First Drive: Volvo EX30 Cross Country
Filling the Cross Country shoes with the EX30? Undoubtedly a tough job for Volvo. It’s a bit cliche, I know, but consider for a second that this nameplate has proudly been worn by some iconic Volvo models. The V70 XC (the original). The V90, V60. The V40… What’s more is that the EX30 Cross Country is fully electric and also the first SUV-adjacent model following in the tracks of mostly wagons, a hatchback and the rare-as-hens'-teeth S60 sedan. So, doing the dirty with a full-fat EV? That just shouldn’t work. At least, that’s what I thought.
Does the Volvo EX30 Cross Country look different?
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Yes. Volvo’s smallest SUV receives a rough-and-tumble styling pack. It’s also a sin so many manufacturers commit in the name of staying relevant. Add trim, add “Cross” to the bootlid, add a price hike and watch the profits multiply. That’s the sales pitch anyway. And, to some extent, this holds true with Volvo’s smallest SUV.
The first noticeable change is the blacked-out Cross Country-specific front shield (in any other car this is called a 'grille'), which features a topographical map detailing the Kebnekaise mountain range in Sweden. Other garnishes include skid plates front and aft, Cross Country-specific wheels, and a marginal 13mm ground clearance increase, while customers also have the option to add more toughness with additional accessories like roof racks and mud flaps.
Where have all the buttons gone?
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Good question, and we’ll get to that.
But Volvo really wants to push the idea of youthful ruggedness and sustainability with the EX30 CC, so it availed two interior tones to adventure- and clear-conscious-seeking buyers. The first is Pine, which is a “calming green” and inspired by Scandinavian forests, and the “deep, understated blue” Indigo, which is symbolic of the northern lights.
But, to ensure that the forests stay green and the night sky remains indigo, large parts of the cabin have been assembled from recycled materials to promote sustainability, with the seats containing a 30/70% responsibly sourced wool-to-polyester ratio. It’s all good and green on paper. Polyester, though, is a synthetic material, so it’s not exactly known for its biodegradability.
The big cabin news isn’t the recycled interior space. Basically, every specialty manufacturer and their subsidiaries have come around to the idea that anything repurposed is marketing catnip to the almond milk-drinking types. Rather, and as my subheading subtly suggested, it’s the complete and utter purge of buttons from the interior. You get toggles for operating the windows on the central armrest area, some multi-function buttons on the steering wheel and some buttons on the stalks. That’s it.
Hazard lights? That’s been relegated to a small digital tap on the screen. Climate controls are also screen-bound. There’s not even a button for resetting the trip computer. The 12.3-inch does the heavy lifting on practically all fronts, and while it makes for a beautiful Scandi-minimalist cabin space, it’s an ergonomic headache once on the move.
To adjust the side mirrors, the process requires a perusal through the screen, some sub-menus and then caressing the steering wheel buttons to find what works. Halfway through the test drive, I’ve given up on trying to get the climate settings just so.
Can I go 4x4ing with it?
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Not recommended. This is first and foremost an urban-adjacent SUV that can do some rough stuff and likes to be driven relatively close to a charger. It’s built on Geely’s ‘open-source’ SEA2 platform and utilises a twin-motor setup that also brings with it all-wheel-drive, a 427-kilometre claimed range, which is nothing to scoff at, and 315kW/543Nm to utilise. And utilise it you will, since this Volvo, ironically, can do the 0-100km/h sprint in a slight matter of 3.9 seconds. Think about that… this is a Volvo!
Realistically then, with enough justified overtakes, the consumption hikes to around 25kWh and considering the fact that the battery is rated at 69kWh, that’s a little less than 300km of usable range. Still not too bad. When a recharge is needed, the EX30’s fast-charging capability will get you back on the road in about 28 minutes, topping up from 10% to 80%.
Dial it down, though, and the EX30 is a competent cruiser. Our unit on the launch didn’t have the optional roof rack, with wind and road noise levels proving to be nothing more or really nothing less than what is the norm for well-polished electric vehicles. Surprisingly, it’s also a capable soft-roader, with it proving exceptionally stable on a corrugated gravel road. The thumping sound of the suspension working on all four corners is initially unsettling in the otherwise quiet cabin, but it still lives up to its Cross Country name. Just don’t attempt any 4x4 obstacles…
Is it worth it?
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I was initially sceptical about what Volvo is trying to achieve here, but some perspective that this is an ‘experience vehicle’ rather than a crossover with serious off-roading aspirations goes a long way. It can do the city toil, with ever-improving charging infrastructure, it can do the inter-city hop, and now, with the Cross Country, it can even take the road less travelled, as long as there are no dongas or axle-twisters along the way.
At R1,165,000, the Volvo EX30 Cross Country costs R79,000 more than the Mini Countryman SE ALL4, while it's R51,000 more than the closest-in-price normal EX30. Whether 19mm more ground clearance, CC-spec wheels and some cosmetic bits are worth it for you, though, is between you and your financial conscience. Personally, I think it’s one of the coolest things Volvo’s done recently, and I’m almost sold. Almost. I’m still just struggling to wrap my head around the minimalism-to-the-max approach, and for that I’m docking it some serious points.
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