EX30 Cross Country First Drive Review

The EX30 Cross Country carries on Volvo's tradition of creating lifted, off-road capable variants of its existing cars that started with the V70 XC (Cross Country) introduced in 1997. While the EX30 may be the latest model from a long lineage, it is the first-ever fully electric Cross Country model from Volvo - it also happens to be the brand's first Cross Country SUV.

This isn't just a new model - the EX30 Cross Country is the embodiment of Volvo Cars' dedication towards a green, electrified future. By adding the extra capability to explore the roads less travelled (and a rugged style) to the agile compact electric SUV, this car has the potential to bring the concept of electric cars to a wider audience. And let me quell your worries, this isn't just another poser without any functionality - you'll quickly see that.

Like the Cross Country Volvo stationwagons of yesteryear, the EX30 Cross Country gets additional ride height, along with other enhancements

What does the 'Cross Country' moniker bring to the table?

In order to make a car more capable on rough terrain, there are several things to consider - the most obvious one being to raise the ride height for more ground clearance, which consequently creates the off-road capable look. To create the EX30 Cross Country, Volvo increased ground clearance by 19mm through a 12mm higher-riding chassis and an upsized wheel setup that contributes 7mm.

Equipped with the most powerful dual-motor powertrain that is offered with the EX30, the Cross Country puts out 315kW (422bhp) and 543Nm of torque to all four wheels for optimal traction

But Volvo didn't just stop at that. To ensure optimal traction on loose surfaces, along with the oomph to conquer obstacles, Volvo chose to equip the Cross Country with a potent dual-motor all-wheel drive configuration that puts out 315kW (422bhp) and 543Nm of torque.

Volvo also gave the EX30's chassis ample tweaks to arrive at the Cross Country. The Cross Country receives 8% and 13% softer springs at the front and rear of the car respectively. The dampers, anti-roll bars and steering software are all specially designed to fit the car's purpose as well.

Volvo devised the best way for us to experience the EX30 Cross Country - by letting us loose on a frozen lake in Lulea, Sweden

Putting it through an icy trial

Volvo is certainly confident of the capabilities of the EX30 Cross Country - it invited groups of media from the world over, including us, to experience what the car is capable of, on a frozen lake in Lulea, Sweden, just hours away from the Arctic Circle.

While the surface of the ice track was too flat to put the increased ground clearance Cross Country to the test, it was the perfect scenario to experience the handling and mannerisms of the car when driving on extremely low-grip surfaces.

Despite the extremely slick surfaces, the EX30 Cross Country remained highly predictable and safe to operate

With all-wheel drive traction and a capable traction control system (that cannot be disabled), moving off on the icy surface was a non-issue. However, upon reaching the first turn, it was immediately clear just how slick the surface was - carry too much speed or turn the steering too quickly and you could feel the tyres sliding.

The EX30 Cross Country handled the cold climate really well - even though batteries aren't known to do so well in the cold

And yet, Volvo was confident enough to allow us all to let loose on the track (it was the first time many of us were driving on ice). You see, the Cross Country was engineered with safety and ease of driving on poor surfaces in mind. The softer suspension setup wasn't only designed for more compliance on rough terrain, but it also gave the car a slight understeer-y characteristic whenever the tyres break loose. While this makes it more difficult to slide the car at large angles, it does make it predictable and feels safer to operate - especially for the less experienced drivers.

Another obstacle that the EX30 Cross Country handled really well was the cold climate. It is widely understood that battery performance tends to suffer in extremely low temperatures, and the car's power and battery life did not suffer from any significant decrease in performance despite the -6 degree Celsius temperature in Lulea.

There's plenty on the exterior of the EX30 Cross Country to tell it apart from the base car

A rugged exterior to match the Cross Country capabilities

Apart from all the enhancements that makes the EX30 Cross Country more capable on rough terrains, it also comes with thoughtful exterior upgrades that allow you to tell it apart from the normal EX30 with ease.

The Cross Country gets matte black components such as the front and rear panels, which are specially chosen to hide scuffs and scratches

Up front, the Cross Country's grille area is now in matte black with engraved lines inspired by the topography maps of the Kebnekaise mountain range in northern Sweden, which is also the highest point in the country. Other components finished in matte black includes the wider wheel arches, the panel on the rear boot lid. The matte black finish is not just an aesthetic decision - it was chosen such that the inevitable scuffs and scratches from driving the car into the wilderness wouldn't be as prominent.

To complete the rugged look of a car made to conquer rough terrains, the Cross Country also gets additional skid plates underneath the front and rear bumpers.

The EX30 Cross Country is a charming SUV that was developed to serve a purpose, and Volvo made sure it was all functional

A charming small SUV

Specially built to serve a purpose, the EX30 Cross Country is a small electric SUV with plenty of character and charm. Having experienced the snow-paved country roads in Sweden, the purpose of a Cross Country Volvo is apparent, and it is heartening to know the brand has really put in the effort to create a functional product.

I've been told that the EX30 Cross Country won't be offered in Singapore. On one hand, I'm bummed that I won't get to see these charming SUVs on our roads, but on the other it is clear that all the benefits the Cross Country offers won't be of much value in our urban jungle, and the car would likely be under-utilised and under-appreciated.