A Volvo for the masses

Volvo has big ambitions for electric cars. It expects half of sales will be all-electric by 2025 and all its new cars will be battery powered by 2030.

And this new EX30 compact crossover will be a big part of that transition. It’s the firm’s new entry level model, an all-electric compact crossover which Volvo hopes will attract new and younger buyers to the brand.

In the UK, the EX30 will be offered with three powertrains and two different battery types. Entry-level Single Motor versions feature a rear-mounted 268bhp motor with a 51kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery.

That chemistry, which is more costeffective to produce, gives it a claimed range of 214 miles. It delivers a respectable 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds and can charge at up to 150kW, potentially (depending on what charger you use) taking the battery from 10-80% in 26 minutes.

The Single Motor powertrain will also be offered in Extended Range form. Priced from £38,545, it uses with a 69kWh nickelmanganese-cobalt (NMC) battery, which extends the range to 298 miles.

That battery is also used in the top-spec Twin Motor Performance model, which adds a second, 154bhp electric motor on the front axle to give a combined output of 422bhp.

The EX30 also promises rapid acceleration, with the Twin Motor Performance version reporting a 0-62mph time of just 3.6 seconds – making it the fastest-accelerating Volvo ever. That model is priced from £40,995 and offers a 286-mile range.

The initial UK model range consists of two equipment grades, Plus and Ultra. An additional entry-level Core grade will be added later, at a lower price point.

The Plus versions come as standard with a 12.3-inch central touchscreen with built-in Google functions and wireless smartphone integration using Apple CarPlay. There’s also a Harman Kardon premium audio system, featuring a new soundbar that extends across the width of the dashboard. The two-zone climate control setup has an air-purification system and uses an energysaving heat pump, while the heated front seats and steering wheel help contribute to quick and efficient warming. A rear camera and front and rear parking sensors help the driver safely manoeuvre tight spaces, and

Pilot Assist provides adaptive cruise control with steering assistance.

Four interior designs – termed ‘rooms’ by Volvo – will be offered, all using different recyclable and renewable materials, including one that has upcycled denim fibre in the dashboard.

Although the EX30 won’t feature the lidar systems that will be used on the flagship EX90, the firm says it will be “as safe as you’d expect from a Volvo” and there has been a focus on improving safety in urban environments. As standard, the doors will feature an alert if you are about to open them when a cyclist or runner is passing. There are also ‘state-of-the-art’ restraint systems and a raft of driver assistance systems.

Orders are being taken now for deliveries later in 2023 or early 2024.