Minimalist Electric Power

Cargazing
By Derek Price

The 2025 Volvo EX30 is not simply an electric vehicle. It’s a radical rethinking of what a modern car should be.

After spending a week with the Twin Motor Performance Ultra model, it’s clear that Volvo’s smallest offering delivers an outsized experience that challenges conventional automotive wisdom.

Priced at $46,600, the EX30 Twin Motor Performance packs an astonishing 422 horsepower into a compact frame that’s just 166.7 inches long. The result is neck-snapping acceleration — 0-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, according to Volvo — making this unassuming Swedish SUV quicker than many sports cars.

But raw performance is only part of the EX30’s appeal. Volvo has taken a fundamentally different approach to the car’s interior design and controls, stripping away traditional elements in favor of a minimalist aesthetic centered around a single 12.3-inch touchscreen.

There’s no instrument cluster behind the steering wheel — speed, range and navigation information all appear at the top of the center display. Even the power window switches have migrated to the center console rather than their traditional door-mounted location.

The compact 2025 Volvo EX30 features distinctive Thor’s Hammer headlights and a clean, confident stance that belies its impressive performance capabilities.

These choices feel both refreshing and occasionally frustrating. The lack of physical controls for functions like mirror adjustment requires navigating through touchscreen menus, which is an adjustment for drivers accustomed to dedicated switches.

However, the uncluttered dashboard and thoughtful material choices create a distinctly Scandinavian cabin that feels both premium and environmentally conscious.

The EX30’s compact dimensions belie its practical nature. While not cavernous, the 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space (with rear seats folded) proves adequate for everyday use.

The front trunk, or “frunk,” offers additional storage for charging cables or small items.

On the road, the EX30 delivers an engaging driving experience that balances performance with comfort. The instant torque from the dual electric motors provides thrilling acceleration, particularly in urban environments. Handling is nimble and confident, if not quite as involving as Polestar’s sportier offerings.

Range anxiety is minimized with the EX30’s EPA-estimated 253 miles of range.

The EX30’s minimalist interior centers around a single touchscreen that handles all vehicle functions, eliminating traditional gauges and most physical controls for a distinctly Scandinavian aesthetic.

Not everything about the EX30 feels fully refined. The driver monitoring system can be overly sensitive, occasionally issuing warnings even when attention remains firmly on the road.

Some may question whether design choices like centralizing all controls truly enhance the driving experience or simply prioritize style over substance.

Yet viewed as a complete package, the EX30 represents a compelling value proposition in the rapidly expanding electric vehicle market. Few vehicles at this price point offer comparable performance, distinctive design and technological innovation.

For drivers willing to embrace its different approach to automotive design, the EX30 offers exceptional performance and distinctly Scandinavian style without the premium price typically associated with such attributes.

At A Glance

WHAT WAS TESTED?

2025 Volvo EX30 Twin Motor Performance Ultra ($46,600). Options: Climate package ($500). Price as tested (including $1,295 destination charge): $48,395

BY THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 104.3 in.
Length: 166.7 in.
Width: 72.3 in.
Height: 61.1 in.
Power: Dual electric motors (422 hp)
Range: 253 miles
MPGe: 116 city, 100 highway

RATINGS

Style: 9
Performance: 9
Price: 8
Handling: 7
Ride: 6
Comfort: 5
Quality: 6
Overall: 7

WHY BUY IT?

The EX30 delivers sports-car acceleration, distinctive minimalist design and impressive range in an affordable package.

Posted in Volvo

Refined Electric Evolution

Cargazing
By Derek Price

Audi’s latest addition to its growing electric vehicle lineup, the 2025 Q6 e-tron, strikes a careful balance between innovation and familiarity.

After spending a week with this new offering, it’s clear that Audi is targeting buyers who want the benefits of electric driving without the sometimes polarizing styling that accompanies many EVs.

The Q6 e-tron Quattro starts at $65,800 and delivers 456 horsepower from its dual electric motors, with an EPA-estimated range of 307 miles. Our test vehicle, finished in Plasma Blue metallic paint ($595) and equipped with the Prestige package ($6,800), warm weather package ($1,300) and 20-inch wheel package ($1,000), brought the total to $76,790 including destination.

At first glance, the Q6 e-tron could easily be mistaken for one of Audi’s gasoline-powered SUVs. Unlike competitors that telegraph their electric powertrains through futuristic or deliberately unconventional styling, Audi has created a vehicle that maintains the brand’s familiar design language.

The 2025 Q6 e-tron maintains Audi’s familiar design language while incorporating subtle electric vehicle elements, allowing it to blend seamlessly with the brand’s gasoline lineup.

The result is an attractive, if somewhat conservative, luxury SUV that won’t draw unwanted attention to its electric underpinnings.

Where the Q6 truly shines is in the thoughtful details that enhance the ownership experience.

The interior ambient lighting is both beautiful and functional, with dashboard lights that sync with turn signals to provide additional visual cues. Perhaps most impressive are the twin charging ports — one on each rear corner — featuring motorized doors and easy-disconnect buttons that make the charging process more convenient than most competitors.

Behind the wheel, the Q6 e-tron delivers the refined experience expected of an Audi. Acceleration is swift and smooth, with the Quattro all-wheel drive system providing confident handling in all conditions.

