Volvo EX30 Review: It’s super fast, but is it super smart?
The new Volvo EX30 has joined the lower-priced end of the South African EV market and, in Twin Motor Performance guise, it’s the fastest accelerating new car priced under R1 million. Ashley Oldfield reviews the range-topping Ultra derivative.
Priced in South Africa from R775,000, which is in the ballpark of the GWM Ora 03 we reviewed earlier this year, the all-electric Volvo EX30 has proved a hit in Europe with its clever design, inside and out, but mostly because it seems to offer a lot of car for a very decent price.
The Volvo EX30 line-up comprises single-motor, rear-wheel-drive- and dual-motor, all-wheel-drive variants. Whereas the standard single-motor version produces 200 kW/343 Nm, has a 51-kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery and a claimed range of 343 km (based on the WLTP cycle), is it also available in Single Motor Extended Range guise, replete with a 69-kWh battery and a stated range of 480 km.
The range-topping Twin Motor Performance derivatives (available in Plus and Ultra trim grades) have peak outputs of 315 kW/543 Nm, a stated range of 460 km and a claimed 0-100 kph time of 3.6 sec. That means an apex Volvo EX30 – an all-wheel-drive battery-electric premium small crossover – is the most powerful and fastest-accelerating new car priced under R1 million on the local market (May 2024).
Of course, there is a lot more to the new Volvo EX30 than sheer performance capability and range; as opposed to models such as the Mercedes-Benz EQA and BMW iX1, the Swedish offering is based on a dedicated electric-vehicle platform – it has distinctive packaging, a decidedly highly interior (there’s no speedometer; speed is displayed on the infotainment screen) and, as such, a specific target market.
Ashley Oldfield discusses the Volvo EX30’s driving experience, interior layout, practicality, value for money and more. He also suggests which derivative you should prioritise if you’ve shortlisted the model.
New Volvo EX30 Specs & Prices in South Africa
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