Volvo EX30
Innovative electric and digital powerhouse
- 100 kph-mark in 3.6 seconds
- Door opening alert
- 12.3” tablet-style centre display
With its refreshing design and downright sporty performance, the new Volvo EX30 aims high in the compact segment. Digitally and in terms of sustainability, it hits the next level, too.
Innovative electric
Because Volvo is part of the powerful Geely group, which also owns half of Smart (the other half belongs to Mercedes-Benz), it was able to share the development costs for the compact EX30 with those for the Smart #1, which is obviously technically very similar. The Swedish newcomer is about 4.23 metres long, 1.84 metres wide (without the mirrors) and 1.56 metres high, giving it a less SUV-like silhouette, especially compared to the XC40.
The front light units are similar to those of the EX90, but the side and rear part of the EX30 are quite unique. The roofline slopes gradually towards the rear, where it meets the rising belt line towards the C-pillar. The roof panel creates the illusion of floating and flows into a massive spoiler above the boot lid. The small rear window sits at an angle to the vertical underside of the boot lid, which is framed by the rear lights.
Hyper-connected and hyper-recycled interior
The 12.3-inch high-resolution display in the centre of the dashboard is designed with ease of use in mind. Key driving information is displayed at the top, and there is a contextual bar at the bottom with shortcuts to the most relevant functions when you need them. The system runs on Google's Android Automotive and therefore includes Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play store.
Customers can choose from four different interior designs or 'rooms' called Breeze, Indigo, Mist and Pine, each with a different combination of recycled and renewable materials. For example, the dashboard and door panels are made of woven flax, recycled jeans fibres or ground plastic from discarded window frames and shutters. Leather is no longer an option: Volvo is moving away from animal materials altogether.
Single Motor, Extended Range and Twin Motor
You can choose from three powertrain combinations, one even nippier than the other. The entry-level Single Motor already produces 200 kW (272 hp) and needs just 5.7 seconds to hit the 100 kph-mark. It has a 49-kWh (net) lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery promising a range of 344 kilometres. One step higher is the Extended Range, which combines the same electric motor on the rear axle with a 64-kWh net LMC (lithium-manganese-cobalt) battery to boost the driving range to 480 kilometres.
Topping off the range is the Twin Motor Performance. Two electric motors produce a total of 315 kW (428 hp!) and drag the EX30's heavy body (it weighs just under two tonnes) past the 100 kph-mark in 3.6 seconds.
