World’s Best EV Crossover? Volvo EX30 Vs EVERY Rival

In the market for a compact electric crossover? You’re spoilt for choice right now. While early EVs were often big, expensive SUVs, there’s now a proliferation of (relatively) affordable £35k ones boasting over 250 miles of range.

Newest is the Volvo EX30, the Swedish maker’s smallest electric car to date, promising the lowest lifetime CO2 footprint of any vehicle it has ever made.

But is it the one to buy? To find out, we brought it together with nine other electric SUVs, including the Jeep Avenger, the 2023 European Car of the Year. Top Gear Magazine’s Head of Car Testing, Ollie Marriage, is your referee…

WATCH MORE TOP GEAR:

#topgear #volvo

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:03 DS 3 E-Tense, Peugeot 2008 & Jeep Avenger
02:50 BYD Atto 3
04:00 MG4 XPower & Drag Race
06:06 Volvo EX30
06:55 The Stats
08:09 Smart #1
08:57 Hyundai Kona
09:26 Volvo EX30 Drive
11:38 Renault Megane
13:09 Conclusion

MORE ABOUT TOP GEAR:

This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios.

[EddieofSWE]

As a Swede, considering the twin-motor option on the EX30 is not just about getting the extra performance, but to get actual AWD during our snowy winters ❄️🚗💨

[lakshithaudara]

is this how Top Gear does car reviews now ? yeah why bother driving when you can pick a car just by looking at its interior !!

[robhaitch]

You rejected the Kona for its grey interior and raved about the Volvo’s grey interior. The Megan was also grey inside.
How about some consistency?

[kiae-nirodiariesencore]

5 years and 98, 000 km into Kia e-Niro ownership and I have to say it has been faultless...comfortable on long hauls with a real world range of 450 km on motorway runs in summer. The comment about a petrol equivalent being 'just as cheap to run as an EV' is totally wrong. Last year I spent €746 driving 20, 963 km. That same distance in the Niro hybrid (assuming 5.6l/100 km or 50 mpg) would have cost €2, 054 (using €1.75/litre). Main service costs are half those of the Niro hybrid. We need to get the facts into people's heads about the much lower running costs of EVs.

[space.youtube]

The one question this "review" raises is why is top gear still a thing?

[EMJAYCAD]

this video was unprofessional and contradicting things top gear themselves said about those car in other videos

[TheBlueCreeper-]

Disqualifying the Kona simply the guy didn't like the gray interior is just pathetic. That alone tells you about the credibility of this test. 💀

[saranath]

The way he discarded the Kia 😅😅😅 man Top Gear is seeing new lows everyday

[findbinnu]

The same EX30 Autocar said had a touchscreen control concept that was beyond frustrating, and borderline unusable is your pick? And also said "ease-of-use, clarity, simple functionality" are all missing. This is what happens when your "review" is limited to a drive around an old airfield and judging an interior based on superficial aesthetics rather than living with a vehicle and really getting to experience it's usability.

[stevejewiss]

Just shows how top gear chooses it's info wisely lol. The range of the Smart isn't 197 it's 267, that version is the premium with a heat pump, you've quoted the Brabus model range.

[Digwind]

There was a claim that BYD has the same battery and motor as the others. What? That's a bit unprofessional. BYD have +10additional KWh compared to Jeep and it is LFP that less flammable and can be always charged to 100% while in a Jeep you have to charge to 80% max daily. So, you end up with completely different daily range. Plus, BYD has mote tech and heat pump and glass roof as standard. and the motor outputs 160KW also more powerful than Jeep.

[sevensixtysteve]

Bizarrely irrational and annoying review. I really can’t understand why you would dismiss the Kia, particularly as you made the assumption at the end that buyers are either a young family or couple. While I’m neither of those things, I suspect the Kia’s practicality, reliability and warranty would make it an excellent family car.

[stephenappleton]

Kona, have one, do 500miles a week so the extra range is helpful, loads of kit, is a bit gray but very happy with it.

[mikrenz]

How can having more physical controls can be a point against the Megane? It’s more comfortable and safer.

[richardyang]

Just love he keeps speaking with the price tag of the base ex30 while driving a much higher trim.

[phoarey]

1. Atto3 is third biggest selling EV in Australia by a big margin. I really like the funk interior. Bass player and surfer so the guitar strings and whale underside on the dash appeal to me.
2. EX 30 one centre display. I think I read the EU won’t allow full safety rating for a car without a HUD (or binnacle in driver’s line of sight. I recently rented a Model Y which was wonderful except for looking sideways for key data.

[waskus]

Forgot to show how awefull small the rearsets are in the Volvo ex30😂

[frankcoffey]

In the US we don't have all those choices. However, the most desirable and premium looking one is the Volvo EX30. I think they will sell out here.

[lucasroper]

The E Niro and Kona are without a doubt the best all rounders you can get. Bizarre to disregard them.

[mohammedfmiah]

Kia Niro makes the best argument amongst these EV cars. Think volvo sponsored these guys 😂