Diminishing RETURNS: Volvo EX30 Cross Country

Meet the new Volvo EX30 Cross Country. It looks like a post-apocalyptic hero car from Back to the Future IV. It’s a get-up-and-go, up-for-anything version of the strait-laced EX30 we first drove back in 2024. Mechanically – or should we say technically – it shares the same battery and electric motor as the Twin Performance version we last drove. Therefore, a 69-kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery and twin permanent synchronous electric motors producing 315 kW and 543 Nm of torque.

However, you’ll easily spot the differences on the Volvo EX30 Cross Country. Gone are low-profile 20-inch wheels, replaced instead by heavy-treaded Falken all-terrain (AT) tyres on black 19-inch rims. Who can miss the cool-looking black body cladding and standard-fit roof racks? This car is begging for a cross-country adventure, just as the name suggests. And we shall oblige …  

VOLVO EX30 CROSS COUNTRY

However, there’s a little voice in the back of our minds. You see, EVs driven outside of an urban setting demand aerodynamic efficiency to make the most of their battery range. And truthfully, we’ve been bitten once before by EX30 range anxiety on the open road. Now, the Volvo EX30 Cross Country with surfboard-strapped roof racks and less efficient tyres doesn’t have a hope of exceeding the standard car’s range. Surely? But this is what we do, so we’ll give it a go anyway …

Okay, the claimed range on a full battery charge is 427 km in ideal WLTP-cycle conditions. However, from our last test we know that figure to be closer to 400 km in real life. Before setting off on our Volvo EX30 Cross Country adventure, the displayed range was slightly less at 360 km. Our total journey to a secret surf spot that promised to be firing would be 110 km each way. Taking in some gravel roads, that’s a tidy 220 km in total. Given the extra drag of the surfboards, AT tyres, etc, we have a sizeable 140-km range buffer. Huzzah!

STYLISH AND SOPHISTICATED

We do love the uniquely minimalist cabin. With no dials ahead of the driver, it’s very calming to drive and provides space to think. Since the storied Swedish brand was bought by Chinese billionaire Eric Li Shufu, Volvo has benefited from extensive funding by Geely. And what it’s done is think of and build its products in a totally different way. That’s to say with a certain understated style, comfort and sophistication. The cabin in the Volvo EX30 Cross Country is a technological tour de force. Supremely elegant, with all functionality running through the tablet-like central touchscreen. There’s no starter button. Simply climb aboard, pull the drive selector and away you waft. As a result, there’s no sense of information overload in here.

However, an important test for the Volvo EX30 Cross Country has to be how well it retains real-world range on a cross country drive. With our best efforts to maintain a good state of charge, we engage Range mode, switch off the air conditioning and set adaptive cruise to the national speed limit. It’s more or less driving itself now and we’re passengers waiting to alight at our destination. But on the open road the range starts to fall faster than the kilometres are rolling off. Oh ohh …

HELLO RANGE ANXIETY, MY OLD FRIEND

The climb up Sir Lowry’s Pass is the tipping point. Range anxiety begins to rear its neurotic head. Simple arithmetic says we now no longer have enough range to make our destination and return home safely on the available charge. With 80 km of the intended 110 km complete, the buffer is severely eaten into. Claimed consumption may be 18.7 kWh/100 km but we’re using 21.4 kWh/100 km. And Murphy’s, the cobweb-covered charger at Peregrine Farm stall we had as a contingency is offline.

So, with our tail firmly between our legs, that’s it, we swing around and head towards the safety of home. To ensure we’re not caught short we even take surface roads only, instead of the power-zapping highway, to keep consumption as low as possible. Good thing we did because we eventually make it to a working charger with 5% charge and 27 km left in the ‘tank’ having only completed a 215 km round trip. This is significantly less than the 360 km displayed when we set off. Bummer!   

VOLVO EX30 CROSS COUNTRY VERDICT

So, there you have it. The Volvo EX30 Cross Country is indeed a technological tour de force with a super-cool lifestyle makeover. We absolutely love its calm and sophisticated driving demeanour. And Volvo Car South Africa is clearly onto something good with this EV range, seeing as it has been the top-selling EV manufacturer in the country over the last year. We’d just advise taking the claimed range with a pinch of salt. And taking extra care when planning a longer journey.

VOLVO EX30 CROSS COUNTRY FIGURES

• Drivetrain: Twin permanent magnetic synchronous motors
• Net energy: 69-kWh nickel manganese cobalt
• Power: 315 kW, 543 Nm
• Performance: 3.7 seconds – 0-100 km/h / top speed 180 km/h (limited)
• Economy: 18.7 kWh/100 km (claimed), 21.4 kWh/100 km (tested)
• Range: 427 km (claimed)/ 250 km (tested)
• Tyres: Falken ATs – 225/55 R19
• Price: R1 165 000