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Volvo EX30 debuts – up to 480km range, 0-100km/h in 3.6 secs, brand’s smallest EV SUV

Jun 7, 2023 10:52 pm

The second model in Volvo’s EX lineup – the Volvo EX30 has just made its global debut in Milan, Italy. The EX30 is the Swedish carmaker’s fourth electric vehicle (EV) after the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, the C40, and the EX90.

Measuring 4,233 mm long, 1,836 mm wide, 1,549 mm tall, with a 2,650 mm long wheelbase, the EX30 is just sized slightly smaller than the XC40. Volvo has tuned the EX30’s chassis to provide the best possible driving experience. This is thanks to the car’s low centre of gravity, as well as its relatively low and evenly distributed weight.

On the outside, the EX30 looks like a mini EX90, sharing many design elements from its bigger brother, but on a smaller scale. Its front end is closed off, just like many EVs, and is fitted with LED headlights. A digital rendition of the brand’s signature ‘Thor’s hammer’ daytime running lights (DRL) are here as well. However, the EX30 doesn’t come with a roof lidar, unlike the EX90.

At the sides, the futuristic EV SUV sports conventional door handles instead of the flushed ones on some EVs. Unlike other futuristic EVs, the Volvo designers have also retained the EX30’s side-view mirrors, instead of replacing them with side-view cameras.

The EX30’s rear design is once again inspired by the EX90, featuring a vertical taillight element on the rear windscreen. A separate taillight cluster with a clamp-like design is also included.

Designed to have the smallest CO2 footprint of any Volvo car to date, the EX30 is available in three powertrain options and two battery types. The variants offered with the EX30 include:

Single Motor
Single Motor Extended Range
Twin Motor Performance

The range starts with the single-motor option, which is paired with a 69 kWh Lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP) battery. With power sent to the front wheels only via the single motor, the total output is 272 hp and 343 Nm, which results in 344 km of combined WLTP range. The century sprint can be done in under 5.7 seconds, and top speed is capped at 180 km/h.

For those who prefer a longer range, the Single Motor Extended Range variant is available with a 69 kWh Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) extended-range battery. Featuring lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt, the NMC battery produces energy in a more efficient manner than the LFP variant.

With power fed to the front wheels only, the Single Motor Extended Range variant of the EX30 has the same horsepower and torque output as the regular Single Motor variant and can carry you as far as 480 km (WLTP) in between charges. The century sprint is slightly faster than the Single Motor variant, at 5.3 seconds, while top speed remains the same at 180 km/h.

If you desire an even more powerful option, Volvo is also offering the top-of-the-range Twin Motor Performance variant. This variant is also paired with the 69 kWh NMC battery but features an additional second e-motor, just as its name suggests.

With power sent to all four wheels, the Twin Motor Performance variant produces 428 hp and 543 Nm of torque and can go from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.6 seconds, making the EX30 the fastest accelerating Volvo vehicle ever. Top speed is also capped at 180 km/h, just like the rest of the lineup.

Charging-wise, the Single Motor and Single Motor Extended Range variants support up to 134 kW of DC charging, while the Twin Motor Performance Variant supports up to 153 kW. Juicing up all three variants from 10 to 80% using a DC charger takes around 26.5 minutes.

When at home, the EX30 supports 11 kW AC charging, taking 8 hours to charge from flat to 100%. For convenience, users can also set the amperage, maximum charging level, and when they want to start charging via the car’s centre display and the car’s dedicated app.

To provide drivers with a piece of mind, a charging reminder will be automatically triggered when the car’s battery percentage reaches 20%. This reminder will offer a list of nearby public charging stations on Google Maps via the central screen, allowing the driver to easily navigate to the location to get the car charged up.

Inside the EX30, customers are given a choice of four design ‘rooms’ for the interior. These ‘rooms’ are namely Breeze, Mist, Pine, and Indigo.

Volvo has fitted a squared sport steering wheel to the EX30, which delivers a sporty grip. The steering wheel is also packed with switches for driver controls, as well as a heated function.

Electrically powered and equipped with heated functions, The seats in the EX30 are designed to provide maximum support for the spine, which can help reduce pressure, hunching, and shoulder strain. Despite all these, Volvo designers have kept the seats slim and minimalistic to provide spacious legroom for the rear passengers.

At the centre of the EX30’s dashboard is the brand’s vertical 12.3-inch screen. Shaped like a tablet, the screen runs on the latest Volvo infotainment system, and has Google built-in out of the factory, giving users access to Google services like Google Play and Google Assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay is also supported.

Equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms, the EX30 is capable of receiving updates conveniently via over-the-air (OTA). This eliminates the need of visiting workshops or contacting customer helplines just to get the car’s software updated.

To make driving less distracting, which is sadly a very common scene these days, Volvo has added Calm View, which takes away everything but essential driver information. Features such as a wireless phone charger, a 12V boot power outlet, and four USB-C ports are available in the new Scandinavian electric SUV.

Audio is one of the big topics with the EX30. Featuring a soundbar for the first time in any car, the Swedish electric SUV is not only said to deliver an exceptional audio experience but also more interior space thanks to the soundbar seamlessly integrated into the cockpit. This helps free space from places like the door panels which usually house speakers in most other cars. Just in case the standard soundbar isn’t enough, a premium Harman Kardon audio experience is also available as an option.

Speaking of space, the EX30 features a multi-storage central console design which comes with a sliding system for more versatility. The top of the cupholder can be slid out to hold items such as drinks or smartphones and can be moved back to make up for more space.

The lower tunnel contains a protective storage area for small items such as sunglasses and headphones. Additionally, larger items such as bags can be stored in the large open space above.

The Scandinavian influence continues with the ambient lighting in the interior of the EX30. Inspired by Scandinavian nature, the electric SUV provides 5 different ambience themes to choose from, which caters to its diverse users’ needs.

Here comes the main highlight of this new Swedish SUV, or most Volvo cars in general, its safety features. Packed with a new suite of advanced safety features known by Volvo as Safe Space Technology, the EX30 features a door-opening alert feature, designed to prevent so-called ‘dooring’ accidents. This system will alert you when you are about to open your door in front of a motorcyclist, cyclist, scooter, or runner.

Being a Volvo, safety is in the EX30’s ‘blood’, which means it also comes with a series of other safety features. This includes Lane Keeping Aid, Run-off road mitigation, Blind Spot Monitoring System (BLIS) with steer assist, Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA) with auto brake, Post impact braking, Oncoming mitigation by braking, Pedestrian, cyclist, and scooter steering avoidance, and Driver alert system.

Traffic Jam Assist (TJA), Adaptive cruise control (ACC), Park Pilot Assist, Rear Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Intelligent Seed Assist (ISA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) with auto brake, Intersection auto brake, Oncoming lane mitigation, Whiplash injury protection system, as well as Alcohol lock software are also among other safety features the EX30 has.

Prices for the Volvo EX30 start from EUR36,000 (approx. RM177,401), which is similar to internal combustion engine (ICE) equivalents, Volvo says. Customers in Europe and other selected markets can already drop an order for the Volvo EX30. Pre-orders are also open in the United States. As for the rest of the world, order books will be opened at a later stage, Volvo says.

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