Volvo EX30 Review 2025

The Volvo EX30 is the Swedish firm’s smallest car to date, fashioned as a compact electric SUV and  designed with suburban-dwelling young families firmly in mind. Does it have what it takes to rival the excellent Kia EV3 and its ilk? Find out with our full Volvo EX30 review.

Get up close to the Volvo EX30 and it reveals itself to be a much more compact car than you expect. However, the angular external lines and trademark Volvo design touches leave you in no doubt of its Scandinavian origins, even if it is — for now, at least — built in China.

Volvo has certainly done what it can to make this the most affordable new model in its current line-up, which has resulted in some compromises. Even so, the EX30 makes for a tempting alternative to the likes of the aforementioned Kia EV3, the distinctive MINI Aceman and the retrofuturistic Renault 4 E-Tech.

It uses the same underpinnings as the Smart #1, although you'll have to scour both it and the EX30 very closely to find any obvious component sharing, just as you will with the larger Polestar 4 which uses a stretched version of the same platform.

There's a choice of battery sizes and power outputs for the Volvo EX30, ranging from muscular to monstrous, but all versions use a single-speed transmission which is used as you would a regular automatic gearbox.

This being a Volvo the emphasis is on sensible thinking, although we have our doubts in some instances. Its exterior is what you’d expect, with the real surprises coming inside where the EX30 fuses recycled materials and a focus on sustainability with a minimalist design vibe.

There's also plenty of innovation on-board as well, with the infotainment in particular being very clever — maybe too clever for its own good. How so? Well, there are very few physical buttons and controls inside, meaning most functions have to be operated via the central touchscreen. That makes the system very complex and often baffling — and totally at odds with Volvo's safety mantra which has served it so well for decades.

Having said that, there are several little design touches that really add to the EX30's appeal, such as funkily designed storage areas and handy features such as the ‘will it fit?’ graphic inside the tailgate. These make the car fun, while being reasonably practical at the same time.

There is definitely much to like about the Volvo EX30, not least its pricing, starting at just north of £33,000. That's competitive and has the potential to offer Volvo ownership to lots of people for whom the brand would have previously been out of reach.

Volvo EX30: Range and charging times

Public charger costs are rising, which is in turn pushes people towards leaner, more efficient EVs. To its credit, Volvo reckons the EX30 can manage up to 3.7mi/kWh for Single Motor Extended Range models and 3.6kWh for the remainder — respectable numbers.

In terms of overall driving range for the Volvo EX30, Single Motor versions can travel around 209 miles on a full charge officially. That potential extends to upwards of 295 miles for the EX30 Single Motor Extended Range, dropping back for the Twin Motor Performance models with a claim of 279 miles. These numbers are from strict test conditions, so as is the case with all EVs, these figures can be lower in real-world conditions.

Volvo has also designed the EX30 to be ideally suited to owners with a home wallbox charger, with battery sizes that can be easily replenished while plugged in overnight. EX30s fitted with the 49kWh useable capacity battery can expected a flat-to-full recharge to take 9 hours, while the larger 65kWh alteranative will require 11 hours for the same state-of-charge increase.

On occasions when using a DC public charger is required, the 49kWh battery has a maximum on-board charger flow rate of 134kW, equating to a 10-80% top-up in 26 minutes. Because the 65kWh battery can be recharged at up to 153kW the same replenishment takes 28 minutes despite the extra capacity.

Having been designed with city streets firmly in mind, it comes as no surprise to find that the Volvo EX30 is a cinch to get around town.

This is largely thanks to its manageable dimensions of 4233mm long, 2032mm wide inclusive of door mirrors and 1555mm high. Its wheelbase — that's the distance from the centre of the front wheels to the corresponding point on the back ones — measures 2650mm.

One thing that’s immediately noticeable is the EX30's steering which feels almost too light for its own good, but copes well in tight spaces where you need to work the wheel this way and that. The steering wheel itself is also something of a curio, being rather spindly, compounding its sense of lightness.

Nevertheless, the Volvo EX30 provides an engaging driving experience out of town as well, being perfectly at ease on country lanes and faster roads.

Engaging drive modes is done via a shifter on the right-hand side of the steering column, although Normal mode will be fine for most drivers. This shifter can also be flicked downwards to engage the One Pilot Assist to further aid driving, mainly for use on major roads.

This format is essentially the same no matter which of the motor and battery combinations you choose and it’s all wonderfully effortless to use. What’s also immediately obvious, no matter which version you drive, is that power is plentiful but its delivery is measured.

