Volvo has finally launched the new EX30 in South Africa, adding to the country’s small but growing pool of sub-R1 million electric vehicles (EV).
The EX30 is, in fact, the second-cheapest EV in South Africa, and is only beaten by the BYD Atto 3, which came out in June last year.
The Volvo has a starting price of R775,900, while the BYD retails from R768,000, meaning there is only R7,900 separating the two models.
While neither of these prices can realistically be called affordable in the context of the local market, they are nonetheless a big step in the right direction as the previous “entry-level” electric crossover, the Volvo XC40 Recharge, now goes for R1,108,000.
In other words, the barrier to entry has been reduced by approximately R340,000 with the addition of these two models, so it’s important to take a look and see what the starting point for EVs in South Africa currently looks like.
Powertrains
Starting with the Atto 3, it uses a single front-mounted motor that generates 150kW and 310Nm, which connects to either a 50kWh or 60kWh battery pack, depending on the model.
This gives it a range of 345km to 430km, and accelerating from 0 to 100km/h takes 7.3 seconds.
Charging the car on a standard 7kW AC house plug takes roughly 10 hours, but an 80kW fast charger can obtain a 100% top-up in just 80 minutes.
As for the EX30, it has two different powertrains options comprising a single rear-mounted motor that puts out 200kW and 343Nm and can reach 100km/h in 5.7 seconds.
Alternatively, there is a twin-motor, all-wheel-drive option that ups the ante to 315kW and 543Nm with a blistering 3.6-second acceleration time, though it must be noted that this is significantly more expensive than either the base Volvo or the BYD.
There are two battery choices – a 51kWh cell with 344km on tap or a 69kWh cell with 480km.
Replenishing the larger of the two batteries is expected to take around 18 hours at home, but this can be reduced to just 25 minutes for an 80% charge when using a supported 153kW DC cable.
Features
While they may be “entry-level” in the context of South Africa, both EVs are still upmarket products, which entails a generous equipment sheet.
Standard fittings on both units include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and daytime running lights, climate control, keyless entry and start, heated seats, a wireless phone charger, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, a reverse camera, rear parking sensors, a digital driver display, and an infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Chinese car, which is only sold in a single specification, additionally comes with artificial leather upholstery, a 360-degree camera, front parking sensors, a powered tailgate, onboard navigation, and a panoramic sunroof.
The Swede, on the other hand, requires you to pay for one of the higher trim levels to get everything it has to offer, including a heated steering wheel, ambient lighting, front and side parking sensors, an all-round camera, alloy rims up to 20 inches in size, a Harmon Kardon stereo, a panoramic sunroof, and an electric tailgate.
Pricing
The South African pricing for the new Volvo EX30 is as follows:
- Volvo EX30 Core Single Motor – R775,900
- Volvo EX30 Plus Single Extended Range – R865,900
- Volvo EX30 Plus Twin Motor Performance – R935,900
- Volvo EX30 Ultra Single Motor Extended Range – R965,900
- Volvo EX30 Ultra Twin Motor Performance – R995,900
Each purchase comes with a 5-year/100,000km warranty and maintenance plan, as well as a 5-year/unlimited-mileage roadside assistance plan.
The local pricing for the BYD Atto 3 is as follows:
This includes a 5-year/100,000km warranty and service plan.
Volvo EX30
BYD Atto 3
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