Volvo – Pulpaddict

Smart #3 review

Smart’s all-electric renaissance continues with the sleek #3 family SUV…

The Smart #3 (pronounced “Hashtag Three”) is the second model from the brand which is now a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Chinese giant Geely (also the owner of Volvo, Polestar and Lotus).

Unusually, the Smart #3 has few direct rivals because of its dimensions and pricing.

In other words, it’s about the same size as the £50k Volvo EC40, yet because it starts at just £33,960, it’s also up against smaller EVs including the Volkswagen ID.3.

The Smart #3 is one of an increasing number of “coupe-SUVs” such as the Peugeot E-3008 and Volkswagen ID.5. I’m not sure about the use of the word “coupe”, but they do have lower, sloping rooflines and swept-back hatches.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I’ll let you decide on the #3’s styling. All I would say is that it’s certainly distinctive and the rear has a hint of the Mercedes-Benz EQA about it.

The Smart #3 comes in four trim levels – Pro, Pro , Premium, and the top-spec Brabus performance-focused model.

Pro uses a smaller 48kWh battery compared to the 62kWh unit found in the other #3 models.

Smart claims a WLTP range of 202 miles for the Pro, with the Pro offering 270 miles and the Premium achieving 283 miles. These three all use a 268bhp electric motor mounted on the rear axle, and are capable of 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 112mph.

The bonkers Brabus adds another electric motor on the front axle (making it all-wheel drive), producing 422bhp and 543Nm of torque for a neck-wrenching 0-62mph time of 3.7 seconds, though range is reduced to 258 miles.

I’ll be honest, I thought the Smart #3 would be just another electric SUV, but after a week driving a Pro model, I’d say it deserves to be on any family EV shortlist.

It feels solid and build quality is hard to fault, while the interior has a classy, quirky feel.

Unusually for an electric car, it is possible to sit fairly low in the #3, which means that you feel more involved on the road.

The seats are comfortable and there’s good leg and headroom for rear passengers, despite the roofline. Boot capacity is a so-so 370 litres, increasing to 1,160 litres with the 60:40 split seats folded.

Up front there’s a 9.2-inch driver’s display and 12.8-inch central touchscreen, while higher spec models also get a head-up display.

Sadly, the infotainment system isn’t the most user-friendly, intuitive or responsive I’ve come across.

There’s also far too much swiping and prodding for essentials such as climate control, meaning that you’re taking your eye off the road, while the on-screen cartoon avatar is irritating.

As with all new cars, the #3 is fitted with the latest safety and driver assistance kit (it scored a maximum five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests), so expect bongs and beeps aplenty. The driver distraction warning is particularly irritating and sensitive, which is ironic considering it often goes off when you’re trying to find a function on the touchscreen.

On the plus side, the infotainment system comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring as standard.

Inside, there’s a commanding view of the road, but rear visibility isn’t so good, thanks to that sloping roofline and slim tailgate window. It’s also worth noting that there is no rear wiper.

The Smart #3’s set-up is on the stiff side, so it’s not at its best on really poor surfaces, but overall the ride is smooth and comfortable.

Push on and body roll is well contained. There’s also an impressive amount of grip, while the brakes are effective – and progressive, which isn’t always a given with an EV.

The steering offers little feedback, but it’s nice to have the option to adjust it (auto, light, standard and heavy), if you can be bothered to tackle the infotainment screen.

The Smart #3 is eager and there are three drive modes (Eco, Comfort and Sport). As ever, Comfort offers the best balance of performance and efficiency, but Sport is fun for short bursts.

Ultimately, it’s more engaging to drive than I thought it would be, but it still doesn’t gain entry to the small club of dynamic EVs on the market.

My Smart #3 Pro was efficient, so I’d expect a real-world of between 220-240 miles – more in city driving.

With maximum charge rates of 150kW (66kWh battery) and 130kW (49kWh), both will go from 10-80% in about half an hour. Obviously, they also charge overnight if you have a connection at home.

The Smart #3 comes with a three-year warranty, which is par for the course, but no match for rivals including Hyundai (five years) and Kia (seven years).

Verdict: Competitively-priced, spacious, safe and good to drive, the rakish Smart #3 should be on your shortlist if you’re looking for an electric family SUV that stands out from the crowd.

Smart UK

Volvo EX30 review

We spend some quality time with Volvo’s smallest SUV, which also happens to be 100% electric…

Here’s something you thought you’d never hear. The most affordable car in the Volvo range is an all-new EV.

In the midst of a climate emergency, it’s essential to cut emissions, yet survey after survey says the cost of electric vehicles is one of the main reasons buyers are not making the switch from the internal combustion engine.

Volvo is doing its bit to change that narrative with the stylish EX30, which starts at a highly competitive £32,850. Sure, it’s still not cheap, but then this is a premium product from Volvo.