Pick of the bunch is the rear-wheel-drive Single Motor Extended Range Volvo EX30, which has more than enough power to keep most people happy and proves very useful if you’ve got longer runs rather than just city routes in mind.

There are three drive electric drive system options to choose between for the Volvo EX30, all of which are engaged through a single-speed transmission up to an electronically governed top speed of 112mph.

Entry point to the range is simply labelled Single Motor — it's mounted under the boot floor driving the rear wheels and is supplied with energy from a 49kWh net capacity battery. Power is quoted at an not inconsiderable 272PS with 343Nm of torque, sufficient for a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds.

Power and torque figures remain unchanged for the Single Motor Extended Range, although its net battery capacity is increased to 65kWh. Despite being a modest 10kg heavier, it accelerates even quicker, requiring 5.3 seconds for the 0-62mph benchmark.

That same battery appears in the EX30 Twin Motor Performance, with a second front-mounted motor delivering all-wheel drive traction. Total output is rated at 428PS and 543Nm of torque, making it the most potent of the three with a 0-62mph time of 3.6 seconds. This kind of pace feels like overkill in the EX30, reinforcing our view that the Single Motor Extended Range is the best all-rounder.

Volvo has always been associated with high levels of safety and the Volvo EX30 looks to be no exception. In fact, the car has been fitted with some of the latest driver aids, including the usual array of collision avoidance systems. In addition, there’s a warning that alerts you if you’re about to open your door as a cyclist approaches.

Those and the car's inherent structural integrity helped it score a full five-star rating when it was assessed by the crash-testing experts at Euro NCAP in 2024.

Supplementing your driving is the Pilot Assist function, which is essentially adaptive cruise control that regulates your speed relative to the traffic around you and gives steering assistance, plus conducts automatic lane changes when you flick the indicator stalk.

Similarly, Volvo’s Park Pilot Assist is designed to handle tricky manoeuvres into tight parking spaces by letting the car manage the accelerator, brakes and steering for you.

Despite its small size, the Volvo EX30 still has towing potential should you wish to haul a trailer along with it.

Choose the 49kWh batteried EX30 Single Motor and the maximum braked towing capacity is 1000kg — all other versions can pull up to 1600kg.

While it’s largely good news for anyone who fancies the car as, perhaps, their first foray into the world of electric vehicles, the Volvo EX30 isn’t without a few niggles, the majority of which hide in plain sight inside.

One of the least appealing aspects is that your speed is displayed on the central infotainment screen, with nothing immediately in front of you and no head-up display, either. This seems odds with Volvo’s safety obsession.

Ditto the foglamp control, which is an on-screen icon buried within the menu structure, rather than being an easily accessed physical switch, as are the climate control adjusters. Even tweaking the door mirror angles has to be done via the touchscreen.

There are also the mildly irritating bings and bongs that emanate from the speaker if the EX30 thinks you’ve done something wrong, which it often does.

That said, overall there’s more to like about the Volvo EX30's interior than not.

Yes much of the interior is fashioned from plastic but the textures and colours of the various components have been used imaginatively. Sections such as the dashboard and door trims are made from a plastic that's flecked with contrasting nuggets of recycled PVC window frames.

This gives a lively interior feel that comes across as more sophisticated than you’d expect, while also being durable and ready for the challenges coming its way from smaller family members.

Naturally, there are plenty of features and functions that also lend the Volvo EX30 an innovative air. One of the most curious is the mid-mounted glovebox in the dashboard, rather than being on the passenger side as normal. However, it's so small that it's literally only good for gloves and you have to open it using — yes, you guessed it — the touchscreen.

Elsewhere, storage locations for everyday items such as water bottles and pocket detritus are generously peppered throughout the EX30's interior, with the neat central area proving perfect for large mugs.

Oddly enough you'll also find the electric window switches here — some buttons, hooray! — handy smartphone area below the dashboard.

The back seats are a rather less roomy than the front ones but there’s enough space for smaller folk. Long-legged adults might have to ask those in the front to shift their seats forwards to be comfortable enough on a longer trek.

Likewise, the boot space isn’t huge, although Volvo’s etched ‘will it fit?’ graphic inside gives some handy hints on what will and won't slot between the narrow tailgate opening edges. Cargo space can be boosted by dropping the 60/40 split-folding rear seats, expanding the available volume from 318 litres up to 1000 litres. There's an additional 19 litres of space beneath the front bonnet.

Whichever of the Volvo EX30's three equipment grades you go for, the quality of its fit and finish remains constant.

