The 2024 Volvo EX30 must have been the most-hyped electric car destined for South African shores. While EV uptake in South Africa is still only on tick-over, the zero-emissions carpark has grown considerably in the last 18 months. And yet, it’s the Volvo EX30 we most wanted to lay our hands on. We believe that’s because it’s positioned as the first premium EV with mass-market appeal. That’s to say, the 2024 Volvo EX30 is not yet another shiny, pointless R2-million wedge of unobtanium.
Far from it, even though our test unit here – a EX30 Ultra Twin Motor Performance – retails for R1 055 900, the range starts at R775 900 for the single-motor Core model. We sincerely hope Volvo Car South Africa will make a sub-R1-million model available to us to test at some point next year. Nevertheless, evaluating the 2024 Volvo EX30 Ultra with a twin-motor setup is certainly no hardship. After all, it is the fastest Volvo ever, with a zero to 100 km/h sprint time of 3.6 seconds.
2024 VOLVO EX30 UTLRA TWIN MOTOR PERFORMANCE
Let’s get all the statistics out of the way first. This EX30 Twin Motor Performance produces 315 kW and 543 Nm of instant torque. Using two motors, it drives all four wheels for seamless traction. The additional power zapping at the 64-kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery actually reduces the claimed range to 460 km (WLTP-cycle). This is less than other variants, but more about driving range later …
Moreover, as fast as the acceleration figure looks on paper, we’d describe the 2024 Volvo EX30 as ‘quick’ rather than outright ‘fast’. This is all down to the unique cabin ambiance and driving feel, which rarely eggs you on to behave badly. We’ve prefaced this article with the slightly cliched term ‘game-changer’ but for very good reason. Because the 2024 Volvo EX30 appears to have taken conventional thinking surrounding the automobile and chucked it out the window. As we shall now explain …
NEW-AGE CABIN
Since the storied Swedish brand was bought by founder and chairman of Geely, Chinese billionaire Eric Li Shufu, Volvo has changed the game. With extensive Geely funding, Volvo continued to think about and execute products in the way that has historically set it apart from the premium crowd. That’s to say with a certain understated style, sophistication and focus on safety. All that’s happened since that epoch-making shift, is Volvo has boldly adopted zero-emissions mobility. And the coming together of these seemingly disparate influences could not have been better timed.
The cabin’s interior design is a tour de force. Minimalist and yet supremely elegant, almost all functionality runs through the tablet-like central touchscreen. There are no dials/displays ahead of the driver, instead, there’s a camera that monitors your behaviour and warns you if it thinks you’re too distracted. The seats are comfortable, just like you’d expect from a Volvo, and being inside is more like being in silent chill-out room than a car.
SPACE-AGE DETAILS
However, despite the minimalism, the 2024 Volvo EX30 still makes a concerted effort to highlight its space-age features. Aerodynamically, the shape of the body has been carefully flow-optimised. This shows even in a gusting South Easter with a cabin that is whisper-quiet. The 20-inch wheels are works of art to reduce drag and the wraparound flanks front and rear with retro-modern LED light clusters look the part. Operating the 2024 Volvo EX30 is unlike any other vehicle either …
There’s no key or starter button. Simply climb aboard, pull the drive selector on the right of the steering wheel column to D for drive and away you waft. Pull the column controller down again to engage Adaptive Cruise Control, then activate its self-steering tech with your left thumb on the wheel. From here progress is effortless. Moreover, because all of the vehicle controls and displays are only funnelled through a single screen, there’s no information overload. Initially it’s jarring and takes some getting used to. Eventually you’re satisfied not to have a raft of data flowing your way through multiple screens.
WHAT WOULD WE CHANGE?
Having said that, there are a few tweaks we’d like to see on the next EX30 that will instantly improve the experience. The panoramic glass roof is super-cool, but a roller-blind will help reduce glare inside the cabin and, more importantly, when viewing the screen. Switching between coasting and one-pedal driving is an integral part of engaging with any EV. However, in the 2024 Volvo EX30 you must navigate through the touchscreen to do so. This is a little distracting as you try and maintain a beady eye on the road.
A set of paddles behind the steering wheel to adjust brake regeneration on the move would up engagement factor no end. Similarly, as you begin to tailor your personal drive preferences through the centre screen – we’re talking lane keeping assist, speed limit warning, etc – all preferences go back to default the instant you switch off the car. A way to permanently create tailored driver profiles from the get-go will eliminate a lot of repeated faffing with the touchscreen.
WHAT ABOUT REAL-WORLD RANGE?
However, an important test for the 2024 Volvo EX30 Ultra Twin Motor Performance is how its state of charge responds to real-world driving conditions. For that, we set a 275 km round-trip route to Riebeek Kasteel in the Swartland for a Sunday brunch. Our journey began with a near-full battery claiming 400 km cruising range. However, even with best efforts to restrain the throttle, we noticed the battery fade at a faster rate than the kilometres rolled off.
Even though integrated Google Maps was confident we’d make it home with 10% battery in hand, range anxiety began to rear its neurotic head. Can we trust the on-board electronics? What if we’re caught short? What happened to 125 km of range? Nevertheless, we put that aside and focussed on enjoying the drive. Tipping the scales at less than two tonnes is pretty impressive for the 2024 Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance, which benefits a light, agile feeling on the road. And, I’m happy to report we made it home with 9% battery and 36 km range in reserve, averaging 18 kWh/100 km for the journey. Phew …
THE VERDICT
So, the 2024 Volvo EX30 Ultra Twin Motor Performance is indeed a technological tour de force and a game-changing zero-emissions vehicle. Besides the handful of recalibrations to the user experience and the (self-inflicted) range anxiety, we absolutely love its quick, calm and sophisticated driving demeanour. Better still, it seems to have South Africans all charged-up for electric mobility like never before. Volvo Car South Africa is in fact the de-facto leader in premium EVs in 2024, with combined sales totalling 467 units year-to-date (January to September). That’s an average of more than 50 per month. The brand currently offers the EX30 and both the XC40 and C40 Recharge models, as it continues its concerted shift to all-electric carmaker. Better still, its EX90 flagship is anticipated locally in 2025 to shore up the market.
THE FIGURES
- Volvo EX30 Ultra Twin Motor Performance
- Drivetrain: Twin permanent magnetic synchronous motors
- Net energy: 64 kWh nickel manganese cobalt
- Power: 315 kW, 543 Nm
- Performance: 3.6 seconds – 0-100 km/h / top speed 180 km/h (limited)
- Efficiency: 17.4 kWh/100 km (claimed/combined), 18 kWh/100 km (tested)
- Maximum range: 460 km (claimed)
- Tyres: Goodyear Efficient Grip – 245/40 R20
- Price: R1 055 900
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