Compared to the forthcoming EX90, the EX30 is small, but is it perfectly formed, ponders John Challen.

WHAT IS IT?  Swedish premium B-SUV HOW MUCH?  From £33,795 RANGE? 214-298 miles CHARGE 10-80%? 26 minutes (134kW)

There was ‘outrage’ (in the UK at least), when Volvo announced it was no longer going to offer estates here in the UK. The business case stacked up, but that didn’t seem to cut the mustard with some. The arrival of the EX30 aims to justify the move, because it’s not only a step change in size, but also a departure inside.

It’s fair to say the interior is ‘minimalistic’. There’s only one central screen, which controls pretty much everything on the car including wing mirrors, navigation, climate, volume, seats and glovebox. Steering wheel buttons are included but it’s definitely a case of ‘one screen fits all’. The omission of a driver display does not, however, mean the inclusion of a head-up display (packaging constraints wouldn’t allow it, according to Volvo), so the driver’s eyes are drawn away from the road ahead when looking for any kind of information, such as speed or directions.

Volvo made a big play at the launch about the EX30 being small but, at 4.2m long and 1.94m wide, it’s not exactly tiny. There’s not much room in the rear – or the boot – but up front the car’s more spacious. It’s certainly priced like a small car – the range starts at £33,795 – competitive given Volvo is targeting drivers of cars such as Audi’s Q2.

There are currently three electric powertrains being offered: two single-motor versions (one with an extended range) and a twin-motor option. The latter comes with a whopping 428hp and 543Nm of torque, which is arguably too much power for this class of vehicle – it reaches 62mph from a standstill in just 3.6 seconds!

We’d favour the single-motor option – with its 272hp and 343Nm, especially the extended-range car, which offers an additional 82 miles of driving range (298 miles) over the base model. The 0-62mph sprint in that model takes 5.3 seconds, so it’s not exactly slow. The standard single-motor version is equipped with a 51kWh battery, while the other two variants are fitted with a larger 69kWh unit. Economy-wise, Volvo is quoting 3.7mi/kWh for the single-motor versions and 3.6mi/kWh in the twin.

There are just two trim levels: Plus, which is available with all powertrains, and Ultra, which applies to only the single-motor extended-range version and the twin motor. Plus drivers get that single 12.3-inch touchscreen (including Google functions), a Harman Kardon audio system, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors and heated front seats and steering wheel. Move up to the Ultra and there’s more driver assistance technologies such as a 360° camera and park assist. Elsewhere, the higher grade adds a fixed panoramic sunroof, bigger wheels and power-adjustable front seats.

Performance is good and the new small(ish) Volvo’s ride is good. It feels light, agile and refined, almost whisper quiet at higher speeds. It’s comfortable too, with a well-laid-out cabin, plenty of storage areas, wireless charging areas and a lot of sustainable materials onboard. However, the insistence of going ‘full Tesla’ and running pretty much everything through a single screen is arguably a step too far.

IN BRIEF

Key fleet model:  Single motor, extended range

Pros: Driving range; performance; comfort

Cons: Single display screen; rear space

Seven-word summary: Disappointing display setup, but plenty of performance

Also consider: Audi Q2 / Jeep Avenger / Smart#1