BARCELONA, Spain — Priced from $36,245, together with $1,295 for vacation spot, the brand new EX30 is Volvo’s least-expensive automobile. However make no mistake, there’s nothing low cost about this subcompact electrical crossover. From its stable street manners to its intelligent use of inside textiles, this little cutie is comfy, competent and bursting with appeal.
We’ll get the EX30 in Single Motor Prolonged Vary and Twin Motor Efficiency variants when it goes on sale within the U.S. early subsequent 12 months. Each fashions are powered by a 69-kilowatt-hour battery pack – 64 kWh of which is usable – that may be replenished at a most charging fee of 153 kW. Volvo says you’ll solely want 27 minutes to take the EX30 from a ten% to 80% state of cost, however that’s assuming the battery is correctly preconditioned, the charger you’re plugged into really works appropriately, the planets are all aligned, and many others.
The Single Motor’s, um, single motor is mounted to the rear axle, producing 268 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. This’ll get the EX30 to 60 mph in a wonderfully respectable 5.1 seconds, and Volvo estimates a 275-mile driving vary for this configuration – although not for those who’re testing that aforementioned launch time on the common, after all.
The Twin Motor Efficiency has the identical rear drive unit, however provides a second motor to the EX30’s entrance axle for a complete output of 422 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. That’s a complete heck of a whole lot of energy – even for a 4,140-pound crossover – and my goodness, does this EX30 scoot. Put the EX30 Twin Motor into its Efficiency AWD setting, stomp the throttle and also you’ll hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. That makes the EX30 Volvo’s quickest accelerating manufacturing automobile ever.
Nifty as that’s, nonetheless, after a day of driving the EX30 on winding Spanish nation roads and darting via site visitors in Barcelona’s busy metropolis middle, I believe the Single Motor is the way in which to go. Bear in mind, even the pokiest EVs nonetheless really feel fast because of instantaneous electrical torque, and at no level does the Single Motor EX30 ever really feel like it may well’t get out of its personal method.
Past that, although, the EX30 Single Motor is solely extra enjoyable to drive. At 3,858 kilos, the rear-drive EX30 is 282 kilos lighter than the AWD model, and all that weight comes off the entrance finish. This makes Volvo’s tiny EV really feel extra playful and agile whereas cornering, particularly with the well-weighted steering – to not point out the fun-to-handle squircle wheel.
It’s additionally price noting that the EX30 Twin Motor’s all-wheel-drive system is reactionary, the place the entrance drive unit doesn’t energy up except deemed needed by acceleration calls for or traction management. In an effort to hold the entrance motor working always, you need to activate the Efficiency AWD setting within the infotainment system’s drive mode display screen. Doing this can virtually actually tank your vary, although I’ll admit I’m impressed by the truth that, regardless of its added energy and weight, Volvo says the AWD EX30 ought to nonetheless return 265 miles on a full cost. Not an enormous loss in comparison with the rear-drive mannequin.
Regardless of the motor depend, sturdy regenerative braking is out there via a one-pedal driving mode that may simply be turned on and off within the middle display screen. The EX30’s trip high quality is comfy with the Single Motor’s optionally available 19-inch wheels, however borderline too-firm for those who spec the Twin Motor with its out there 20s. And whereas there isn’t a sporty bone on this SUV’s physique, it doesn’t hate being hustled via the occasional nook, that large battery ballast serving to to supply a low middle of gravity.
For essentially the most half, the whole lot’s positive and dandy from behind the wheel, the place the EX30’s super-low dashboard permits for a commanding view of the street forward. It sucks that the speedometer is solely housed within the middle touchscreen, particularly since Volvo doesn’t supply a head-up show, however no less than the readout doesn’t get washed out within the daylight do you have to order your EX30 with the full-length glass roof.
That 12.3-inch infotainment pill runs a more moderen model of Volvo’s Android-powered working system, which is far simpler to make use of than the corporate’s previous Sensus Join software program. The system responds rapidly to inputs and can allow you to log into your Google account to entry apps like Spotify, although you may also run wi-fi Apple CarPlay for those who select.
Just about the entire EX30’s controls are discovered within the touchscreen, although Volvo well retains a row of exhausting buttons on the backside for the local weather management and car settings. Sure, it’s annoying to have to enter the display screen to regulate the aspect mirrors, however for those who personal the EX30, that is one thing you’re solely prone to do as soon as, so it gained’t be a persistent subject.
As a complete, Volvo is outrageously pleased with the EX30’s inside, the place the corporate has put a higher focus than ever earlier than on utilizing recycled, sustainable supplies. The 4 inside themes – or “rooms” as Volvo calls ‘em – all look nice, particularly within the optionally available inexperienced or blue hues, the latter of which makes use of material comprised of recycled denim scraps. The entrance seats are tremendous comfy, and the rear bench is spacious sufficient that precise grownup people can sit again there with out pointless contorting. There’s simply shy of 32 cubic ft of area for those who fold the again bench flat, too, and the EX30’s upright design lends itself to carrying cumbersome, boxy gadgets.
The EX30’s cabin isn’t with out its faults, although, and most are purely the results of needed cost-cutting to hit that enticing worth level. The plastic panels beneath the arm rests are fairly terrible, as are the dual-purpose window switches housed within the middle console, the place you need to press a button to get them to activate the rear glass.
Nonetheless, these are minor gripes within the grand scheme of issues; the EX30 is an extremely competent and compelling crossover that a whole lot of EV patrons are sure to love. $36,245 will get you within the door with the bottom Single Motor Core trim, which is by no means a decontented stripper mannequin – it comes commonplace with 18-inch wheels, blind-spot monitoring, entrance and rear collision mitigation tech, that full suite of multimedia goodies and extra. Choosing the extra lavishly appointed Plus and Extremely specs value $40,195 and $41,895, respectively, and these trims unlock choices like 19-inch wheels, adaptive cruise management with lane-change help, a 360-degree digital camera system and automatic parking help, simply to call a couple of.
Oh, need another excuse to stay with the Single Motor EX30? You’ll want no less than $46,195 to get right into a Twin Motor Efficiency, or $47,895 in order for you it absolutely loaded. Perhaps that upcharge is price it to you, however for me, what sells the EX30 isn’t its energy – it’s which you could get a nice-driving EV that’s chock stuffed with options for not some huge cash. This crossover is proof constructive that a reasonable automobile doesn’t should really feel low cost.
