The EX30 is a looker, affordable, a great example of engineering, and should be best in class. But it isn’t, explains Andrew Frankel
This is the most important new Volvo in years. Decades possibly. At least to Volvo. The EX30 is Volvo’s first crack at the compact crossover EV market, a sector that is likely to come to dominate the sales charts in years to come. More importantly still, if it gets this right the young professionals expected to buy it may stay with the brand for years. Decades possibly. You see the point I’m making: sell one now, sell 10 other Volvos later.
First impressions count. I’m no greater judge of looks than you, but I think it looks great. Then the price: the range starts at £33,795, which is £1700 more than the very cheapest electric Vauxhall Corsa. Compared to the class benchmark Volkswagen ID.3, the base EX30 offers 272bhp as opposed to 204bhp for the entry level ID.3 and is £3500 cheaper. Clearly keen to make an impression on a market in which it has no current footprint, Volvo is aiming to create headlines with its pricing strategy.
The car I drove came from the other end of the range, the ‘Twin Motor Performance’ model, complete with all-wheel drive, 422bhp and a 0-62mph time of 3.6sec, the same time I was once quite proud to have squeezed out of a Jaguar XJ220. But it still costs £44,495. Yes that is £1500 more than the most expensive ID.3, but the VW has only two-wheel drive and less than half the power. That said, the Volvo has a quoted range of just 280 miles, the VW some 356, which is worth bearing in mind if completing distances is important.
The news gets better. The EX30’s interior is startlingly uncluttered, light and classy. It feels wholesome, healthy somehow, and very, very Volvo. There’s more space in the back than I was expecting too.
It is of course a strong performer, though you’ll only be given access to full power in its performance mode. But such is the immediacy and strength of its response even the fastest hot hatch on sale – the Mercedes A45 S reviewed elsewhere on these pages, would be hard-pressed to keep up with it until well into licence-losing territory. But its greatest strength is its chassis. I can remember lumpen ride quality ruining entire generations of Volvos – the otherwise excellent 850 series and its descendants among them – but the EX30 i
