Volvo EX30 Review 2026

Given the ever-increasing popularity of compact electric SUVs, it was inevitable that the Volvo EX30 would be launched at some point. It's the Swedish brand’s smallest car since the Volvo 343 debuted 50 years ago, but this is no back-catalogue reimagining — it's modern styling and minimalist interior has suburban-dwelling young families firmly in its sights. Find out if it deserves to win them over with our full Volvo EX30 review.

Get up close to the Volvo EX30 and you're struck by just how petite it is, despite the chunkiness of its styling — that angularity, long a Volvo design hallmark, leaves you in no doubt of its Scandinavian origins. Although, such is the international reality of car manufacturing that for the first couple of years EX30s sold in the UK were Chinese-made, switching to being Belgian-sourced in 2025. 

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 that dilute elements of its brand ethos. Even so, the EX30 makes for a tempting alternative to the likes of the excellent Kia EV3, the distinctive MINI Aceman and the retrofuturistic Renault 4 E-Tech.

Underneath its bodywork, the Volvo EX30 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 three battery sizes and two power outputs for the Volvo, ranging from muscular to monstrous, with the quickest Twin Motor Performance versions additionally featuring all-wheel drive. Less gutsy EX30s send their power exclusively to the rear wheels. 

Six trim levels are available with the line-up topped by the Volvo EX30 Cross Country. As with previous Volvos wearing that badge, its exterior's clad in tough-looking unpainted plastic addenda, along with a modest elevation in its ride height.

This being a Volvo the emphasis is on sensible thinking, although that previous clarity of thought appears cloudier in some of the EX30's aspects, particularly with its interior. It feels genuinely fresh with recycled plastics in a variety of colours and finishes illustrating the company's sustainability focus, which feels entirely in tune with the design's minimalism.

There's also plenty of innovation on-board as well, with the infotainment in particular being very clever — but arguably too clever for its own good. How so? Well, there are very few physical buttons or controls inside, with most functions requiring operation via the touchscreen interface. That makes the system needlessly comple — and totally at odds with Volvo's safety mantra which has served it so well for decades.

Nevertheless, there are various features that really add to the EX30's appeal, such as the cleverly designed funky centre console storage areas and whimsical handy touches, including the ‘will it fit?’ graphic, inside the tailgate. These make the car fun while remaining reasonably practical.

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

With public charging being so expensive many EV buyers are consiering leaner, more efficient models rather than those simply fitted with an enormous battery pack. 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 energy economy.

In terms of overall driving range for the Volvo EX30, Single Motor versions can officially cover 209 miles on a full charge, while Single Motor Extended Range variants extend that potential upwards to 294-295 miles.

It's the same larger battery pack in the Twin Motor Performance models, but their extra 156PS of power inevitably makes them hungrier for electrons, paring back the driving range in the process. Officially they can still manage a useful 279 miles, although the less aerodynamically efficient Cross Country version's tally is trimmed to 270 miles.

Volvo has also designed the EX30 to be ideally suited to owners with a 7.4kW AC home wallbox charger, with battery sizes that can be easily replenished while plugged in overnight. Single Motor 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 Extended Range 65kWh battery can be recharged at up to 153kW that same level of replenishment takes 28 minutes despite its extra capacity.

Having been designed with city streets rather than serious off-roading firmly in mind, it comes as no surprise to find that the Volvo EX30 is a cinch to pilot around town.

This is largely thanks to its modest dimensions — 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.

Note that the EX30 Cross Country differs slightly, being 2040mm wide and 1573mm tall, with other measurements remaining unchanged.

While it would be a stretch to describe the Volvo's handling characteristics as fun, its tenacious grip ensures that speed can be gamely maintained through windier corners, with body lean kept in check, including with the Cross Country's greater suspension travel.

Those lengthier springs also pay dividends in how the EX30 Cross Country keeps its composure over more undulating A- and B-roads, where the more hunkered-down models display a tendency to be prone to slightly out of synch with the asphalt's topography.

One thing that’s immediately noticeable is the EX30's steering 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 more than on the open. Squared-off in shape, the steering wheel is something of a curio, also being rather thin-rimmed, that delicate detail 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, incorporating dynamic cruise control, 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 automatic transmission up to an electronically governed top speed of 112mph.

Entry point to the range is simply labelled Single Motor, with the said drive unit mounted under the boot floor driving the rear wheels, 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. 

Pause for a moment and remember this is the entry-level model of a small family SUV packing the kind of accelerative urgency normally associated with brisker sports cars not that many years ago.

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 larger battery appears in the EX30 Twin Motor Performance, which boasts 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.

