ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Volvo's little electric EX30 gets crossover-themed Cross Country treatment. Jonathan Crouch takes a look...

Ten Second Reviewword count: 34

Volvo adds a set of hiking boots to the look of its smallest EV to create this EX30 Cross Country. It won't actually cross much country, but it's nicely ruggedised for the winter months.

Backgroundword count: 165

If you've ever travelled in Sweden up towards the Arctic Circle, then you'll be familiar with the decades-old practice whereby Swedes winterise their cars for the arduous Arctic colder months. It didn't take Volvo long to realise that this was a look that buyers in markets with less challenging climates might find appealing. Hence, a quarter of a century ago, the introduction of the big V70 Cross Country estate, a model then succeeded by a longer-lasting variant, the XC70. That XC70 was eventually phased out as interest in the brand's purpose designed SUVs took hold, but in more recent years, the company has started to ruggedise more standard models again and we've seen the Cross Country badge revived for slightly tougher -looking versions of the V60 and the V90. Now, that badge also makes an appearance on the company's strongest selling electric model. The EX30 Cross Country is the first EV and the first SUV to use the Cross Country badge. Let's take a look.

Engines and Tech Specword count: 256

Volvo says the EX30 Cross Country is for 'weekend explorers', but it's hard to think of any places very far off the beaten track that you could actually go exploring in it because predictably, its off-road prowess is very limited indeed. Still, that's not the point. The changes made here are just the sort of thing a Swede living up on the Arctic Circle might want if they were planning to use this EX30 on slippery, snow-packed roads throughout an arduous winter. So ride height has been raised by 19mm and the car is shod with 720mm all-terrain tyres. Plus the five-link rear suspension has been softened to enable the car to better cope with 'ankle-deep' snow, muddy tracks and bumpy terrain. For now (though perhaps not in future), the EX30 Cross Country comes only in all-wheel drive guise, with no powertrain changes over the standard model. That means a 69kWh battery with up to 280 miles of range. And a potent 428hp - enough to storm this EX30 to 62mph in just 3.6s. Normally, this is the point where we'd be talking of the need to engage a 'Sport' mode to get anywhere near the quoted performance figures, but Volvo doesn't seem to believe in a proliferation of driving settings for its EVs. There aren't any provided drive modes, nor are there the steering wheel paddleshifters to control brake regeneration that some other competitors offer. Just a 'One Pedal Drive' setting activated via the centre screen - and even that doesn't slow you particularly fiercely.

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