- The new Volvo EX30 Cross Country will have some extra grit under its fingernails
- Powertrain remains unchanged, range pegged around 230 miles (368 km)
- Volvo will have a raft of new models in showrooms 24 months from now
It seems an increasing number of manufacturers are tuning into the fact that electric vehicles can be a bit of fun (and maybe even desirable) if they are developed as something more than soulless washing machines. Hyundai figured out the performance end of the pool with its Ioniq 5 N, while rigs like the Ioniq 5 XRT and upcoming Rivian R3X explore the dirt road side of this equation. Now, Volvo wants a piece of the pie.
Described as the brand’s first electric vehicle to earn a Cross Country badge, the Volvo EX30 Cross Country builds on the existing EX30 by adding extra elements to help explore the great outdoors. Volvo makes it clear the EX30 Cross Country isn’t a hardcore off-roader, rather about helping owners “access nature on nature’s terms” instead of conquering it. To that end, engineers have increased the ground clearance by 19 millimetres to 190 mm (7.5 inches), added larger tires measuring 235/50R19 (all-terrain 18s are optional), and tuned the chassis to respond more appropriately over hill and dale.
There are also a few appropriate styling changes, including swapping out the not-a-grille for a matte black unit engraved to look like a topography map including the coordinates of a Swedish mountain range. Bumpers get a tweak, wheel arch extensions appear, and the Cross Country branding has been hammered into body panels like the rear bumper and C-pillar.
Powertrain takes the form of a twin-motor setup, delivering 422 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. This is equal to a regular EX30. Acceleration to 100 km/h takes an estimated 3.7 seconds. The 65-kWh net battery is said to be good for about 425 kilometres, though that is on the endlessly optimistic WLTP cycle. The more realistic EPA figure pegs it at 230 miles (368 km). It should be able to charge up at DC fast units providing 175 kW of juice. Curb weight is about 100 kg more than a standard EX30.
Volvo is targeting adventure seekers with a range of accessories such as kayak carriers and roof tents though it does say the maximum roof load is 75 kg. It is this author’s experience that unlike towing, payload generally has a negligible effect on EV range. Though, if you do want to tow something, Volvo says the EX30 Cross Country can haul 3,500 pounds. Orders will start mid-February in some markets, with production ramping up in the back half of Q1 this year. Fun fact: the Swedish winter cabin in these photos is for rent to tourists and can include an EX30 Cross Country in the package.
Elsewhere in the lineup, Volvo plans to introduce no fewer than five models this annum, of which the aforementioned EX30 Cross Country is one, with some machines being new and others undergoing surgery as part of a mid-cycle freshening. As part of spelling out its future roadmap, top boss Jim Rowan promised a ‘balanced portfolio’ of EVs, PHEVs, and mild hybrids across a range of sizes. Some of those rigs will be for specific markets, such as China, whilst others will have more global appeal.
A least one car planned for 2026, the upcoming EX60, will ride on the company’s new SPA3 architecture and be the all-electric alternative to Volvo’s popular XC60. That fresh platform is a modular and scalable set of bones said to be compatible with models of all different sizes, which should theoretically speed development of other models and allow Volvo to more quickly respond to fickle markets.
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