Volvo EX30 Cross Country: For the wild side of city dwellers

With 703 units sold, the attractive EX30 city SUV from Volvo is already the Swedes' second most popular model in this country behind the global and eternal bestseller XC60. Now the electric SUV is emulating its bigger brother and, based on the top-of-the-range "Ultra" trim level, it is now driving forward as a robust Cross Country. The cross-country lettering in the C-pillars and under the license plate (rear) as well as the underride guard and the widened wheel arches add a touch of adventure.

Despite the standard 4×4, the small Volvo is not intended for tough off-road passages and will not move any mountains with the additional 1.9 centimetres and thus a total of 19 centimetres of ground clearance; and yet it is always on the road with a mountain. This is because the striking, dark plastic cover at the front is adorned with not only the elevation curves, but also the coordinates of the highest Swedish mountain. The numbers 67°54'0''N, 18°31'0''E refer to the Kebnekaise. This is located in the very north of Sweden, 70 kilometers west of Kiruna, has an altitude of 2096.8 m above sea level and its Sami name means something like "kettle ridge".

And because Volvo has also recognized the "back to nature" trend, the EX30 Cross Country comes with a whole range of optional accessories. A load carrier, a roof box, 18-inch off-road tires and special mud flaps are designed to provide an even more intensive "Cross Country Experience". Volvo even wants to gradually build up an entire ecosystem with practical equipment for excursions into nature around its Cross Country models.

We start the test drive towards the picturesque archipelago near Gothenburg with the 4.23 m long and 1.84 m wide four-wheeler without accessories and glide comfortably over the asphalt. Thanks to the adjustments to the chassis, the five-seater will certainly be able to cope better with slippery conditions and unpaved roads, but the cheeky Viking will certainly be driving on asphalt most of the time. This is where the powerful twin-motor performance drive, which combines two electric motors with a total of 315 kW/428 hp and 543 Nm, makes the most sense. They even catapult the EX30 Cross Country to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds! However, if the driving style is too sporty, the electric range of 425 kilometers according to the WLTP is a waste of time. But it doesn't matter, because charging the 69-kWh drive battery from 10 to 80 percent takes just 27 minutes at a fast-charging station thanks to the 153-kW charging power.

Inside, the Volvo has the usual high-quality feel, right down to the large, hinged storage compartment on the floor between the driver and front passenger, and impresses with its Nordic flair. You even get used to the combination of driver and information display in the center of the dashboard surprisingly quickly and only look for speed and driver information behind the steering wheel for the first few kilometers. The free-standing touchscreen, reminiscent of a tablet, is intuitive to operate and is based on the latest generation Android Automotive infotainment system with integrated Google services.

All in all, the Volvo EX30 Cross Country is a successful mix of agile city car, smart e-sports car and robust all-wheel-drive vehicle, but at 53,850 Swiss francs it comes at a price.