First Drive Of The 2026 Volvo EX30 Cross Country – CleanTechnica Tested – CleanTechnica

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A few weeks ago I talked with Volvo’s Chief Technology Officer Anders Bell about the massive software revolution he led at Volvo. With that fresh in my mind, I was beyond excited when Volvo reached out with an opportunity to drive their model year 2026 electric vehicles in Southern California.

They brought their 2026 EV lineup out for us, including the EX90, EX30 Single Motor, and the EX30 Cross Country. I’m intimately familiar with these vehicles and with the exception of the EX30 Cross Country, I have personally spent many hours driving around in them, testing them, and pushing them to their limits. As such, I was thrilled to spend the morning driving the EX30 Cross Country up the famed Pacific Coast Highway.

Outside

The Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Cross Country isn’t shy about being different. My demo vehicle was a beautiful sand color outside with contrasting black panels on the rear trunk and the front bumper cover. The panels look a bit like armor to protect the vehicle from all your adventures, a look which is further accentuated by the textured topographic pattern on the front bumper cover.

The EX30 Cross Country isn’t just trying to get by on its good looks, though. It’s sporting front and rear skid plates underneath, wheel arch extensions for a bit of extra coverage from the inevitable mud flinging, 3/4″ or 19mm of extra ground clearance, and a set of all terrain tires to romp around on.

The all terrain tires and armor make it clear that the Cross Country is the dirtbag of the family. They are not subtle and let you know right out of the gate that it’s in your life to help you play more. It was designed to help you get into the dirt to play, and more importantly to get back out of the dirt when you’re done.

Up on the C-pillar, subtle Cross Country badging is woven into the exterior in a color-matched font. All in all, it’s a well thought out and executed package that adds durability where you want it without sacrificing the elegant lines Volvo is known for.

I took it out into the mud and sand to play and it was eager to join in on the fun. It even boasts a trail mode that pairs nicely with turned-off traction control for some donut action. It’s no Rivian or Cybertruck, but it’s more than enough to get out onto some Forest Service Roads on the way to your local dispersed camping or hiking trails.

Inside

The finishes inside the Volvo EX30 Cross Country are as tasteful as you’d expect. The design is minimalist with clean lines and natural materials that tie right back to their Scandinavian roots. The composite panels on the dash feature visible mesh that seemingly tie all the components of the interior together.

Overhead, a massive panoramic sunroom makes the interior feel open and spacious. Using glass overhead instead of metal and roofliners also increases the rear headroom, maximizing passenger room in an otherwise compact rear seat.

The interior feels extremely premium for a vehicle starting under $40,000. The center-mounted 12.3″ portrait touchscreen blends right into this with its floating design, making it obvious that it is the control panel for the vehicle.

One Software Stack To Rule Them All

Volvo is currently in the middle of the largest digital overhaul in company history. The EX90 was their first bottom-up build of a software-defined vehicle and they hit quite a few bumps in its first year of production.

For 2026, they have plugged all the holes and smashed all the bugs and are low key celebrating with a new user interface that will come with all 2026 model year Volvos. This is especially exciting because their new interface will also be rolled out to just over 2 million customer vehicles as well. It’s a huge push for a legacy auto company and really does set Volvo apart from the masses of legacy auto companies and their sub-par infotainment experiences.

Volvo is clearly excited about how much they have accomplished with their new software superstack. Just about every Volvo representative I talked to hinted at the upcoming January 2026 launch of the EX60 as a defining moment in their software and electric vehicle journey. I can’t wait.

Driving The EX30 Cross Country

Getting into the Volvo EX30 Cross Country, it takes off like a little pocket rocket with off-road tendencies. They aren’t pushing it out as a top line talking point, but the EX30 Cross Country boasts an impressive 3.4 second 0-60 time, and it’s doing that on all terrain tires. That’s just a tenth behind the Tesla Model Y Performance.

The EX30 Cross Country’s otherworldly acceleration combined with its off-road kit tells you right away that its ready to rip, and I set out to do just that. Stomping on the accelerator and the Volvo EX30 Cross Country pulls off the lines like a beast, tossing my phone towards the back of the vehicle like it wanted to hurt me.

The acceleration in standard driving mode isn’t neck-breaking, but it does push you back in the seats. If you have the pedal all the way down, a second stage of acceleration seems to kick in that takes it to the next level. It’s a thrilling experience that feels faintly reminiscent to the Honda VTEC boost when you really stomp on the pedal.

And that’s just in standard driving mode. If you’re really looking for a thrill, you can bump it up to performance mode, which summons full power from both motors all at once. I discovered this just as I pulled into the parking lot at Zuma Beach where a light dusting of sand and a slight bit of water from the previous day’s rain proved to be the perfect surface to play on.

I of course followed all of the speed limits and regulations, but on a recent trip to Mexico, I found that the performance mode was an absolute ripper on just such surfaces. It was ready and willing to break traction if that was what you’re looking for, summoning all of the instant torque electric cars are known for at the touch of the pedal. Disengaging traction control meant all bets were off, and the EX30 Cross Country happily spun donuts in one of the Pacific Coast Highway’s many dirt pull-outs.

The Volvo EX30 Cross Country also features range mode if you need to squeeze out every drop of mileage from the battery. It is like disconnecting the IV drip of adrenaline and instantly makes the car much more docile. It will still break traction if you stomp on the pedal under the right conditions, but the throttle response is much more muted.

The EX30 Cross Country still sits low to the ground with tight suspension, and the grippy tires add a slight amount of road noise to the overall drive, but it is hardly noticeable in what is otherwise a very quiet ride.

Overall

The Volvo EX30 was an exciting proposition when I first drove it in Barcelona a few years ago. Soon after, I was disappointed when the US slapped massive tariffs on vehicle imports, forcing Volvo to ramp up production of the EX30 in Ghent, Belgium, sooner than expected. The EX30 Cross Country they gave me to drive was technically built in Ghent, but with 80% of its components from China.

Inflation has also been a very real factor, with most estimates pegging USD inflation at 25-30% since 2020. The tariff wars have continued, but as of this writing, Volvo is able to sell the EX30 in the US for close to what was announced at launch.

That’s fantastic news for US consumers who are now able to order the Volvo EX30 starting at $40,245 including destination fees, while the Cross Country starts at $49,445. There’s even a special deal for Costco members who can save $1,000 to $1,250 depending on the membership level.

Volvo continues to be a premium brand, and the introduction of their most affordable Volvo ever that’s also the quickest Volvo ever, and it just happens to be electric. That’s a huge win for consumers and the planet. The EX30 Cross Country is the most exciting member of the family in our eyes as it opens up the world of light off-roading and adventure in a fully electric build.

After spending a few hours driving the EX30 Cross Country, I’m already looking forward to the next time I get to spend more time in it. Head over to the Volvo EX30 Cross Country’s digital home for more information or to order one for yourself.

Specs

• Power: 422 HP & 400 ft-lb torque
• 0-60 mph time: 3.4 seconds
• Range: 227 miles (EPA estimated)
• Battery: 69 kWh nominal capacity / 65 kWh usable
• Onboard AC Charger: 11 kW
• DC Charging: up to 153 kW
• DC Charge Time: 26.5 minutes (10-80%)
• Warranty: 48 month / 50,000 mile limited warranty, 96 month / 100,000 mile hybrid battery warranty
• MSRP: The 2026 Volvo EX30 starts at $40,245 including destination charges
• Suggested Retail Price (as tested): $54,995