Some aspect of the interior, particularly the touchscreen and the areas surrounding, it feel upmarket and in keeping with what expectations of a Volvo are. Some of the plastics found elsewhere inside the EX30 are rather less inspiring, with a tactility that feels cheaper and less pleasant.

Overall, the feeling you get being inside the Volvo EX30 remains one of quality and solidity.

Centre of attention within the Volvo EX30 from a multimedia perspective is the centrally mounted, 12.3-inch, portrait-oriented touchscreen. It dominates the dashboard and contains most of the features and functions fitted.

Aside from some of those quirks mentioned above, the screen looks great with crisp and clear graphics, operating with swift Scandinavian efficiency.

That said, the Volvo EX30's system employs Google for much of its functionality, so your integral navigation is powered by Google Maps and your voice control by Google Assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay is also a highlight.

Another innovation is the Harman Kardon soundbar that snuggles onto the top of the dash in front of the windscreen. This is the only audio source you get in the Volvo EX30, but the quality of its construction means the sound it delivers is excellent.

Better still, the space saved by not having speakers in the doors offers up improved storage, so this arrangement soon makes an awful lot of sense.

Due to the sheer amount of competition it faces, the Volvo EX30 is keenly priced, helped further by the introduction of a cheaper entry-level Core specification after the car's initial launch.

Prices for the Volvo EX30 Single Motor started at £33,060, while the higher capacity batteyy of the Single Motor Extended Range model can be had from around £37,260. That combination is our pick of the range, but should you want more urgency and all-wheel drive then the EX30 Twin Motor Performance combination costs upwards of £42,360.

What of the Volvo's rivals? You'll need £33,005 to get behind the wheel of a Kia EV3, while the MINI Aceman starts at £28,905.

For the Renault 4 E-Tech you're looking at upwards of £25,495 while the EX30's close cousin, the Smart #1, is priced from £29,960.

Obviously, charging will be your greatest daily cost, but if you can do that largely at home, the Volvo EX30 should be very affordable to run. If you pay for your domestic electricity at the UK's national average rate, then a full charge of the smaller battery will cost you around £14, while cars with the larger battery will cost around £19 to refill. That's much less than the cost of a tank of petrol or diesel.

The truth is that most owners get themselves on an EV-specific tariff where they pay even less for off-peak electricity, charging their car overnight at the discounted rate. Follow their lead and you could easily cut those charging costs in half, maybe more.

By contrast, using public DC rapid chargers on a regular basis will see your charging costs skyrocket and isn't something we recommend doing regularly. For that reason we'd only rely on such chargers in an emergency or as an en route stop on a long journey where such a top-up is necessary.

Since April 2025 electric cars have been subject to an annual Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) bill the same as combustion-engined models from the first anniversary of registration, which is the same point at which the Expensive Car Supplement — the luxury car tax — also kicks in for those costing £40,000 or over. The least costly EX30s are well under that threshold.

Electric cars are particularly attractive to company car drivers thanks to their low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax band of 3%.

The Volvo EX30 is offered in four equipment grades — Core, Plus, Ultra and Cross Country.

The entry-level Volvo EX30 Core comes with features including:

• 18-inch 5-spoke Aero alloy wheels
• Electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors
• Automatic LED head and tail lights
• Automatic main beam
• Automatic windscreen wipers
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Digital key
• Indigo textile and Nordico upholstery
• 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Integrated Google services
• Dashboard soundbar incorporating four speakers
• Single-zone climate control
• Adaptive cruise control

To that roster the Volvo EX30 Plus adds:

• 19-inch 5-spoke Aero alloy wheels
• Two-tone paint
• Auto-dimming door mirrors incorporating puddle lights
• Electric tailgate
• Indigo textile and Nordico/Pine wool blend and Nordico upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Harman Kardon premium sound system
• Dashboard soundbar incorporating seven speakers
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Dual-zone climate control
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror
• Pilot Assist driving assistance package

A further upgrade to the Volvo EX30 Ultra adds:

• 20-inch 5-spoke Aero diamond-cut alloy wheels
• Dark-tinted rear privacy windows
• Panoramic roof
• 360-degree camera
• Park Pilot Assist
• Electrically adjustable front seats with driver's seat memory function
• Indigo textile and Nordico/Breeze Pixel knit and Nordico/Mist Tailored wool blend upholstery

Atop the range is the Volvo EX30 Cross Country which includes:

• 19-inch 5-spoke Aero Matt Graphite alloy wheels
• Front bumper design incorporating the Kebnekaise mountain range graphic
• Front and rear bumper skid plates
• Unpainted plastic wheelarch extensions