Those speed freaks at Volvo are at it again. Seriously.
The Swedish brand has actually been putting out some real hot rods lately.
A few weeks ago, we drove a rip-roaring, plug-in hybrid version of Volvo’s midsize SUV.
This time, we’re in a small, all-wheel drive electric SUV that’s been given a hefty dose of horsepower.
It’s called the Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance Ultra and it goes to 60 miles an hour in about as long as it takes to read its full name. Volvo says this one gets to 60 in all of 3.4 seconds. By comparison, Porsche says a base 911 goes to 60 in 3.9.
And it’s not Porsche pricey, either. The one I drove came in a $48,395, after shipping.
A warning, though: supercar acceleration does not mean supercar handling. That was much more down-to-earth, and blurred the line between “zooming around” and “careening out of control.” The suspension also tended to get bouncy over unsettled pavement.
The batteries here pack an EPA-estimated 253 miles of range. The body is rounded, cutesy and, well, a bit egglike. This one was also hard to miss in bright yellow. (I told a friend I had pulled up to his building and he confirmed he could see me. From space.)
To say this car is minimalist inside is an understatement. When you look at the dash in front of you, you basically see nothing but fabric. All of your major info is displayed on the iPad-like vertical center screen, which takes some getting used to.
I’m highlighting an electric car this week because now is the time if you’re interested.
You’re up against a Sept. 30 deadline to claim a $7,500 tax credit for new EVs before that credit expires, though we learned this week that buyers will be eligible to claim the tax credit after Sept. 30, as long as they’ve signed a contract before that date.
The credit would only apply to leases on this model.