Coming from a brand with a long and intrinsic association with high levels of car safety, the good news is that despite its diminutive dimensions the Volvo EX30 will perform well if you're unfortunately enough to be involved in an accident. 

Its fundamental structural integrity along with a suite of driver assistance technology helped it score a full five-star rating when it was assessed by the crash-testing experts at Euro NCAP in 2024.

Within the organisation's four categories it was scored at 88% for adult occupant protection, 85% for children, protection for vulnerable road users was judged to be 79% and its on-board safety assistance systems were rated at 80%.

Many of the latest aids are fitted to the EX30, including a warning that alerts you if you’re about to open your door with a cyclist approaching from behind. Further supplementing your driving is the Pilot Assist function, fitted to Plus models and above, which is an all-encompassing system incorporating adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and motorway lane changes activiated by flicking the indicator stalk.

Similarly, Volvo’s Park Pilot Assist is designed to automatically 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.

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 Volvo EX30 as their first foray into the world of electric vehicles, it isn’t without a few niggles, the majority of which hide in plain sight once you've stepped inside.

As is not uncommon these days, a central touchscreen dominates the EX30's dashboard, but Volvo's seen fit not to complement it with a separate driver's instrumentation screen or even the availability of a head-up display to project key data onto the inside of the windscreen.

This results in the top of the screen being used to display details such as your speed, in a position that forces you to divert your gaze from the road ahead to a greater degree than you otherwise would. This seems at odds with Volvo’s safety obsession, as does the decision to include the fog lights and hazard warning lights controls within the touchscreen, along with other functions that might be required frequently, such as the door mirror controls.

Needless to say the climate control adjusters are also integral to the touchscreen, although these have permanently visible shortcuts to access them all the time. Physical controls still remain preferable, but even where they do exist they have the potential to frustrate, such as those for operating the windows.

With the EX30, Volvo's copied a page from the Volkswagen ID.3's playbook with only two rocker switches operating all four windows. They default to the front pair, with a touch-sensitive area adjacent to them required to activate the rears. It's a cost-cutting solution that smacks of cheapness.

That in itself also feels at odds with the rest of the Volvo EX30's interior. Yes much of the interior is fashioned from plastics but the textures and colours of the various components have been used imaginatively — in the main the vibe is sophisticated and cheerful, not nasty. The components' added durability is a bonus in a car aimed at young families.

Once you have the various screen-based controls sussed, obtaining a comfortable driving position is straightforward, with plenty of adustability for the seat and steering wheel position. All-round visibility is fine, although you don't sit as loftily in the EX30 as you do in the firm's next-smallest SUV, the Volvo XC40.

Space up front is generous and feels it thanks to the low-line dashboard and the lack of an elevated join between it and the centre console thanks to the drive selector being positioned on the right of the steering column.

There's less room in the back, although a 6ft-tall passenger should be able to sit reasonably comfortably behind someone in the front of the same height. There's not a level of legroom generosity to allow lower limbs to really stretch out and relax, while taller occupants will feel their heads brushing the ceiling.

A fifth passenger sitting in the middle of the EX30's rear bench is going have drawn the short straw, with a narrow gap between the seatbelt buckles and a shorter, less supportive cushion to sit on. While the rear floor only has a subtly raised central section, the back of the centre console eats into the available legroom, plus it will feel tight for elbow room with three abreast. 

For most EX30 owners, it will be kids sat in the back, so its spaciousness is less of an issue than the increasingly shallow windows might be — smaller passengers could find it a tad claustrophobic. Isofix seat-mounting points are fitted to the outer positions.

In-car storage solutions are generally more thoughtful than the mid-mounted dashboard glovebox. 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.

Far handier is the centre console, much of which is open for keeping larger items such as a handbag in, while the top retracts and opens at three positions to reveal one cupholder, then a second and finally a small compartment for keys and suchlike.

More thought would be welcome with regards to the wireless smartphone charging pad, which seems unable to hold a device securely, lolling this way and that with the Volvo's direction changes. It's telling that it soon becomes tempting to simply deposit phones in the large door bins instead and forget its battery level.

There's a practicality argument for choosing the Volvo EX30 Cross Country over its less expensive rangemates due to its unpainted plastic exterior add-ons. Those sections, including wheelarch extensions, door sills, much of the front bumper and a panel across the tailgate, hide light scuffs far better than painted surfaces.

In Cross Country guise the EX30 also sits 19mm higher with ground clearance of 196mm. That could prove  more beneficial for less mobile folk getting in and out than for taking the Volvo off-road but its extra height allows it to tackle marginally more challenging terrain than other EX30s — one degree extra approach angle at the front and two more for the rear's departure angle.

