Volvo has been on the electric car offensive and is sticking true to electrifying its whole range in the coming years. The last Volvo EV we had on review was the C40 Recharge, which my colleague Sean Nurse sampled, and we have heaps of content surrounding the car. Enter the EX30, a more affordable EV in the South African landscape with some interesting yet clever quirks.
Related: Volvo EX30 is one of SA's most affordable EVs!
We attended the unveiling of the EX30 and saw what's going to be on offer for the South African market.
Styling and Interior
The EX30 is on the smaller end of the spectrum in Volvo's EV range with its crossover dimensions. The exterior definitely follows the 'Future is NOW!' motif but keeps current-day crossover styling cues in mind, like the body cladding and higher ground clearance. The sharp body creases meld into the flowing yet broad bodywork. There are next to no air intake vents in the front fascia and in and around the body to keep things sleek and draw your eyes to the head and tail lamps, a standout design feature on the EX30. The arrangement is fully LED with lancet-style headlamps. The tail lamps are segmented with piano key-style light clusters. The EX30 also comes with turbine blade wheels as well with the Volvo logo on a single spoke rather than being on the centre cap.
Inside, much of the minimalist and sustainable nature of the EX30 is shown off here. Recycled materials are upcycled here to create cabin materials for the trim pieces and seating upholstery. These materials are not only pleasant to the touch and aesthetically pleasing to look at but appear to be hard-wearing where they need to be. The cabin is almost concept car-like with the flowing dashboard and reduction of buttons and switchgear. For example, you'd expect to find electric window switches in the door cards of a vehicle like this, but they're located in the centre cubby. The operation seems a bit odd from the front seat in that you'd operate the front windows as normal, but the rear windows require you to tap a button that engages rear operation. Much of the EX30's features are operated from the front-and-centre tablet infotainment screen with seamless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. Although entry-level in the EV space, the cabin of the EX30 feels premium. One small but nifty thing we saw was a 'Will It Fit' infographic in the boot area.
Powerplants
EX30 Core Single Motor - The basegrade, rear-driven, single motor variant produces 200kW and 343Nm. You can expect a 344km (WLTP) range from the 51kWh battery pack. You'll be propelled from 0-100kmh in 5.7 seconds.
EX30 Plus Single Motor Extended Range - Utilises the same setup as the core, except the battery pack is upgraded to a 69kWh battery pack, boosting the range to 476km (WLTP), and the 0-100kmh, as a result, improves to 5.3 seconds. This same setup is used in the EX30 Ultra.
EX30 Plus Twin Motor Performance - Two motors in an all-wheel drive format, therefore more power in the form of 315kW and 543Nm, and the 0-100kmh sprint time improves to 3.6 seconds. You can expect 460km of range (WLTP). The same setup is used in the Ultra Twin Motor Performance variant.
Pricing
| Model | Pricing |
| Volvo EX30 Core Single Motor | from R775 900 |
| Volvo EX30 Plus Single Motor Extended Range | from R865 900 |
| Volvo EX30 Plus Twin Motor Performance | from R935 900 |
| Volvo EX30 Ultra Single Motor Extended Range | from R965 900 |
| Volvo EX30 Ultra Twin Motor Performance | from R995 900 |
The EX30 comes with a 5-year/ 100 000km maintenance plan and warranty, plus an 8-year warranty on the battery pack. There is a 5-year/ unlimited km roadside assistance with Volvo On Call, including SOS Roadside Assistance and a 24/7, 365 personal concierge.
*Pricing stated here was correct at the time of publishing and is subject to change without prior notice.
Verdict
Considering the starting price point of R779 500, the EX30 competes with the likes of the GWM ORA 03 in terms of pricing. With what's on offer with the EX30, it would be a good competitor in the current affordable EV space in South Africa. We're keen to drive it.
