Volvo EX30 review

The launch range is simple. Start with two trims: Plus at £33,795 and Ultra at £42,045. The latter gets electric seats, 20-inch wheels, a glass roof, self-parking, surround cameras and acceptance of 22kW three-phase AC charging.

You also choose between three powertrains: small-battery RWD is the entry price above and currently only comes in Plus trim. Big-battery RWD (with heat pump and battery heating for more consistent winter range) adds £4,750, and big-battery AWD is another £2,450 above that. So yeah, you can get the absurdly fast one for just £40,995.

A slightly more stripped out Core trim level will arrive after a year or so, bringing an electric Volvo to a tempting £31k or so.

As if to show EVs are cheaper to maintain, the EX30 comes as standard with three years or 62,000 miles of servicing, as well as wear and tear including brakes (not tyres), and roadside rescue.

All paint and trim colours are the same price, so none of the traditional car-industry gouging there. The black roof is included too.

And on finance?

For the extended range RWD Plus on a PCP it's £5,500 down and £512 a month over four years at 8,000 miles a year, with a final option to buy at £19,300. For a lease on the same deposit and term it's £530 a month from Volvo, but as it's a lease there's no option to buy.

Or, for the commitment-phobic, there's Volvo's no-commitment Subscription scheme, where you pay £947 a month with nothing down and no obligation to keep going beyond three months.

Hit me with some charging info.

Replenishing from 10-80 per cent on an ultra-rapid charger takes 26-28 minutes in ideal conditions for both sizes of battery. So, the smaller one is drawing less peak power (up to 134kW), because of course it gets you less far on 80 per cent than the big one. The larger battery can charge at up to 153kW.

For AC, the 64kWh Ultra spec car has a 22kW three-phase onboard charger, for a sub-four hour charge. But you'll most likely have a 7.4kW single phase outlet at home, and indeed on most street-side posts. They give an 11-hour flat-to-full. On a standard tariff you’re looking at a £17 full top-up for the smaller battery, and perhaps a fiver more for the bigger one.

Warranty is three years/60k miles, except for the battery which is eight years/100k miles.