Volvo EX30

Long-awaited, the Swedish’s latest offering and smallest of the bunch, the all-new Volvo EX30, officially launched in Malaysia.

An all-electric SUV (e-crossover), it underpins Volvo’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform, and slots in under the XC40 and C40 models.

Fully-imported (CBU - China), available via Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) are three variants (EX30 Plus - MYR 188,888, EX30 Ultra - MYR 208,888, EX30 Ultra Twin Performance - MYR 228,888).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) cover a five-year/unlimited-mileage standard warranty, an eight-year/160,000 KM BEV battery warranty, a five-year/100,000 KM free service package, and five-year/24-hour free roadside assistance.

Five exterior (two-tone - roof - Onyx Black) colours (Moss Yellow - EX30 Ultra, EX30 Ultra Twin Performance, Cloud Blue, Crystal White, Vapour Grey, Onyx Black). One interior (two-tone - upholstery, panels) colour (Indigo, Denim).

Newly-designed, the all-new EX30 gets a minimalistic (buttonless) and tiered dashboard, linked to a small-space-saving (retractable - cup holders, storage) centre console.

Soft-/hard-touch outfitted, it sees an ‘Indigo’ interior theme. Two-tone (Black, Blue - Nordico leather, Denim fabric - dash, centre console, door cards).

Centre-staged is the central touchscreen (portrait-mounted - infotainment/instrument cluster, control unit), flanked by vertically-integrated air-conditioning vents (Blue trims).

Accentuating the environment is an ambient light system (five Swedish-natured themes), and contrast trimmings (Silver - dash, steering wheel, centre console, door cards).

Overall, the layout is very airy and uncluttered, with accessibilities purposefully-arranged (driver-/passenger-oriented).

Installed is a 12.3-Inch free-standing (portrait-mounted) central display (instrument cluster, infotainment, control unit), running on an Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS). 

The system comes with two selectable display modes (Calm, Navi), and supports Google Automotive Services (Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Play Store), and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wired).

Eco-friendly, the five-seater continues the ‘Indigo’ interior theme, with upholstery in Nordico leather (Black) and Denim fabric (Blue).

Fitted are electronic-powered (driver/passenger - multi-way, lumbar, driver-memory - EX30 Ultra, EX30 Ultra Twin Performance) ergonomic seats (front), and a manual-operated (button - 60:40 split-flat-fold) bench seat (rear).

Included are seat cushion extensions (front - manual), armrests (front - centre console, rear - centre seat fold-out), panoramic glass sunroof (fixed - dark tint, UV protect - EX30 Ultra, EX30 Ultra Twin Performance), and textile floor mats (Black - rain drop pattern).

Despite being an e-crossover (compact SUV), it offers generous cabin space, providing ample interior mobility for the occupants (front, rear).

Sufficient head-, shoulder-, and leg-room.

Practical storage areas. E.g., large-sized door/seat back pockets, centre console partitioned/caverned/retractable/removable spaces, driver-dash card holder, a central glove box, and a hidden boot space (under-boot floor).

Mounted is a three-spoke-flat-top-bottom steering wheel, wrapped in leather-free synthetic leather (Black) with colour-matched stitching and trims (Silver, Satin Silk).

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, Media, Voice Recognition, Vehicle settings), column adjustments (tilt, telescopic), and heating.

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear), and four bottle holders (two - front, rear).

Multiple power outlets. E.g., four USB ports (two-front, two-rear), two 12 V sockets (front, boot), and two wireless chargers (front).

Accessing its powered-tailgate (contactless - remote/key fob, button, sensor - height adjustment), opens up to 318-Litres (rear seats up) and 718-Litres (rear seats down) of load spaces. 

Also included is a 61-Litre hidden storage (under-boot floor), and a 7.0-Litre front trunk (frunk).

Weighing in at 1,775 KG (EX30 Plus, EX30 Ultra) and 1,885 KG (EX30 Ultra Twin Performance), the all-new EX30 stands at 4,233 MM in length, 1,838 MM in width, 1,550 MM in height, and with a wheelbase spanning 2,650 MM.

Distinctively-electric, it exudes an athletically-wide exterior, emphasised by smoothly-straight and angularly-rounded contours.

The front-end sees a clamshell bonnet, flared wheel arches, a covered grille (body-coloured, Volvo insignia), and a vented bumper (central-stretched-out intake).

Filling-in the outlook are body claddings (Black - bumper, side sills) and body trimmings (Onyx Black - bumper, side window surrounds, side mirrors).

Cleanly-electrifying, it continues the athletically-wide silhouette, boasting sharply-rounded and symmetrically-aligned creases.

The rear-end sees a mildly-dipped roofline, a roof-edge spoiler (Onyx Black), muscular quarter panels, a middle-tapered tailgate (Volvo script), and a covered bumper.

Filling-in the outlook are body claddings (Black - bumper, side sills) and body trimmings (Onyx Black - bumper, middle tailgate, upper D-pillars, side window surrounds).

Projecting a focus outlook, the headlamps are a Volvo signature (Thor’s Hammer). Installed are full LED units.

Features are LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), automatic On/Off/high-/low-beam/cornering, welcome/leaving lights, low-speed manoeuvre function, and sequential turn signals.

Unique, the wrap-around tail lamps are housed in a two-section (D-pillar, tailgate) design with inverted C-shaped light graphics. Installed are full LED units.

Features are sequential turn signals and welcome/leaving lights. Paired to the setup is a high-mounted stop light (spoiler-integrated).

