The arrival of the fully electric small SUV, the Volvo EX30, in downtown Johannesburg last month (February 22) lowers the bar in terms of price. But it’s not cheap. However, regarding quality, don’t expect anything less from the stylish Swedish Chinese-owned manufacturer renowned for the most luxurious, safest vehicles on the planet. Their cars even think of how to lessen the pain on pedestrians during an accident. Smart cars!
The Volvo EX30 has an airbag between the driver and passenger to prevent them from getting too close for comfort in the event of a collision.
Back to price, this smart-looking vehicle, available in black and white, starts at R775 900 and offers a range of 480 kilometres. It’s no slouch either when it comes to speed – this vehicle can go from 0 to 100 kilometres in just 3.6 seconds. Of course, such a performance would make it even the envy of Usain Bolt, even though he has hung out his running Nike.
You get charged and drive in under half an hour, gobbling up some 15.7 kilowatts for every 100 kilometres on the road. Remember, I mentioned that one must enjoy the silence. Well, the choice to crank up the volume is hard to resist. In a world-claimed first, Volvo has installed a sound bar as the centrepiece of a high-performance system. Have they not heard about the sub-woofer speakers filling up the Citi Golf boot from Chatsworth to Phoenix or Lenasia? Still, the Volvo EX30 is wired for sound. But the slick township audio kings were first in helping one on the road to hearing aids.
Who can forget the memorable bus journey from Sydenham to Warwick Avenue rank to Montford, Road 736, to visit my late Uncle Tommy (Pattamama) and Auntie Sparks (Sheila, not of the Highway) when making monthly visits to RK Khan for my asthma? The music was what made those journeys come alive. The soundbar symphony was long before Volvo or the soundbar itself became fashionable.
But the Volvo EX30 can help one out in a tight corner. It has Park Pilot Assist, which enables it to navigate itself into its parking space by steering, accelerating, and braking. Impressive, though I recall first seeing this innovation in a Mercedes Benz a decade ago during a launch at its flagship dealership in Umhlanga. The German manufacturer is also getting into gear on the electric front. If only they learnt how to communicate better.
Sales-speak will tell you that the EX30 has five illumination and sound themes that remind one of Scandinavia. But unless you’re like me and have regaling tales from someone like the spunky former Pietermaritzburg resident Rupini Bergstrom (please put two dots on the o), my fabulous friend in Stockholm, who says snow piles up on her balcony. Bless her. She has a caring, personal snow remover. You would also want that ice-cool, crisp feeling from Scandinavia. Snow in a bottle to go with the sound box and grand performance?
On a serious note, the vehicle has enough smart storage solutions to hide a stash of gulab jamun if you’re cheating on the diabetes diet. Indeed, it promises to shake up the electric vehicle sector on price – and quality. However, the current cheapest electric vehicle in the country is the sweet GWM ORA at R685 950. The MINI Cooper SE is under R705 000 and goes from 0 to 100 kilometres in 7.3 seconds, faster than Mr Bolt and slower than the all-new Volvo EX30. It’s also much longer in the tooth. I remember seeing the MINI prototype 2009 in Munich, Germany, when BMW had amazing motoring adventures. It was revolutionary. Now BMW, like Mercedes, have become silent nuns avowed in silence. Perhaps their cars speak for themselves so their communicators can collect fat salaries for not communicating. But there are other brands to consider.
Like the splendid Volvo EX30, which has five new models, the price rises to a few bob shy of a million rands for the top-of-the-range version. Maybe it is time to ditch the Germans and China. Volvo believes this car would set the tone for its umbrella of vehicles to become fully electric in five years. Indeed, the pricing strategy positions the EX30 among the most affordable EVs in the country without compromising on performance or luxury.
The entry-level EX30 Core Single Motor boasts a high standard with impressive performance metrics, including 200 kW and 343 Nm peak outputs, enabling a swift acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 5.7 seconds. This variant is powered by a 51-kWh high-voltage battery pack, ensuring a substantial cycle range of 344 km on a single charge, showcasing Volvo’s commitment to efficiency and performance.
Advancing in the lineup, the EX30 Plus Single Motor Extended Range model enhances the driving experience with a larger 69 kWh battery pack, extending the range to 476 km. Despite maintaining the same power and torque as the base model, this variant boasts a quicker 0-100 km/h sprint time of 5.3 seconds. The consistency in performance and range is also evident in the EX30 Ultra Single Motor Extended Range, which shares the exact powertrain specifications.
The EX30 Cross Country is on the way for those who want something bigger. Perhaps, by then, the government would have smelled the clean air and lowered the heavy import duties on electric vehicles. Going green does not have to be punitive since the government is already getting a fat cut.
One must question the wisdom of going green to save the planet when you’ve got to pay for the privilege without guarantees that Eskom will keep the lights on when it’s time to recharge.
If my lotto numbers come in, I’d enjoy the silent, smooth ride in this Volvo EX30 – then blast the amazing sound bar as it would be the closest to the vroom of the exhaust sounds or the “doof doof” of the Citi Golf speakers that reminds one of home in Grove End, Phoenix.
– © Higher Education Media (originally written for and published by NOWinSA)