A tad shorter than some of its main rivals in the compact crossover class (the Kia Niro EV, Hyundai Kona Electric and Peugeot E-2008, to name a few), but it is a stylish newcomer.

Instantly recognisable on the road, it’s attractive with a defined crease along the side of the body, then there are those distinctive “Thor’s hammer” headlights and the big badge with diagonal stripe adorning the bluff front end of the car.

Inside, it’s everything you’d expect from Volvo, with a modern twist. So, it’s minimalist (there’s not much more than a central touchscreen, steering wheel and air vents) and it’s sustainable. Recycled materials include denim from blue jeans, and plastic from drinks bottles and window frames. There are clever storage spaces too.

You can choose from three versions of the EX30. The entry-level Single Motor has a 268bhp motor on the rear axle, fed by a 51kWh (49kWh usable) battery. Official figures give it a potential range of 210 miles, and it can charge at up to 134kW, so a 10-80% top-up can be delivered in 26 minutes.

The Single Motor Extended Range model is much the same, except that it has a larger 69kWh (64kWh usable) battery, giving an official range of 296 miles. Charging is slightly faster too (up to 153kW), meaning a 10-80% boost will take as little as 28 minutes.

Finally, there’s the Twin Motor Performance version, which has an additional motor on the front axle (giving all-wheel drive and a combined 422bhp), but the potential range drops to 280 miles. It has exactly the same battery and charging speed as the Extended Range model.

For the record, the Single Motor has a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds, the Single Motor Extended Range takes 5.3 seconds, while the Twin Motor Performance arrives at 62mph in a blisteringly fast 3.6 seconds. Torque figures are 252lb ft for the Single Motor models and a massive 400lb ft for the range-topper.

We tested the Single Motor Extended Range on a variety of roads over a week and there’s no doubt that the Volvo EX30 is an impressive package.

As is increasingly the case, there’s no key or starter button, the car recognises you as you approach (no pop-ups, just solid door handles), you get in, then select Drive and you’re off.

It’s not stupidly fast like some EVs – instead offering manageable acceleration with instant torque to get you off the line.

The EX30 is easy to drive and nimble with sharp steering. It feels lighter than its 1.85 tonne kerb weight, while the brakes are pleasantly progressive (unlike many EVs).

Hustle it and body lean is well controlled. Add solid traction and it inspires confidence – not a given these days with so many front-wheel drive EVs scrabbling for grip.

The ride is gentle for the most part, and all in all, the EX30 delivers a refined, comfortable and engaging drama-free drive.

Of course, no car is perfect and the EX30 is no exception. Our biggest gripe is that virtually everything is controlled via the 12.3-inch central display, including wing mirror adjustment and glovebox opening. In other words, there’s no conventional instrument cluster ahead of the driver with essentials such as speed, range and traffic sign recognition.

Yes, the infotainment system is Google-powered, so it gets the best hands-free voice assistant, but too much fiddling in the centre console diverts attention from the road ahead.

The other area where the EX30 is compromised is when it comes to rear space. It’s snug for adults to sit comfortably in the back and the high floor means there’s a knees-up position. The boot only has a 318-litre capacity (smaller than a Golf hatchback). That said, you can fold down the rear seats for 904 litres in total, and there’s a small frunk under the bonnet.

Finally, the recycled materials may tick all the right eco boxes, but they don’t yet have the same premium feel,. For instance, the plastic used on the dashboard and elsewhere in the cabin looks good, but it’s a tad too hard and scratchy for our liking.

We achieved an average of about 3.5 miles/kWh, which is not bad at all and should give a real-world range closer to 230 miles. There is the option for one-pedal driving, but no paddles behind the steering wheel to alter the brake regeneration.

Verdict: It’s no wonder the EX30 has already won so many awards. Volvo’s smallest and most affordable electric SUV is a winning combination of Scandi cool and sustainability, delivering a good range and efficiency, alongside a refined and engaging drive.

Volvo UK

Volvo teams up with TV’s Fearne Cotton

Gareth Herincx

2 days ago
Auto News

Volvo Car UK has announced a new partnership with Fearne Cotton, one of the UK’s best-known broadcasters and founder of the multi-faceted wellbeing brand, Happy Place.

Fearne’s Happy Place platform, embracing a podcast, books and festivals, connects thought-leaders from around the world to inspire and empower self-love and happiness.

United by a shared passion for sustainability, Volvo and Fearne have joined forces to help educate the nation about electrification. Through the partnership, they aim to inspire and empower people to make more eco-friendly choices in their everyday lives.

Fearne will drive Volvo’s new fully electric C40 Recharge crossover which features a 100% leather-free interior and carpets made from recycled PET plastic bottles.