Aerodynamically-designed, mounted is a set of 19-Inch five-spoke (Black-Silver, Diamond-cut) alloy rims, rubbered-up in 245/45 R19 (front, rear) Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance SUV tyres.

The all-new EX30 gets the following suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Grouped are Safe Space Technology, City Safety suite (collision avoidance and mitigation with intersection support for pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection with steering support and braking), Front and Rear Collision Warning and Mitigation Support, Lane Keeping Aid (LKA), Lane Departure Warning, Run-Off Road Mitigation Run-Off Road Mitigation with Road Edge Detection, Oncoming Lane Mitigation by Braking, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Steer Assist, Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) with Low-Speed Autobrake, Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Jam Assist, Driver Alert System, Post Impact Braking, Door Opening Alert, Pilot Assist, Park Pilot Assist (EX30 Ultra, EX30 Ultra Twin Performance), and Park Assist Camera (reverse with dynamic guidelines - EX30 Plus, 360-degree with 3D view - EX30 Ultra, EX30 Ultra Twin Performance).

Other systems include Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electric Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist System (BAS), Brake Override System (BOS), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Traction Control System (TCS), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Hill-Descent Control (HDC), and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Passive safety includes seven airbags (driver-passenger, front side, driver knee, front-rear curtain), Side Impact Protection System (SIPS), Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS - front seat), seatbelts (anchors, reminders, pre-tensioners), ISOFIX (two - outer rear seats), parking sensors (six - front-rear), door ajar warning, speed limiter, automatic headlamps (low-/high-beam, cornering), automatic wipers (rain sensing), automatic-dimming rear-view mirrors (frameless - interior, exterior), emergency brake signal, automatic-central-locking doors, and anti-theft system (alarm, engine immobiliser).

Installed is a 12.3-Inch free-standing (portrait-mounted) central display (infotainment, instrument cluster, control unit), running on an Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS). 

The system comes with two selectable display modes (Calm, Navi), and supports Google Automotive Services (Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Play Store), and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wired).

Entertainment is channelled via a Harman Kardon premium sound system (1,040 W, nine-speakers, one subwoofer). The design is new, featuring a soundbar (dashboard mounted - front door speakers omitted).

The all-new EX30 harbours variant-specific powertrains.

Variants EX30 Plus and EX30 Ultra nestle a single electric motor setup (rear-mounted), generating 203 KW (272 HP) of power and 343 NM of torque.

Variant EX30 Ultra Twin Performance fuses a dual-motor setup (front-, rear-mounted). Total output reads at 319 KW (428 HP) of power and 543 NM of torque.

Fused to the setup is a single-speed automatic transmission (Shift-by-Wire).

Power is transmitted to the rear wheels (EX30 Plus, EX30 Ultra) and to all four wheels (EX30 Ultra Twin Performance), via a Rear-Wheel Drive system and an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system.

Acceleration is done in 5.3 seconds (EX30 Plus, EX30 Ultra) and 3.6 seconds (EX30 Ultra Twin Performance). The top speed is 180 KM/H (EX30 Plus, EX30 Ultra, EX30 Ultra Twin Performance). 

Juicing-up the e-motors (EX30 Plus, EX30 Ultra, EX30 Ultra Twin Performance) is a Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) battery pack (69 KWH), providing a pure electric driving range (WLTP) of 476 KM (EX30 Plus, EX30 Ultra) and 450 KM (EX30 Ultra Twin Performance).

AC charging (Type 2 - 11 KW), takes 8.0 hours for a 0% to 100% State of Charge (SoC). DC charging (CCS2 - 175 KW), takes 28 minutes for a 10% to 80% SoC.

The all-new EX30 features these conveniences.

E.g., keyless entry (engine On/Off button, digital key card), powered-tailgate (contactless - remote/key fob, button, sensor - height adjustment), automatic headlamps (On/Off, low-/high-beam, cornering), automatic wipers (rain sensing, intermittent), automatic-dimming rear-view mirrors (frameless - interior, exterior), steering wheel (multi-switches, column adjustments, EPS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Park Assist Camera (reverse with dynamic guidelines - EX30 Plus, 360-degree with 3D view), parking sensors (six - front-rear), electronic-powered seats (front - adjustments, lumbar, memory), dual-zone Electronic Climate Control (ECC) (rear air vents, clean zone PM2.5 air purifier), electric cabin heater/cooler, humidity sensor, interior lighting (ambient, foot, reading, boot), wireless chargers (front), panoramic glass sunroof (fixed - dark tint, UV protect), Google Automotive Services, and armrests (front, rear).

Installed is a dual-zone Electronic Climate Control (ECC). The setup comes with rear air-vents and a Clean Zone Interior Air Quality System (PM2.5 air purifier).

The suspension setup consists of MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear).

Ride comfortability feels flexible and firm at the same time. The vehicle delivers a connected steering feel, with more linear and balanced weighing at all speeds. 

Overall, it is spacious and comfortable, and the ride quality is satisfactory. Safe and suitable for a daily driver.

Good sound insulation, covering all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects. The cabin is serene, with the tyre, road and wind noises mostly hindered. 

The all-new Volvo EX30 exudes an electrifyingly-modern outlook. Its smoothly-angular and seamless body contours just speak electric.

Interior-wise, its shell envelopes a tech-savvy cockpit, featuring advanced connectivity, safety systems and creature comfort features.

Ultimately, the build quality is excellent, and with its distinctive outlook and energising powertrain, the all-new EX30 is surely an e-crossover to consider.