Volvo EX30 Cross Country (2025) Quick Review
The Volvo EX30 Cross Country is the adventure-ready flagship of the brand’s smallest, fastest electric car. The EX30's 315kW powertrain is enhanced with rugged styling, a heightened chassis, and unique cabin trims to create a compact electric crossover designed for life beyond the pavement. Positioned against the Mini Countryman and Mercedes-Benz EQA, the Cross Country is priced competitively, yet offers better performance and enhanced soft-roader. Is this enough to make it the best in segment?
The Volvo EX30 Cross Country Twin Motor Performance Ultra is the adventure-ready flagship of the brand’s smallest electric vehicle (EV). It takes the EX30's class-leading performance and adds rugged styling, unique interior trims, and a useful 190 mm of ground clearance for mild off-road excursions. It’s a stylish, incredibly fast electric crossover that embodies Volvo’s new design language and adventure heritage. It's not all ballistic acceleration and Scandinavian design, though. I did have some issues when living with the car for a week.
| We like | We don't like | |
| Aesthetics & finish | Rugged, cool Cross Country styling (skid plates, cladding). High-quality, sustainable cabin materials (Wool/Nordico). | Minimalist design means all controls are on the single 12.3-inch screen. |
| Drive & performance | Ballistic acceleration (0-100 km/h in 3.7s) | Real-world highway range falls noticeably below the claimed WLTP figure (427 km). |
| Value & features | Competitive price given the power and standard Ultra trim features. Comprehensive Level 2 ADAS suite is standard. | Cargo space (318 litres) is smaller than key rivals (Mini and EQA). |
| Peace of mind | 5-year/100 000 km warranty and 8-year/160 000 km battery warranty. Euro NCAP 5-Star | Button-less key can be frustrating to use. |
Fast Facts
The Cross Country is offered exclusively in the Twin Motor Performance Ultra specification.
| Specification | Detail |
| Model | Volvo EX30 Cross Country Ultra Twin Motor Performance |
| Price (SA) | R 1 165 000 |
| Power / Torque | 315kW / 543Nm |
| Battery (Usable) | 65.0 kWh (nominal 69 kWh) |
| 0-100 km/h (Claimed) | 3.7 seconds |
| Claimed Range (WLTP) | Up to 427 km |
| DC Fast Charging (10-80%) | 26.5 minutes (at approx 153kW peak) |
| Ground Clearance | 190 mm (+12 mm vs. standard EX30) |
| Boot space | 318 litres (expands to 904 litres) |
| Safety Features | Level 2 ADAS, 7 Airbags, Euro NCAP 5-Star |
Competitor Comparison
The EX30 Cross Country is priced competitively but dramatically outperforms its rivals on power and acceleration.
| Specification | Volvo EX30 Cross Country | MINI Countryman SE ALL4 | Mercedes-Benz EQA250 Progressive |
| Price (SA) | R 1 165 000 | R 1 110 000 | R 1 179 400 |
| Price Difference | Base | R 55 000 cheaper | R 14 400 more expensive |
| Power / Torque | 315kW / 543Nm | 230kW / 494Nm | 140kW / 385Nm |
| 0-100 km/h (Claimed) | 3.7 seconds | 5.6 seconds | 8.6 seconds |
| Claimed Range (WLTP) | 427 km | 433 km | 402 - 429 km |
| Driven Wheels | All-Wheel Drive (AWD) | All-Wheel Drive (AWD) | Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) |
| Usable Battery | 65.0 kWh | 64.7 kWh | 66.5 kWh |
Design and Practicality
Visually, the Cross Country stands out with its 19-inch wheels, black front shield detailing the Kebnekaise mountain range, and robust matte cladding. Our press unit was also fitted with all terrain tyres and a roof rack, adding to its off-road look.
The interior is a lesson in Scandinavian minimalism. The single 12.3-inch screen centrally controls everything, including the door locks and glovebox release, which simplifies the dash but requires a steep learning curve. The standard Harman Kardon soundbar and sustainable Wool/Nordico upholstery are cabin highlights. I do find the over reliance on the screen as a hindrance to the overall user experience in the EX30. The instrument cluster, climate control, media and vehicle functions are all controlled from the screen, and this means you'll often take your eyes off the road to change something, and thats counter-intuitive.
Some physical buttons for climate control and a small instrument cluster would go a long way to improving what is for the most part, a fast and pleasant system to use. The vehicle's key is another area of contention. It's effectively a rectangular piece of plastic that acts as a proximity sensor, unlocking the car when you're close to the vehicle, and locking it when you walk away. The problem I encountered was having to constantly check if the car was locked when walking away, and then, when wanting to load things in the vehicle over the weekend, the car did not always unlock, meaning I had to walk away and approach the car again to have it unlock.
Practicality is good up front, with clever storage and the floating soundbar. However, its small footprint means the 318-litre boot is limited compared to the larger Countryman and EQA. Ground clearance is now up to 190mm thanks to a ride height increase of 12mm, and an additional 7mm offered from the optional all-terrain tyres.
Performance and drive
The EX30 Cross Country is a Jekyll and Hyde machine. In town, the performance is effortless, relying mostly on the rear motor for efficiency. Engage "Performance" mode and the acceleration is brutal, making it impressively fast. Combine the acceleration with its near silent operation and relatively supple rode quality and you have a rather effortless performer.
While the claimed range is 427 km, a real-world mixed cycle will likely land closer to 320 km, and if we take the 22.1 kWh consumption of our press car over the course of the week and the 69kWh battery, we get 312km of range, however, when commuting through the city, the figure went down 20.4 kWh/100km, making the range roughly 330km. My week with the vehicle included some long open road driving, which negatively affects electric car consumption, so if you're doing an extended trip, this has to be considered.
The suspension has been softened and raised for the Cross Country model. This 190 mm of clearance, coupled with the all-wheel-drive system, makes it sure-footed and comfortable on mild gravel roads and provides a more compliant ride over city bumps than the standard EX30.
Verdict
The Volvo EX30 Cross Country is a unique proposition. It offers strong acceleration in a compact SUV package, all while maintaining Volvo's reputation for design and safety. I just struggle to see who this vehicle is for, as your average adventurer would want a bit more range and practicality, while those looking for a sporty EV are better off in the standard EX30.
