The Volvo EX30. A blast into the future

Image: Volvo SA

Well, I could not believe my eyes when the new Volvo EX30 rolled, all so silently, into my driveway. It is slick with a very well countered exterior design, something very much like what electric cars would look like 5 years down the line. Very Futuristic. There is almost nothing on which to fault the EX30, apart from taking a step back and just stand in awe of it’s design and smooth, uncluttered interior. It is one of the most accessible fully electric vehicles (EVs) in the country and signalling the growth trajectory of the Swedish luxury brand and the sharply styled EX30 has the smallest CO2 footprint of any Volvo car to date. In this all electric vehicle, I went from 0-100kms in a mere 3.6 seconds. It just gets better and better.

As the cornerstone of Volvo’s strategic global transformation in the fast-growing new-energy vehicle space, the highly anticipated EX30 line-up has been structured to appeal to a wide range of customers, including a younger demographic. It just suits all age groups.

Winner of multiple awards

Volvo EX30 has been honoured with the prestigious Red Dot award: Best of the Best Product Design 2024. The award recognises excellence in design based on four basic principles of good design: the quality of function, the quality of seduction, the quality of use, and the quality of responsibility. The jury of 39 experts from all over the world selected the EX30 as the winner in a competitive field with a total score of 93/100. The EX30 was revealed last summer and has already won more than 20 major awards, including the prestigious Car Design award 2024, established in 1984 by auto&design magazine. It has also received The Sun Car of the Year, World Urban Car from World Car of the Year, the Small SUV/Crossover of the Year award from the Sunday Times, and the Eco Warrior of the Year award from Top Gear magazine.

First Wave

“We’re excited to launch the new EX30 in South Africa as part of the first wave of this important new model’s global rollout. We believe that the EX30 will become one of our best-selling models as we continue to work towards our local and global sustainability ambitions,” said Greg Maruszewski, Volvo Car SA Managing Director.

Competitively positioned from just R775 900, the five-strong local line-up gives South Africans the opportunity to own a premium fully electric SUV for the price of a similarly sized internal combustion engine vehicle.

Offered in multiple configurations – allowing customers to choose powertrain options, battery types and trim levels, not to mention select from an exterior colour palette comprising a collection of vibrant hues – the new EX30 excels in areas as varied as performance, safety and sustainability.

Twin Motor

For instance, in 315 kW Twin Motor Performance guise, the EX30 is the fastest-accelerating Volvo ever, completing the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 3.6 seconds. On the other hand, the 200 kW Single Motor Extended Range powertrain can cover up to 476 km on the charged cycle. It charges fast, too, with DC charging capacities of up to 153 kW, translating to a 10-80 percent charge in a little over 25 minutes.

Cabin Uncluttered

Image: Naresh Maharaj

The EX30’s revolutionary yet minimalistic cabin – with its consistent theme of natural and recycled leather-free materials – features a new contextual single-screen UX, complete with Google built-in and running the latest version of Volvo’s infotainment system.

Yellow Mellow

Image: Volvo SA

Volvo Car SA is excited to announce that the first Moss Yellow examples of the new EX30 have made local landfall, bringing an expressive new hue to this game-changing fully electric car’s colour palette.

While yellow is not a shade typically associated with modern-era Volvo models, it is a hue that has featured throughout the Swedish firm’s storied history, having been applied in various forms to iconic vehicles such as the P1900, the 1800ES and, perhaps most famously of all, the limited-run 850 T-5R.

This new iteration, dubbed Moss Yellow, was conceived specifically for the EX30, which serves as the cornerstone of Volvo’s global transformation in the fast-growing electric vehicle space. While the EX30’s Cloud Blue launch colour evoked images of Swedish skies, Moss Yellow was inspired by the lichens that grow on the rocks peppering the country’s west coast.

Image: Naresh Maharaj

 

The newcomer is offered in multiple configurations, allowing customers to choose from two powertrain options (single and twin motor), two battery-pack capacities (51 kWh and 69 kWh) and three trim levels (Core, Plus and Ultra). The flagship Twin Motor Performance powertrain boasts peak outputs of 315 kW and 543 Nm, lending it a 0-100 km/h time of just 3.6 seconds and making it the fastest-accelerating Volvo yet.

The EX30’s arrival helps to cement Volvo Car SA’s already formidable presence in the local new-energy vehicle space, while also significantly enhancing accessibility to electric cars for many South Africans.

Verdict: Electric Avenue has taken a whole new meaning.  

 

Pricing

EX30 Core Single Motor – R775 900

EX30 Plus Single Motor Extended Range – R865 900

EX30 Plus Twin Motor Performance – R935 900

EX30 Ultra Single Motor Extended Range – R965 900

EX30 Ultra Twin Motor Performance – R995 900

The new EX30 comes with a 5-year/100 000km Volvo Warranty and Maintenance Plan, as well as 5-year/unlimited mileage Roadside Assistance, DataDot and Volvo On Call (SOS Roadside Assistance & 24/7 365 Personal Concierge). The battery pack is further covered by an 8-year warranty.