The Volvo EX30 Cross Country should be mentioned in the same breath as some of the all-time Gothenburg greats. But a few things are preventing that from happening.
As someone who grew up as part of a ‘Volvo Family’, the EX30 Cross Country ticked all of my boxes on paper. It’s premium without feeling gittish like similar brands from across the Baltic Sea, and it appeals to that part of my brain that answers to the automotive call of the weird.
Visually, the EX30 Cross Country combines the ruff ‘n tumble style of its ‘CC’ predecessors, the original V70 Cross Country, then the XC70, with the Scandinavian minimalism exuded by the standard EX30. Think Alvar Aalto in Goretex.
Yet for all of its left-field charm and ultra-silly 422bhp, the Volvo EX30 Cross Country remains a difficult car to recommend…
Design, interior, and technology
There’s plenty to like about the EX30 Cross Country’s design. Volvo takes the standard car’s fuss-free aesthetic, and introduces a chunky new rear bumper, roof rails for outdoorsy things, wheel cladding, and a new front panel etched with a topographical map of Kebnekaise, the highest mountain range in Sweden. All of these design elements are finished in matt black.
Adding to the EX30 Cross Country’s outdoorsy chops are a set of 19-inch blacked-out alloys, which can be swapped out for a smaller set of 18-inchers for improved efficiency.
Paired with our car’s “Sand Dune” finish inspired by “the sand dunes of Sweden’s west coast”, all of this looked, well… rather elegant. However, EV Powered’s MD, Richard, decided it was a “brown Volvo” and promptly ridiculed me.
Step inside the EX30 Cross Country, and it’s like no Volvo before. Everything – and I mean, everything – is in the centrally-mounted, 12.3-inch touchscreen. Even the speed readout. For me, this wasn’t a problem as I quickly got used to it, but I understand if you’re coming from a car that has a traditional speedometer or even a head-up display.
The overall problem was the touchscreen itself. I’ve long said that Volvo hasn’t made a decent infotainment system since the second-generation S60, and my time with the EX30 Cross Country only served as a reminder that this is a hill I’ll die on. Things aren’t quite BYD horrible, but they’re not far off.
Want to adjust the heating? Touchscreen. Want to open the centrally-mounted glovebox? Touchscreen. Want to adjust the drivemode? Touchscreen. More than once, I was told to “keep your eyes on the road and stop fiddling with that screen”. I genuinely wasn’t being funny when I responded to passengers, “but I can’t”.
Given Volvo is – historically – a by-word for both safety and logic, I found this approach to things disappointing. The same can be said for opening and closing the windows. The driver and passenger windows can be operated via two switches in front of the arm rest. This is fine. But to open the rear passenger windows, you have to flick a rocker switch a la early Volkswagen ID cars, and then use the switches. It just doesn’t make much sense.
Things aren’t all bad, though.
The blue interior trim ‘Textile & Nordico’ trim is fashioned from upcycled denim on the seats and door inlays, making a nice change from the swathes of vegan leather (see, ‘plastic’) so commonplace in EVs today.
The blue dashboard is crafted from recycled plastic bottles, but there’s nothing to suggest this, as it feels sturdily finished as you’d expect from a Volvo. Meanwhile, a full-length sunroof floods the cabin with natural light, providing the EX30 Cross Country with a unique sense of Scandinavian modernism and a real sense of place.
The square steering wheel, or ‘squeal’ sits at ‘just right’ in terms of dimension and girth. It also looks decent, and I apologise to the Austin Allegro and owners thereof for being cruel about its similar setup.
When the EX30 launched, its ADAS system was one of the main points of contention. I don’t know if Volvo has wheeled out an update with the introduction of the Cross Country, but it was easy to deactivate with a single push for ‘EVERYTHING OFF’ once you’ve figured out how to via the touchscreen.
Volvo EX30 Cross Country Battery, motor, and performance
The Volvo EX30 Cross Country has a 69kWh battery, irrespective of trim level. Our car has the dual-motor, all-wheel drive (AWD) P8 drivetrain, which packs 422bhp and a 0-62mph time of 3.7 seconds. Yes, that’s right – 422 electric horses from a small family Volvo.
Volvo insists the 2000s supercar-beating performance is to ensure safe overtaking. I believe it’s a sign that the ladies and gentlemen at Volvo HQ in Gothenburg have a sense of humour.
While it is a laugh to smoke the usual suspects away from a set of traffic lights in a brown Volvo, this does mean range is compromised at 271 miles, and efficiency is far from spectacular with a consumption rate of anything between 3.1 and 3.4 miles per kilowatt hour. However, these are the sort of numbers associated with 422bhp.
Despite its ruff ‘n tumble design, the Volvo EX30 Cross Country is very much a softroader, so don’t be taking it to your local green-laning meet unless you want to look silly.
However, in the twisty stuff, Volvo’s smallest model is pleasantly engaging thanks to a compact 4.2 metre by 1.8m footprint. Having enough point ‘n squirt power under your right foot to spin a moon helps, too. In fact, the EX30 Cross Country put me in mind of an electric rallycross car, and it certainly put a smile on my face more than once.
Yet the motorway was where the EX30 Cross Country truly excelled. It was quiet and refined, with minimal road noise and comfortable seats. That extra suspension travel makes absorbing any potholes a doddle, and top marks to Gothenburg for not forgetting these crucial ingredients that make a Volvo a Volvo.
If 422bhp doesn’t sound like your smorgåsbord, Volvo offers the EX30 Cross Country as a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) car with 276bhp. Named the P5 Long Range, this single-motor powertrain can manage 288 miles from a single charge.
Price and specification
The Volvo EX30 Cross Country isn’t cheap. In entry-level ‘Plus’ guise, it starts at £41,260 with the single-motor P5 drivetrain. Step up to our test car’s twin-motor ‘Ultra’ trim, and you’re looking at £46,650.
All versions of the EX30 Cross Country come with a beefy Harman Kardon stereo system, a heat pump, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, plus adaptive cruise control, and an electronically controlled tailgate. The Ultra adds that much welcome panoramic roof, parking assist, a 360-degree camera, and tinted rear windows.
Volvo EX30 Cross Country Verdict
As a ‘Volvo Guy’, I wanted to sing the EX30 Cross Country’s praises and talk about it in the same breath as the Amazon and the 850 R.
Its Scandinavian modernist design language is truly unique, and the Littlest Volvo certainly doesn’t take itself too seriously with 442bhp. Most importantly, it feels like a proper Volvo, albeit one that’s been shrunken down into a compact package.
But at the end of the day, the EX30 Cross Country is a heart over head car. It’s not cheap, and that software package/infotainment screen is a serious departure from the sensibleness usually synonymous with Volvo.
Volvo EX30 Cross Country Ultra
Price: £46,560 (inc. Ultra trim, and P8 AWD drivetrain)
Powertrain: Dual-motor, all-wheel-drive
Battery: 69kWh
Power: 422bhp
Torque: 400lb ft
Top speed: 112mph
0-62mph: 3.7 seconds
Range: 271 miles
Consumption: 3.1 – 3.4 mi/kWh
Charging: Up to 175kW / 26-28 minutes
Rivals
Skoda Elroq vRS: Less powerful than the Volvo but more focused on on-road performance and with a similar starting price
BYD Atto 3 Evo: A far larger car than the Volvo but with similar pricing and performance, plus an equally infuriating user interface
Suzuki e-Vitara: There aren’t many real rivals to the Volvo but Suzuki does offer similar 4×4 claims in a similar-sized package if that’s what you need
