Earlier this week, Volvo Cars unveiled a more rugged Cross Country version of its small all-electric EX30 and a “whole new experience to go with it” with updates and access to accessories and gear aimed at “exploring the great outdoors.” The small SUV was revealed during an executive fireside chat that included outdoor equipment brand Fjällräven at a secluded winter cabin in the north of Sweden.

Underlining the Cross Country experience, the cabin is available for booking from February 21 to March 21 through Landfolk, a curated platform connecting travellers with unique, handpicked holiday homes. The exclusive winter adventure in Swedish Lapland includes the car and cabin rental alongside a range of gear, accessories, and information aimed to make exploring the outdoors as easy as possible.

“We launched our first Cross Country car over 25 years ago, and this concept of durable and all-weather cars is core to the Volvo brand,” said Jim Rowan, Volvo Cars’ CEO. “In Sweden, we face harsh winters, but we also like to make the most of them by getting out and exploring our amazing nature, even when it’s minus 20 Celsius outside. That’s why we want to deliver a fully rounded experience, not simply a car, to our EX30 Cross Country customers.”

Among the all-wheel-drive Cross Country’s new features are a raised ride height and bigger wheels. The Cross Country Experience accessories package includes a load carrier, roof basket, 18-in all-terrain tires to navigate off-road more easily, and mudflaps—with further offerings in the works.

The front shield and hatch between the taillights get a special dark color, with the front featuring a pattern showing the topography of the Kebnekaise mountain range in Arctic Sweden—an inspiration for many of our designers. Chunky front and rear skid plates as well as wheel-arch extensions complete the more rugged look.

The small SUV is 4233 mm (166.7 in) long, 1850 mm (72.8 in) wide excluding mirrors, and 1567 mm (61.7 in) tall on a 2650-mm (104.3-in) wheelbase. It has a WLTP electric energy consumption of 18.7 kW·h/100 km and combined range of up to 427 km (265 mi) from a 69-kW·h nominal energy battery pack, with U.S. EPA figures yet to be announced. Charging from 10% to 80% is in as little as 26 min.

The initial Ultra spec includes a fixed panoramic roof, Park Pilot Assist, a 360° camera with a 3D view, and a Twin Motor Performance powertrain. Maximum outputs of 315 kW and 543 N·m (400 lb·ft) give the 1885-kg (4155-lb) vehicle a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time in 3.7 s.

Inside, the Cross Country carries over the features of the standard EX30. The doors contain large storage compartments because the speakers’ function is incorporated into the soundbar on the dashboard. Between the driver and front passenger is a central storage tunnel that can be slid forward as a cupholder backward to store more things, a big storage compartment on the floor, and a glove compartment beneath the center console. Rear passengers get a storage box that slides out from beneath the central tunnel that is also removable and washable so can double up as a waste bin. Maximum cargo capacity is 318 L (11.2 ft³).

Like every new Volvo, the EX30 Cross Country has Google built-in, which means users get a variety of the search giant’s products as standard including Google Maps. To make sure users can get straight into a nice warm car, the EX30 app allows them to precondition the car while still exploring nature.

Like other XC30s, the Cross Country has safety features aided by braking and steering assist to help avoid collisions with oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, while a monitoring system can assist when drivers are distracted and tired.

In December, Volvo announced that the EX30 had scored a maximum five-star rating in the latest safety testing round of Euro NCAP, a leading independent car safety assessment program in Europe that helps customers make informed decisions about the safety performance of cars on the market.

“This result underscores the strong safety credentials of the EX30,” said Åsa Haglund, the Head of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre. “With the EX30, we have taken our city safety to the next level, by creating a small SUV that looks after you as well as other traffic participants on busy city streets.”

The EX30 benefits from Volvo’s safety knowledge gained from research in real-world accidents designed to help protect its driver and passengers in the event of a crash in real life. It does so through modern restraint technology, structural design, and ambitious requirements that often exceed official testing requirements.

The Volvo EX30 Cross Country is available to order now in selected markets, with deliveries starting later this spring and in the U.S. later this year. Customers can configure their car here.