Volvo has unveiled its fastest-accelerating production car ever in the form of its smallest family SUV ever: the new all-electric EX30.
Priced at launch from £33,795, it’s also the cheapest Volvo in the current range – beating even the petrol models on cost – with an even cheaper base model following from around £31,000.
For those with deeper pockets and a need for speed, a significantly more expensive top-end version can hit 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, allowing it to outrun some supercars from a standstill.
The new model will be a key player for Volvo and is expected to account for about a quarter of its annual sales, which are now around 650,000 a year, but were 800,000 before the Covid pandemic.
And the five-seater zero-emission SUV costs no more than if it were a petrol model, putting electric mobility on par with the internal combustion engine, Volvo claims.
High expectations: Volvo expects the EX30 to account for a quarter of all sales
The flagship Twin Motor Performance four-wheel drive model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds, making it Volvo’s fastest production car in history. The top speed for all versions is limited to 180 km/h.
For the global launch of the EX30, the Swedish car company led by a British car boss and owned by Chinese car giant Geely has taken the wraps off the compact SUV in the trendy Italian city of Milan.
Order books are opening today ahead of first UK deliveries in Q1 2024. According to Volvo, around 70 per cent of buyers will buy one as a second car.
At launch there will be two trim levels – Plus and Ultra – with an entry-level Core to follow, plus a selection of interior designs and exterior colours.
And for more adventurous types, an EX30 Cross Country variant will also be launched in 2024.
The new electric SUV takes home theater surround sound a leaf with a dashboard soundbar that runs the full width of the car, freeing up space in the doors for more storage. There is also a central glove compartment in the center of the dashboard.
Volvo said: ‘The EX30 may be the smallest Volvo SUV to date, but its city-friendly exterior dimensions belie a spacious and comfortable interior with plenty of clever storage space.
“It also plays a major role as a key model in Volvo Cars’ electrification strategy and growth ambitions.”
Launch: The Swedish manufacturer unveiled the model in Milan
Charging: Volvo says it takes between 26 and 28 minutes to go from 10% battery to 80%
The three starting options
Built in China and based on a new battery power platform, there are three all-electric EX30 powertrains at launch:
Cheapest option: Aimed at owners who will be doing much shorter journeys around town, the initial entry-level model has 272PS (200kW) single-motor rear-wheel drive in Plus trim, priced from £33,795, a 51kWh battery and 0-60mph acceleration/ you in 5.7 seconds with a range of up to 214 miles. It will be the cheapest Volvo in the current range, costing the XC40 B3 petrol around £36,000.
middle option: The similarly powered 272PS (200kW) Single Motor Extended Range model with a more powerful 69kWh battery starts from £38,545 and accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 5.3 seconds. It has the greatest range of up to 298 miles.
Top class option: The most powerful four-wheel drive 428 hp (315 kW) Twin Motor Performance with two electric motors, one on each axle, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds, making it the fastest-accelerating production Volvo ever, with a range up to 286 miles. It’s priced from £40,995 (Plus trim) to £44,495 (Ultra trim).
Riding on wheels between 18 inches and 20 inches, depending on specs, the three EX30 models will tow 1,000 kg, 1,400 kg and 1,600 kg respectively.
Charging from 10 percent to 80 percent takes between 26 minutes and 28 minutes on a DC fast charger, depending on the model.
Power consumption is fairly economical at up to 4 miles/kWh.
The luggage space increases from 318 liters with the seats to 904 liters with the rear seats folded. And there’s a ‘does it fit?’ size chart in the tailgate to determine if there is room for transporting bulky items such as furniture or purchases from IKEA.
The Plus specification of the EX30 includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, dual-zone climate control, Harman Kardon premium sound system with on-dash soundbar, front and rear parking sensors and reversing camera, heated front seats and steering wheel, a heat pump and an 11kW built-in charger.
The Ultra class adds features including a 360-degree camera with virtual 3D view, fixed panoramic sunroof, Park Pilot Assist self-parking system, 20-inch alloy wheels, electrically adjustable front seats and a 22kW on-board charger.
All come with a three-year/60,000-mile care package.
EX30: boot space increases from 318 liters with seats to 904 liters with rear seats folded
Green credentials: Volvo says it used more recycled materials in the construction of the EX30
It promises green credentials with greater use of recycled materials in the car’s construction and close monitoring of carbon emissions reduction over the lifecycle – from creation to end-of-life disposal.
It contains 25 percent recycled aluminum, 17 percent recycled steel and plastic, as well as an array of recycled material in the interior trim and dashboard.
Think of fabrics made from woven linseed flax, upcycled denim fibers from jeans, shredded plastic waste from discarded plastic window frames and shutters, recycled polyester and carpets made from recycled plastic bottles.
Security features are also prominent. This includes new Safe Space technology designed to address the risks of accidents in urban areas, equipping the car with front and rear cross-traffic alert with brake assist.
This detects and warns the driver of other vehicles approaching unexpectedly and automatically brakes if there is an imminent risk of collision.
Door Opening Alert provides visual and audible warnings to the driver and occupants to avoid opening a door in the path of a cyclist or other road user approaching from behind.
Volvo’s Scottish-born chief executive Jim Rowan, a former chief executive of tech company Dyson, said: “The all-electric EX30 may be our smallest SUV ever, but it’s a big deal for our customers and a big deal for us as a company. .
“We like to say the EX30 is small but mighty because it delivers everything you’d expect from a Volvo, but in a smaller package. It’s an excellent product that is safe and designed around people and their needs.’
Kristian Elvefors, managing director of Volvo Cars UK, said: ‘The EX30 has huge potential to extend the reach and performance of our brand in the UK.
“It uncompromisingly brings together our established strengths in electrification, safety and design in a convenient, compact package.
“It will have strong appeal to urban consumers looking for an efficient EV that is easy to live with.”
The new EX30 will be followed in showrooms by the end of next year by Volvo’s new all-electric flagship EX90.
The Chinese parent company Geely not only owns Volvo Cars, but also the British Lotus and the London electric black taxi manufacturer LEVC, and the Swedish Polestar.
It recently spent £234m to double its stake in Aston Martin to around 17 per cent as it goes electric, prompting speculation that James Bond’s favorite car company will one day also be added to Geely’s ambitious growing portfolio of British and European brands.
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