The cabin remains exceptionally quiet even at highway speeds, with only minimal wind and road noise penetrating the well-insulated interior.

The Q6 e-tron’s interior combines traditional Audi luxury with forward-thinking technology, including an impressive array of screens and customizable ambient lighting.

The technology package is comprehensive, though the array of screens may feel overwhelming to some drivers. The digital cockpit display, center touchscreen and passenger-side screen create a tech-forward appearance that’s impressive but requires some adjustment.

Like all electric vehicles, the Q6 e-tron does face the usual infrastructure challenges. While public DC fast chargers are becoming more common, their reliability and availability still lag behind traditional gas stations, making long-distance travel more complex.

However, for daily commuting and local driving, the 307-mile range is more than adequate for most uses.

Overall, the Q6 e-tron is neither revolutionary nor groundbreaking, but that’s precisely the point. By delivering an electric Audi that feels, drives and looks like an Audi first and an EV second, the Q6 e-tron makes going electric feel like a natural evolution rather than a radical departure.

For mainstream luxury buyers still hesitant about making the switch, this approach may prove to be exactly what the market needs.

At A Glance

WHAT WAS TESTED?

2025 Audi Q6 e-tron Quattro ($65,800). Options: Plasma Blue metallic paint ($595), prestige package ($6,800), warm weather package ($1,300), 20-inch wheel package ($1,000). Price as tested (including $1,295 destination charge): $76,790

BY THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 113.7 in.
Length: 187.8 in.
Width: 86.3 in.
Height: 66.6 in.
Power: Dual electric motors (456 hp)
Range: 307 miles
MPGe: 105 city, 93 highway

RATINGS

Style: 6
Performance: 8
Price: 5
Handling: 6
Ride: 7
Comfort: 7
Quality: 8
Overall: 7

WHY BUY IT?

The Q6 e-tron delivers electric performance with traditional luxury SUV comfort and styling, making it an excellent choice for buyers who want to go electric without making a dramatic statement.

Posted in Audi

Electric Escalade Expands

Cargazing
By Derek Price

Cadillac is expanding its electric lineup with the 2026 Escalade IQL, an all-electric luxury SUV that builds upon the recently introduced Escalade IQ while offering more interior space and cargo capacity.

The Escalade IQL features a longer silhouette than its IQ sibling, providing enhanced third-row accommodations with over 4 inches of additional legroom — 36.7 inches vs. 32.3 inches — and an extra inch of headroom.

This extended design increases cargo capacity behind the third row and adds a front “eTrunk” with 12.2 cubic feet of storage under the hood.

The longer proportions represent Cadillac’s response to customer feedback requesting more space in the third row of its luxury SUVs, an area where competitors have sometimes offered more room.

The IQL claims a Cadillac-estimated 460 miles of range. When recharging, Cadillac states owners can gain approximately 116 miles of range in 10 minutes at a public DC Fast Charging station.

While the impressive range figures should accommodate most daily driving needs with plenty to spare, buyers who frequently take extended road trips may need to factor in charging stops.

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL features a longer silhouette than the standard Escalade IQ, with 24-inch wheels and distinctive front lighting.

However, for families who primarily use their vehicle around town and for occasional longer trips, the substantial range could make the IQL a practical choice.

Performance specifications indicate 750 horsepower and 785 lb-ft of torque when using the driver-selectable Velocity Max mode, enabling 0-60 mph acceleration in 4.7 seconds, according to Cadillac estimates. The SUV lists a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 pounds.

Inside, the IQL features a curved pillar-to-pillar 55-inch total diagonal display.

An available Executive Second Row package adds stowable tray tables, 12.6-inch personal screens, dual wireless charging pads, and massaging, heated and ventilated seats with 14-way power adjustment and headrest speakers.

The vehicle includes Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance technology on all trims with three years of OnStar Super Cruise service.

The Escalade IQL’s cabin includes a curved 55-inch display spanning the dashboard and an optional Executive Second Row package with personal screens and dedicated amenities.

For utility beyond transportation, the Escalade IQL includes vehicle-to-home (V2H) bidirectional charging capabilities, allowing energy transfer between the vehicle and a properly equipped home during power outages.

The Escalade IQL will be offered in four trims: Luxury, Sport, Premium Luxury and Premium Sport.
MSRP starts at $132,695, positioning it at the premium end of the luxury SUV market.

Production is scheduled to begin in mid-2025 at General Motors’ Factory ZERO plant in Detroit, with sales planned globally including the U.S. and Canada.

The timing comes as the EV market continues to evolve, with luxury buyers showing particular interest in electric options that don’t compromise on size or amenities.

At A Glance

WHAT WAS ANNOUNCED?

2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL ($132,695). Production expected to begin mid-2025.

BY THE NUMBERS

Wheelbase: 136.2 in.
Length: 228.5 in.
Width: 94.1 in.
Height: 76.1 in.
Power: 750 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque
Wheels: 24-inch
Estimated range: 460 miles
MPGe: 90 city, 79 highway

PREDICTED RATINGS

Style: 9
Performance: 9
Price: 3
Handling: 5
Ride: 10
Comfort: 10
Quality: 8
Overall: 9

WHY BUY IT?

The 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL will offer increased passenger space and cargo capacity in an all-electric luxury SUV with substantial range for daily driving.

Posted in Cadillac

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