ELECTRIC VOLVO EX30

What’s most impressive about the flagship EX30, the Ultra Twin Motor Performance, is the strength of the first impression this EV generates when you complete the first kilometre. Absolute smoothness and ease of use inspire confidence, as does the superb visibility. The weighting of controls, particularly the steering, and the response of pedals is just right. The way it gets up to speed and carries that speed seems to anticipate what your brain and right foot require. No surging, no shuffling, no lurching, no whirring, no quirks during energy regen, just linear advances, progressive slowing and a sense of complete control.

The minimalist interior also impresses in that first kilometre as it leaves you to focus on the task at hand without unnecessary distractions. You encounter some tactile treats (slim metal door latches, unique air vent controls, a leather wrapped wheel of the right rim thickness, padded floating door pulls that double as arm rests) before bothering too much about the central screen and its technology goldmine. It naturally pays to get your settings sorted before heading off rather than trying to work the screen on the move. By contrast, the drive wand beside the steering wheel is as easy and quick to use as any transmission control.

Not only does the EX30 get the basics spot-on, it offers some quality design touches that will continue to delight throughout your ownership, helping deliver a complete sense of calm and control from the get-go. There’s enough to give the Volvo a distinct character upon first acquaintance.

The cloth seats with a Merino wool blend look unexciting at first glance but their shape, support and feel are terrific. They win passengers over upon first perch. Elsewhere, durable eco-materials used as cabin trim and inlays look fine, will be hard to mark, and will easily be recycled.

The way the central storage console extends and retracts in stages struck us as very clever and adds to the impression of space. And the vast panoramic glass roof gives an already airy cabin an extra sense of – airiness.

At this $85k price point, there are excesses, subtle in their presentation but potent in their delivery. For example, a Harman Kardon soundbar stretches across the entire upper dash beneath the windscreen. To say this sound system has serious grunt is some understatement. It would probably be put to better use in your living room.

And once you’ve got a few kilometres under your belt and the road opens up, you can fully deploy the 315kW produced by dual electric motors. That’s 315kW in a compact SUV of 4.23m length, so way more than enough to instantly distance yourself from the herd. A sprint to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds rapidly confirms this excess. Of course, it’s great having mind-bending power when you need it, such as during open-road overtakes, plus there’s a certain novelty value and bragging rights to boot. We seldom did need full-force acceleration, preferring instead to maximise potential range in the interests of efficiency and revel in the real-world attributes that stripped the stress out of every trip.

In most respects, the EX30 compares favourably with all other EVs we’ve driven. It could prove a revelation for buyers migrating from petrol or diesel. And those for whom performance is not top priority might happily slot into a single-motor variant, saving thousands and enjoying just as much Swedish good sense.