Volvo EX30 Cross Country: test, autonomy, all-wheel drive, consumption, technology

Volvo fuels its own car dynasty Cross Country since 1997, when it equipped the V70 station wagon for the first time with raised suspension and a softer ride to improve its behavior off the asphalt. A philosophy born first and foremost by focusing on long dirt roads that cross Scandinavia, but was soon appreciated even outside due to the versatility offered. Originally a “niche within a niche”, with only competition from the Audi Allroad and Subaru Outback in the high-wheeled wagon segment, today the Cross Country acronym has expanded for the first time to include cars that have spoken the off-road language since their birth. The first exponent of the new course is the EX30a native electric compact SUV which will soon be followed by a Cross Country version of the EX60. But how does the first Volvo SUV part of this dynasty behave? We tried it to find out.

1 Cross Country

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The Cross Country setup is available combined with both powertrains from the EX30 range, both the 272 HP single engine and the twin-engine all-wheel drive 428 HP and 543 Nmwhich allows it to sprint from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 3.7 seconds. The protagonist of the test is the latter, called P8. Compared to the normal EX30s, the first thing that changes is the setup, raised and made softer to better accommodate the roughness of dirt roads, while the rear multilink has been reinforced to withstand greater stress. For the rest, the architecture is the same as a dual motor EX30, therefore with a battery pack of 69 kWh for an approved autonomy of 427 km in Wltp cycle. In direct current it accepts up to 175 kW of power, enough to go from 10% to 80% in 27 minutes, while in alternating current the top of the range Ultra version can go up to 22 kW, a rare quality (normally, EVs stop at 11 kW), for a total recharge in just over three hours.

2 External

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Even on an aesthetic level, the differences compared to a normal Volvo EX30 are easily identifiable. With the Cross Country setup the front features a contrasting black front grilleon which the topographic map of the Kebnekaise mountain range in northern Sweden is engraved. Similarly, another black insert is mounted at the rear, enclosed between the extensions of the light clusters, while the fenders are further accentuated by plastic protections. Beyond aesthetics, there are also changes made with a practical purpose, such as underbody protection plates positioned both at the front and at the rear, to protect the car from raised rocks during off-road driving. The light clusters remain unchanged and remain among the most distinctive elements of the EX30: at the front there is the spectacular Thor’s hammerwhile at the rear an intricate combination of traditional lights and additional units almost integrated into the rear window. The reference segment is that of B-SUVs, with a length of 4.23 metersa width of 1.84 meters and a height of 1.57 meters, in which it is difficult to find a real rival due to the performance gap with most of the electric proposals in the category. The only other compact electric SUV with over 400 HP is in fact the “sister” Smart #1 Brabus.

3 Interior

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The Cross Country trim level leaves the interior of the Volvo EX30 virtually unchanged. An environment where the proverbial minimalism Swedish finds its maximum expression, to the point of being polarizing. There are those who can appreciate the total cleanliness of the dashboard and door panels, with aexcellent soundbar Harman Kardon under the windscreen in place of the classic speakers and a practical concealed storage compartment in the central console. But the lack of instruments in front of the driver and the centralization of all controls in the touch display could turn some people’s noses up. The speedometer is in fact positioned at the upper end of the 12.3″ screennaturally accompanied by the charge status indicator and any warning lights. The infotainment interface is based on the Google Automotive operating system and is rather intuitive to navigate once the right measures have been taken, because all the menus and submenus follow a very rational logic. What is less convincing, however, is the size of the icons for selecting functions, which are a little too small, and must be “searched” even while driving.

4 Habitability

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Among the most curious elements of the EX30’s cockpit is the positioning of the window regulator in the centreinstead of in the door panels. This also happens at the rear, thus making the appearance of the passenger compartment “cleaner” and above all making the storage compartments more generous. At the same time, however, it also seems “poorer” due to the materials chosen, which are not always up to its list price. The front seats offer a good level of ride comfort, and the availability of space is generous, while the rear row enjoys only reasonable roominess. The trunk offers a capacity of 318 litres.

