Malaysians can now also register their interest in this all-electric next-gen compact Volvo SUV.
Volvo Car Malaysia has recently officially hinted that its EX30 will be arriving locally rather soon, and has since welcomed prospective customers to register their interests in it. This smaller sibling to the outgoing XC40 first made its initial international debut in June last year, with it then going on to become one of the marque’s most best-selling models this year, as almost 48,000 example were delivered globally in the first half of 2024.
Based upon the same Geely Sustainable Experience Architecture 2 (SEA2) bones as currently underpins the smart #1 and Zeekr X, this current smallest of SUVs from Volvo is such a hot seller for the brand primarily due to its rather attractive price tag. The EX30 currently retails from €36,000 (RM 175,000) in Europe and $36,145 (RM 160,000) North America respectively, which should therefore see this be yet another compelling competitor in the already rather crowded sub-RM 200,000 premium e-SUV segment over here.
Now it is still unknown as to which variants of the EX30 exactly will be arriving over here just yet, but the official teaser announcement from the automaker has at least alluded that the Performance trim will be among the local launch candidates. This particular spec of compact crossover is incidentally the fastest accelerating Volvo ever made, with it managing to rocket from 0-100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds, thanks to a combined 428 PS and 543 Nm of torque output from its pair of drive motors.
A pair of more sensible single motor configurations are meanwhile also available with the EX30 internationally, featuring a 276 PS rear-mounted drive unit hooked up to either a 54 kWh LFP battery pack for 344 km of WLTP-claimed range, or the same 69 kWh NMC unit from the Performance trim for 480 km of driving distance on a single charge.
In terms of available kit with the EX30, Volvo Malaysia has similarly not divulged the exact spec for this upcoming compact crossover over here yet. But if going by the top-tier Ultra variant offered in Europe, this small SUV will feature on the outside 20-inch diamond-cut alloys and a panoramic sunroof in between its digitalised Thor’s Hammer LED headlights up front and split-level taillights round its boxy rump.
As for what lies within meanwhile, among the more notable highlights of the EX30’s minimalist cabin is its a single portrait 12.3-inch tablet-style infotainment screen running a Google-based operating system and a soundbar covering the entire upper portion of the dash under the windshield. This being a Volvo too, this compact crossover does an impressive array of safety tech that includes among other things an ‘upgraded semi-autonomous Pilot Assist functionality and 360° environmental awareness from its multiple cameras’.
Volvo has further been keen to tout as well this EX30’s green credentials, with this small SUV claimed to feature the highest levels of recycled and sustainable material in any of the Swedish automaker’s production lineup. This particular model has also been claimed by its maker to have the smallest lifetime carbon footprint of any Volvo model to date, at 30 tonnes over 200,000 km miles of driving for both production and operation.
“The Volvo EX30 embodies Volvo Cars’ design values and is a showcase in premium Scandinavian design where form follows function,” said Jim Rowan, chief executive officer of Volvo Cars. “The EX30 shows the lowest carbon footprint of any fully electric Volvo car to date and is designed to be as safe as you’d expect from a Volvo car. It is packed with cutting edge technology and a perfect fit for today’s market as a growing number of car buyers switch to electric cars.”
