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As cars get faster every day, our fascination with the newest sports car or supercar has always been stirred by its top speed and acceleration times. However, as electric vehicles become more popular, acceleration continues to increase, leaving the character and thrills of a traditional sports car in their collective rearview mirrors.
I spent some time with the new Volvo EX30, and although it offers mind-boggling acceleration, there was a sense of wanting more drama after your drive. This is a common characteristic of EVs, but what Volvo is offering is a stylish and simplistically stunning small SUV with the safety and class of a Volvo and acceleration comparable to supercars for around R1 million.
The EX30 interior is where it loses a few points, but before I dive into the nitty-gritty, there are a few pleasant elements to the cabin. Firstly, the use of eco-friendly materials has garnered mixed opinions, but I personally appreciate the bright and comfortable aesthetic it offers. The cabin looks futuristic and technologically advanced, and attention is drawn to the tablet in the centre of the dash.
Unfortunately, the screen is the heart of the EX30. Everything, from your speed and range to YouTube and Google Maps, can be found here. Yes, the EX30 has YouTube, Google Maps, and the Google Play Store, allowing you to download additional apps to suit your preferences thanks to the Google system on the infotainment screen. This does offer a good alternative to your traditional Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which this car still supports. Also, operating the glove box and mirrors through the screen introduces an additional layer of complexity to an otherwise simple task.
Due to the smaller nature of the EX30, there is little leg room for rear passengers, particularly if your driver is taller. In my driving position, I barely fit in the back, but for those less upwardly inclined, the space would pose less of an issue. Volvo has also added a Harman Kardon sound bar to the dashboard, and its results were a mixed bag. I found that it goes from silent to loud quickly with a single input, and high-quality music sounds incredible, but poor or decent-quality songs lack clarity through the bar.
Volvo rarely misses the mark in driving feel and ride quality, and the EX30 is no exception. This EV is smooth on almost all road surfaces and provides a silent, stealthy quality as you drive around town. The EX30 is an amazingly easy car to drive, and with one pedal driving and no start button, it really is simple.
The biggest selling point of the EX30 is undeniably its straight-line performance. The EX30 comes with two power options, and we are testing the quicker of the two, the Twin-Motor Performance. It has two electric motors, one at the front and one at the back, that provide 315kW and 543Nm to all four wheels. This allows for a 0-100km/h sprint of just 3.6 seconds, although we did in testing find it to be 0.1–0.2 seconds quicker. Remember, this is a Volvo.
The carmaker has done a stellar job with this car's driving dynamics. Yes, it's heavy with a curb weight of 1,960kg, but the way the EX30 manages its weight is impressive, mostly due to its low centre of gravity, and yet it corners well too, with no excessive body roll, a good amount of grip, and instant throttle response on corner exit.
The range for the EX30 Twin-Motor was one of its more upsetting points. Volvo claims that the EX30 can achieve a range of 450km on a single charge with its 69kWh battery. While this is achievable in urban areas, the range significantly reduces to approximately 350km on highways or open roads.
So there are two major positive aspects to the EX30 Twin-Motor: the first is the acceleration, and the second is the price. This is by far the fastest car you can get for around R1 million, coming in at R1,055,900.
There is a lot to love about the EX30, and there is a lot to criticise. It's one of the more conflicting test vehicles that I have experienced. On one end, the performance is exceptional. But the inside is very modern—maybe too modern—with the lack of buttons and driver's displays, many beeps and warnings, little space for passengers, and a cup holder that swallows items whole. On the other hand, I love how it drives, but it certainly isn’t the perfect car for my driving needs. However, if you have a charger at your workplace and rarely find yourself driving on the highway, then maybe this is the perfect little sporty SUV for you.
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