5 How is it going

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If the raison d’être of the Volvo Cross Country is to “sail” comfortably even on the most uneven surfaces, then the EX30 has achieved its objective. At speed, even if the asphalt ends, the passenger compartment remains well muffled, isolated from the external environment. The vibrations do not permeate either from the suspension or from the steeringwhich maintains a deliberately filtered calibration while remaining pleasantly intuitive in use. Well thought outdelivery of the two electric motors, which even in Performance mode does not give “jolts” to the passengers, but discharges all 428 horsepower with linearity and great power. On the stability constantly monitors the traction control, which makes it extremely simple to manage what on paper would be super-SUV performance, while to “untie” the EX30 and push it to a higher pace just go to the car settings and remove the traction control. Which is never completely deactivated, but simply becomes less zealous, cutting the gas only when it is really needed. Of course, the vocation of the EX30 Cross Country is naturally that of trips at a “quiet” pace, the true comfort zone of the car, but it also manages to satisfy those who want an agile and responsive car. It wriggles very well in the urban context, thanks to its truly compact dimensions in relation to its performance, and above all it knows how to instil the right amount of confidence when you don’t push its neck, with a intuitive behavior and a consistent brake pedal, which mixes the effect of the regenerative braking with that of the mechanical system well. However, an abrupt driving style was difficult to digest due to the deliberately soft calibration of the suspensions.

6 Consumption

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The Volvo EX30 Cross Country is equipped with a 69 kWh battery pack, for a maximum autonomy declared in the order of 427 km in combined cycle Wltp. Circulating in a non-urban environment, during our test we detected energy consumption in the order of 16.7 kWh/100 kmwhich would therefore correspond to a range of 413 kilometers. A good figure, which makes the car usable in everyday needs, which however is accompanied by a less brilliant figure recorded on the motorway. In fact, among the three lanes, the Volvo EX30 recorded an average consumption of 24.5 kWh/100 km traveling at 130 km/h, as that would translate into a highway range of 281 kilometers. Overall, in a journey including urban, extra-urban and motorway contexts, the average consumption reported by the on-board computer at the end of the test was equal to 21.5 kWh.

7 Prices and fittings

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The Volvo EX30 Cross Country is available on the Italian market starting from 45,350 eurosa figure referring to the P5 version with a 272 HP single rear engine in Plus trim. For a 428 HP twin-engine all-wheel drive model, at least 50,950 euros are needed, which becomes 54,400 with the top of the range Ultra trim, protagonist of the test. The latter adds heated and electrically adjustable front seats, heated steering wheel, Park Pilot Assist, 360-degree cameras and 22 kW AC charging. Reserved for setup Ultra also the glass roof, which brings a lot of light into the passenger compartment, but cannot be darkened: to overcome the problem, Volvo sells a specially made magnetic cover. The standard color for the Cross Country is the same as the normal EX30, Cloud Blue, while for the Onyx Black paintwork of the sample under test it is necessary to add 730 euros. From the catalogue, the seats are covered in blue and anthracite Nordic (leather-like) fabric, but on request they can also be available in beige, two-tone green-grey or entirely in Nordic.

8 Pros and cons

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Below, strengths and weaknesses found during our test of the Volvo EX30 Cross Country.

Merits

• Comfort: when traveling at speed on uneven surfaces it doesn’t make a difference, the suspensions act as a “cushion” absorbing the bumps well.
• Intuitive guidance: acceleration is smooth and progressive, the brake has an “organic” response and the steering, despite being filtered to not transmit vibrations from the surface, is soft and intuitive.
• Audio system: the soundbar at the foot of the windshield offers a high-level sound experience.
• Style: refined, with refined details such as the “Thor’s Hammer” front headlights, the inlaid grille and the elaborate tail lights.

​Defects

• ​Consumption: traveling on the motorway at the usual 130 km/h, the range is quite limited. This is due to the high consumption, 24.5 kWh, mainly due to the permanent all-wheel drive.
• Even minimalism itself can be an excess: the interiors are a little poor in terms of shape and materials in relation to the price, the key has no buttons and the keyless is not very fast, there is no instrumentation in front of the driver, the central display is organized in a logical manner but has icons that are a little too small for use while driving.
• ​Glass roof: it is not possible to darken or close it, a magnetic sheet is required.