1,000 kilometers behind the wheel of the Volvo EX30: an update on the experience

On March 6, 2024, after more than six months of waiting, I went to pick up my Volvo EX30, an Extended Range model, with a mid-level Plus finish. During my test carried out in Barcelona, ​​​​​​​​I justified this choice instead of Tesla: it was the size that decided me, while the improved interface of Google is the closest to the use of Tesla – one screen to control everything. The reputation of the brand also convinced me, in front of the American car manufacturer whose image is affected by the escapades – and strange decisions – of his boss.

In one month, I traveled a little over 1,300 km – which is not a lot. If the experience observed in Barcelona convinced me, the first long tests published a few days before delivery gave me doubts. Although we recorded between 14.4 kWh/100 and 18.9 kWh/100 on Spanish roads, with low temperatures and few expressways, other tests have reported higher figures, sometimes as low as 30 kWh/100.

What is questioning my acquisition? On the contrary. After more than 1,300 km in my environment and some trips on French highways, I’m glad I chose the EX30.

I have never exceeded 24/100 kWh driving my EX30

Before expressing my opinion, a few points to consider as an introduction:

• I drive an EX30 with a 69 kWh battery (total), giving a range of 475 km according to the WLTP standard. Combined consumption is given at 17 kWh / 100;
• My EX30 is outfitted with 19-inch aerodynamic rims and summer tires;
• I set the climate in eco mode to 18 degrees, putting more than enough for a comfortable feeling in the car;
• I’m thinking of normal driving, not economical driving. And when I can go 130 km/h, I go 130 km/h (134 km/h, actually);
• The outside temperature did not exceed 20 degrees and was more than 10/15 degrees in this sample.

In my first daily trips (about ten kilometers, mainly on expressways at 90 km/h), I got a consumption of about 20 kWh/100. From now on, I hover between 16 and 17 kWh/100. Short journeys are not necessarily representative, as the car uses a lot of the first kilometers (time for the battery and the passenger compartment to warm up). Therefore, I use less when I go more than 20 km from home (15 kWh/100), on similar roads.

On a long trip, here’s how my EX30 did:

• Consumption of about 15 kWh from my house to the city of Tourcoing, a trip of 70 km and a small road of 130 km/h (very little);
• Consumption of about 15 kWh for a road trip between Lille and Douai made on the same day (about 26 km, with very little possibility of driving at 130 km/h due to traffic). On this daily trip of about 147 km, I achieved an average consumption of 15.1 kWh, and an average speed of 55.7 km/h;
• Consumption of about 15 kWh to go from my house to Camiers (142 km), with an average speed of 66 km / h;
• Consumption of about 15 kWh to go from Camiers to my home (146 km), with an average speed of 65 km / h;
• Consumption of about 22 kWh from my home to the Ionity station north of Paris (158 km), via the A1 road, subject to speed limits;
• Consumption of approximately 13.5 kWh from the Ionity terminal to Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne (101 km). I have never fallen so low;
• Consumption of about 14 kWh from More-Loing-et-Orvanne to Ionity station (101 km);
• Consumption of about 19.5 kWh from the Ionity terminal to my home, at an average speed of 108 km / h, on the A1 road. It was 15 degrees outside.

According to these first figures, which will need to be verified over a long period of time and under different conditions (during extreme heat events and, on the contrary, during extreme temperature drops), I arrive at a mixed use close to the manufacturer’s data, or even. a little lower. This gives me the ability to do more than 400 km on a single charge.

On the highway, we are closer to 21/100 kWh, which allows us to hope for a range of 300 km – or rather 250 km before recharging at the terminal on a very long trip. This show is better than I expected. Not surprisingly, they are worse than the Tesla Model 3 – the queen of efficiency and the best aerodynamic profile (it’s a sedan) – or the Model Y.

There are many variables that can help or reduce this efficiency, one of the most important variables. In fact, it grows more, the more it is possible to go, and above all to recover less, which also reduces the costs of recharge.

EX30 seems particularly sensitive to the wind, which is logical due to its high aerodynamic coefficient (CX of 0.28) – we are talking about an SUV equipped with rims of at least 18 inches. With strong headwinds, consumption may increase.

Another thing to consider, which will have a possible effect on the car: if you have a heavy foot, the electric car will be less efficient – this is a feature that is also found in the hot model. You’ll have to think about it if you want to launch your 272-horsepower car from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds.

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