
The range opens with the Volvo EX 30 CORE, which offers the following: adaptive cruise control, speed limiter, one-pedal control, traffic sign information, lane keeping function, blind spot monitoring of mirrors, cross traffic warning ahead, rear collision warning, 12.3-inch touchscreen display, support for Google services, rearview camera, aerodynamic 18-inch wheels, 11 kW on-board charger, single-zone climate control, airbags and curtains, LED headlights, etc. The cost of the Volvo EX 30 Single Motor CORE is from UAH 1.4 million or $33.7 thousand; the cost of the Volvo EX 30 Single Motor Extended Range CORE is from UAH 1.59 million or $38.3 thousand.
The Volvo EX 30 PLUS is located one level higher, which adds: Pilot Assist system, larger 19-inch alloy wheels, heat pump, dual-zone climate control, electric trunk lid, Premium Sound audio from Harman Kardon, wireless charging, etc. The cost of the Volvo EX 30 Single Motor Extended Range PLUS is from UAH 1.69 million or $40.7 thousand; the cost of the Volvo EX 30 Twin Motor Performance PLUS is from UAH 1.8 million or $43.3 thousand.
The maximum option is the Volvo EX 30 ULTRA, which is additionally distinguished by: a panoramic glass roof, two-tone body paint with a black roof, 360-degree all-round visibility, a 22 kW charger, electric driver and front passenger seat adjustments, etc. The cost of the Volvo EX 30 Single Motor Extended Range ULTRA is from UAH 1.86 million or $44.8 thousand; the cost of the Volvo EX 30 Twin Motor Performance ULTRA is from UAH 1.96 million or $47.2 thousand.
Finally, the Volvo EX 30 Cross Country crossover is a separate link: additional protective pads and increased clearance, original 19-inch wheels, maximum equipment at once, the maximum ULTRA equipment level at once, etc. The cost of the Volvo EX 30 Cross Country is from 2.02 million UAH or $48.7 thousand.
Here is one of the most affordable options for the Volvo EX 30 electric car: the Single Motor version, CORE equipment, among the additional options – only heated steering wheel and seats. Such an electric car costs about 1.45 million UAH (about $35 thousand) and if you are not a Volvo EX 30 connoisseur, you will hardly notice the difference with the much more expensive versions of the “thirty”. However, such a tempting price is only in this case. Do you want a larger battery? Then the price tag is already about $40 thousand. Do you want all-wheel drive? Then get ready for at least $43 thousand. And if “everything is not the maximum”? Then it will be under $50 thousand. By the way, interesting sales statistics: the starting version accounts for less than 10% of total sales; another about 40% is given by the middle version (with an enlarged battery and rear-wheel drive); the rest – that is, about 50% of all sales – is provided by the expensive maximum version with a large battery and all-wheel drive. It turns out that Volvo EX 30 buyers have money and come not for a low price, but for maximum performance. However, let's still consider the competitors for different versions.
If we talk about the starting version of the Volvo EX 30 , then the competitors can be the Peugeot e-2008 and Citroen e-C4: also with a mono-drive, also with a 50+ kilowatt-hour battery and a promised range of 300+ km; however, they are significantly inferior in power and do not have the status of a premium brand. If we talk about the maximum versions, then the competitors can be the BMW iX 1 and MINI Aceman: here there are no questions about the status of a premium brand, but there are questions about the considerable price of BMW; although this is partially compensated by larger dimensions.
These are competitors from the list of electric cars presented through official importers and dealers. After all, if we talk about unofficial ones, then you can immediately mention ZEEKR X and Smart #1 (which is logical, because they are related by the SEA platform and partially or fully owned by the Chinese company Geely), plus I would also add the electric car Volkswagen ID.Unyx. Generally speaking, all these electric cars are comparable in price to the Volvo EX 30 or even cheaper, they are not inferior in battery size and potential range. And of course, how can we not mention Tesla when talking about electric cars ? The closest competitor may be the Tesla Model Y crossover: it is much larger in size, but also much more expensive. Can such electric car competitors interest potential buyers? Perhaps some buyers will be interested. But some – categorically no: I am sure that there are customers who will choose exclusively from the “officials”. Will they choose the Volvo EX 30 and for what advantages? And what are the disadvantages? So, the results.