“I’m so happy to join the Volvo family,” said Fearne. “We’re both fully committed to sustainability, so being part of its electrification journey is super exciting. As well as the planet, Volvo has always been a brand about protecting people, a really lovely complement to my passion for self-care and mental health.

“When life gets busy, it’s important that I find the time to look after myself. The new electric C40 Recharge fits so seamlessly into my life, and features like fast charging give me the time to recharge myself, so that I’m in the best frame of mind to get behind the wheel and off on my next adventure.”

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Countdown begins to the launch of Polestar 3

Gareth Herincx

2 days ago
Auto News

Polestar has announced that the world premiere of its next car, the Polestar 3 electric performance SUV, will be in October 2022.

The vehicle will be the Swedish electric performance car company’s first SUV and will join the existing Polestar 2 five-door fastback in the line-up.

Polestar 3 will feature a dual-motor drivetrain and a large battery, with a range target of around 373 miles.

The confirmation of the world premiere comes with the first undisguised image of the car.

Production is expected to begin in early 2023, and Polestar 3 will be manufactured in the United States and China.

“Polestar 3 is the SUV for the electric age. Our design identity evolves with this high-end large luxury EV, with a strong, individual brand character,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO.

“With this car, we bring the ‘sport’ back to the SUV, staying true to our performance roots.”

“This is a major milestone for our company, one that boosts our growth trajectory and takes us into our next phase.”

Polestar plans to launch a new car every year for the next three years, starting with Polestar 3, and aims to increase its presence to at least 30 global markets by the end of 2023.

It also plans to grow its global sales ten-fold from approximately 29,000 in 2021 to some 290,000 by the end of 2025.

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Volvo V60 Recharge plug-in hybrid review

The handsome Volvo V60 estate was arguably my Car of the Year back in 2018.

As I said in my review: “Obviously it’s not special in a supercar kind of way – it’s just that it does everything it’s meant to do exceptionally well.”

Volvo didn’t rest on its laurels because 2019 saw the addition of two new V60 variants – the sporty V60 R-Design and the more rugged Cross Country, boasting all-wheel drive, a raised ride height, Hill Descent Control and a special Off-Road driving mode.

Now we also have the plug-in hybrid, the V60 Recharge in Volvospeak. My test car (badged T6 AWD) came in best-selling R-Design trim.

Pairing a 253hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol turbo engine with an 87hp electric motor, the T6 can sprint from 0-62mph run in just 5.4 seconds.

More importantly, it has a theoretical fuel economy as high as 156.7mpg, while CO2 emissions are as low as 41g/km and it has a useful pure electric range of just over 20 miles.

The big news for 2022 is that Volvo has increased the battery capacity (from 11.6kWh to 18.8kWh) on the V60 Recharge, allowing it to deliver a zero emissions range of up to 56 miles.

Essentially it’s the same car, yet it makes even more sense when you consider the average daily commute is less than 30 miles.

In other words, if you use your car locally or have a modest daily commute (and you charge it overnight at home), it can run in electric-only mode most of the time which is a big saving considering electricity is more than 50% cheaper per mile than petrol.

Sleek and perfectly proportioned, the V60 is easily one of the best-looking estate cars on the market.

A superb blend of plush, Scandi chic, state-of-the-art tech, solid build quality and unrivalled safety, the generously equipped V60 Recharge is priced from £47,225.

Inside, the cabin is comfortable, the driving position is perfect, there’s ample space for adults up front and behind, plus there’s a large boot with 529 litres of luggage capacity, extending to 1,441 litres with the rear seats down.

On the road, then PHEV is much the same as a regular V60, which is no bad thing. The eight-speed automatic gearbox is generally smooth, though occasionally hesitant, while the switch from electric to combustion engine and back is almost seamless.

There’s a decent amount of power on tap, the ride is comfortable, it feels totally planted and there’s plenty of traction, thanks to all-wheel drive.

The V60 Recharge is probably at its relaxing best cruising on faster roads, but stick it into Power mode on more challenging routes and it gives you the confidence to press on.

It hides its length well and doesn’t feel a handful in town, partly down to the light steering, sensors and rear parking camera.

My only criticism is that the V60 could do with the latest version of Volvo’s infotainment as fitted to the new C40 Recharge.

Jointly developed with Google and based on the Android operating system, there’s now access to Google Play apps and services such as Google Assistant and Google Maps. Not a deal-breaker, but a nice-to-have.

The V60’s formidable plug-in hybrid estate rivals include the BMW 3 Series Touring, Volkswagen Passat GTE and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate.

Verdict: If you’re looking for a classy plug-in hybrid estate that’s smooth, safe and sorted, then you should definitely test drive the new, improved Volvo V60 Recharge.

Volvo Cars UK