Volvo Cars' premium electric SUV EX30 has been named '2024 World Urban Car of the Year' at the prestigious 2024 World Car Awards at the New York International Auto Show.
The World Car Awards, now in their 20th year, are considered the most prestigious awards of their kind, with winners selected annually by secret ballot by a jury of 100 automotive journalists from 32 countries around the world. This year, a total of 38 vehicles from around the world were recognised in six categories.
The Volvo EX30 has been awarded the World City Car of the Year 2024, beating off strong competition. The EX30 was also named one of the top three cars in the world, alongside the Kia EV9 and BYD Seal, out of 38 nominees, proving it is a competitive model in the global market.
"We are very pleased to receive this award for the EX30 and it is a clear validation of Volvo Cars' electrification strategy," said Jim Rowan, CEO of Volvo Cars. "As we move to a fully electric era, we believe the EX30 will make a significant contribution to Volvo Cars' growth this year and beyond."
Meanwhile, Volvo's premium electric SUV, the EX30, was first unveiled last summer to global acclaim. It won several major awards, including Car of the Year by the UK newspaper The Sun, Small SUV/Crossover of the Year by The Sunday Times and Eco Warrior of the Year by Top Gear Magazine.
The EX30 is a pure electric SUV built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform. It has been developed with a focus on minimising carbon emissions over the vehicle's entire life cycle. The EX30 is available in three powertrains: Single Motor, Single Motor Extended and Twin Motor Performance. It has a maximum range of 476 kilometres (WLTP) and a battery that can be charged from 10→80% in 25 minutes via ultra-fast charging.
Meanwhile, the EX30 sets a new benchmark for safe electric SUVs with all the advanced safety systems from Volvo's 96-year safety DNA, plus new safety features. New features include the Driver Alert System, which monitors the driver's movements with an IR sensor mounted on top of the steering wheel; next-generation Park Pilot Assist, which enables the driver to park the car simply by operating the 3D interface screen; and Door opening alert, which warns of approaching bicycles, motorbikes and scooters from the front and rear of the vehicle with visual and audible signals when the doors are opened from the inside, preventing open door accidents.
Priced at KRW 49.45 million for the Core trim and KRW 55.16 million for the Ultra trim in Korea, respectively, the aggressive pricing has been well received by customers, with 1,000 pre-bookings achieved within two days of launch.
Article roadtesting editorial (dhseo1208@gmail.com)
Photo Volvo Cars