MILAN — Volvo calls its new EX30 a “not-so-big, really big deal.” And while I hesitate to succumb to marketing taglines, after spending time with the company’s new EV in Milan, Italy, on Wednesday, I have to admit, Volvo’s got a point.
When it arrives in the U.S. early next year, the 2025 Volvo EX30 will be a new entry point into the brand. The base Single Motor Extended Range model will cost just $36,145 including an $1,195 destination charge, though the EX30 will not be eligible for the updated U.S. federal EV tax credit. Powered by a 69-kilowatt-hour battery
All of that makes the EX30 pretty compelling, and poking around the EV in person really seals the deal. As you’d expect from a modern Volvo, the interior is fantastic – sturdily built and covered in all sorts of soft materials. From the recycled fabrics to the visually appealing trim, the EX30 really punches above its weight in terms of luxury per dollar. Compared to something like a slightly larger Mercedes-Benz
It’s not perfect, though. Most of the car’s controls are housed in the central infotainment display. But at least the screen is nicely designed and quick to respond – thanks, Google software. I also hate, hate, hate
The rest of the EX30, though? It’s a peach. I love the look in person, and it’s much smaller than it appears in photos – think Hyundai Kona
In addition to the standard EX30, Volvo showed the upcoming Cross Country version on Wednesday, and wow, it’s a cutie. The increased ground clearance, purposeful cladding, skid plates and 18-inch wheels wrapped in 225/55-series all-terrain tires really work on this subcompact EV. And Volvo thinks the whole Cross Country get-up applies itself nicely to an electric vehicle
“I really like the idea of having Cross Country as part of the brand,” Volvo Cars CEO Jim Rowan told reporters in Milan on Wednesday. “When you have a fully electric car … and you want to go camping for the weekend, in this car, you open that tailgate, you stick a tent on the back of it, you use the HVAC system to heat or cool the car, you don’t need to worry about carbon monoxide. You can run a small fridge off of it, you can charge an electric bike
The Cross Country will go on sale roughly a year after the standard EX30, with production expected to kick off in late 2024. Butch all-rounder or city-slickin’ commuter – based on what I’ve seen of the EX30, this one’s sure to be a hit.