The Volvo EX30, launched in 2023 and which began arriving on the national market this year, seems to be a winning bet at a time when it still has little time on the market: for the price (the 100% electric car is sold from 37,895 euros), but also because of the way in which, even though it is part of a Chinese group, it seems to embody the entire Swedish soul, doing justice to the brand’s Nordic DNA. And this is evident in the way it behaves on ice, whether on public roads or on tracks created on the icy blanket of Lake Björnträsk, as part of a trip that aimed to show how Volvo continues to carry on Swedish heritage.
With the EX30 Single Motor Extended Range, powered by a 272 hp electric motor directing power to the rear axle, excitement takes over the group: the car lets itself be carried along on the slippery floor, but it also lets itself be held, even if only with the technique of simply doing nothing and letting it go. And, with rear-wheel drive, it still demonstrates efficient management of the way it moves around curves. Then, here, “there’s nowhere to hit”, encourages one of the instructors, who doesn’t shy away from encouraging us to push our feet all the way to the bottom.
Different talk presents the EX30 Twin Motor Performance, with all-wheel drive and 428 hp, announced with sports-like acceleration (3.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h). The response is much faster and more powerful, but, in this case, there seems to be no way to make the car run away from us, with the wheels tracing almost perfect curves, even in those where the floor has extremely slippery plates (most likely, If we continued on foot, we would fall…).
Safe and comfortable, that’s for sure. But a disappointment for some of the traveling companions who thought that greater power would be synonymous with greater challenges. Nothing that can’t be solved: after testing the two-engine model, many returned to the “weaker” one, which accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in a quick 5.3 seconds, for a few more laps and a good dose of fun.
The opportunity to interact with the compact car in the middle of nature is no coincidence. With the EX30, Volvo wants to make a difference in terms of sustainability and presents a program that aims to achieve the objective of, at the end of its life cycle, up to 95% of the car being able to be recovered, much of it by recycling the materials that make it up.
But, as new, it is also capable of claiming to be sustainable, by adopting recycled materials, particularly in the interior, with the seats and panels, of the dashboard and doors, using recreated materials, for example, from jeans. There is also responsibly sourced linen and wool that includes 70% recycled polyester, which, in addition to being sustainable, allows you to play with colors and textures, but also plastics made from waste, such as window frames and old blinds. Optionally, upholstery in Nordico can be added, a material produced from textiles originating from recyclable materials, such as PET bottles and biodegradable material from forests in Sweden and Finland.
As we had already had the opportunity to try, the EX30 is an easy car. Easy to like, understand and adapt to (except for the stressful attention alert that will probably still be refined). When we sit inside the car, the system is activated without having to press any button. At your commands, the driving position is very comfortable, and it is possible to adjust it for sensations more similar to a hatchback. Those who really like to walk on heights will also be able to do so. It goes without saying that, in a concentrated package, the EX30 manages to please Greeks and Trojans.
Fugas traveled to Sweden at the invitation of Volvo