Pop open the EX30's tailgate and you'll spot the ‘will it fit?’ graphic inside giving some handy hints on what will and won't slot through its opening.

Cargo space can be boosted by dropping the 60/40 split-folding rear seats. They don't lie completely horizontally but the boot floor is positioned so as to avoid a step when loading long, heavy items, with space beneath for hiding things away.

Up to the luggage cover there's 318 litres of cargo volume, increasing to 1000 litres with the back seats folded and when loaded to the roof height. There's an additional 19 litres of space beneath the front bonnet.

Compared with its key rivals, the EX30's on the small side next to Kia's EV3, which offers 460 litres with the rear seats in use and 1250 litres when they're folded, plus a further 25 under the bonnet. MINI's Aceman is on par with the Volvo at 300 litres and 1005 litres respectively, but no frunk under its bonnet.

Renault's 4 Tech also bests the Volvo, but it's 420-litre seats-up volume is shy of the Kia's total, yet it leaps ahead when it's rear seats are tipped over at 1405 litres. As with the MINI, there's no storage space beneath the bonnet.

Particularly handy for those who prefer to reverse into parking spaces, especially at public charging points, the EX30 is plugged into a port located on its left rear wing, where a fuel filler flap might otherwise be.

Whichever of the Volvo EX30's six 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 pleasingly upmarket and in keeping with what many buyers' expectations are of a Volvo interior. In lower-reach zones, the plastics are of a lower grade and are generally less pleasant to touch, but not to such a degree as to sully the overall ambience. 

There's a significant amount of visual interest injected by the use of recycled plastics that are punctuated with contrasting colour flecks, while the transparent toggles on the air vents — incidentally, these are all identical in shape and side to reduce costs — are another appealing touch.

Four especially classy details are the chrome interior door complete with a similarly finished continuation trim. A small matter, perhaps, but an important quality-feeling touchpoint each and every time you and your passengers leave the car.

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 is used to access most of the fitted features and functions.

Aside from some of those quirks already mentioned, 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 Android Auto smartphone connectivity remains available, as does Apple CarPlay for those on that side of the fence.

Another EX30 innovation is the Harman-Kardon soundbar fitted to Plus specification models and above, which snuggles along the top of the dash at the base of the windscreen. This is the only audio source you get in the Volvo, but the quality of its construction means the sound it delivers is good, regardless of whereabouts you're sat.

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 launch.

Prices for the Volvo EX30 Core Single Motor started at £33,060, while the larger capacity battery of the Single Motor Extended Range model can be had from around £37,260 in the same trim.

Stepping up to Plus specification adds £2100 to the price of the Single Motor choice at £35,160, while the Extended Range version is £2600 pricier at £39,860. Plus is also the lowest EX30 specification with which the Twin Motor Performance drive system is available at £42,360.

Ultra represents the next grade shift and is solely available with the larger battery size, with both the Single Motor Extended Range and Twin Motor Performance being priced £3500 than their Plus-trimmed equivalents at £43,360 and £45,860 respectively.

Barring the Single Motor with the smaller battery, all EX30 Plus and Ultra models can be further upgraded to Black Edition guise. For Plus Black Editions the upgrade costs £200 for the Single Motor Extended and £500 for the Twin Motor Performance at £40,060 and £42,860 respectively, while there's no price increase at all for Ultra Black Editions.

Heading the range and only available with the most powerful drive system is the Volvo EX30 Cross Country Twin Motor Performance, weighing in at £47,060.

What of the Volvo's rivals? You'll need between £33,055 and £43,955 to get behind the wheel of a Kia EV3, while the MINI Aceman starts at £28,905 and continues on to £36,905.

For the Renault 4 E-Tech you're looking at £23,445 to £27,945 but there are two points of note, here. Firstly, its performance levels are much lower and it's the only range of this trio eligible for the government's Electric Car Grant (ECG), so those prices are inclusive of a £3750 discount.

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 replenish. 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 iby at least 50%.

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. 

However, while the cost threshold for cars fitted with combustion engines to face the levy is £40,000, it's £50,000 for EVs, a ceiling that all EX30s are comfortably below. 

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 six equipment grades — Core, Plus, Plus Black Edition, Ultra, Ultra Black Edition and Cross Country.

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

• 18-inch 5-spoke Aero alloy wheels
• Automatic LED head, daytime-running and tail lights
• Automatic main beam
• Automatic windscreen wipers
• Electrically adjustable, folding and heated frameless door mirrors
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Digital Key
• 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen
• DAB digital radio
• Integrated Google services including Google Maps
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity
• High Performance Audio 100W four-speaker dashboard-mounted soundbar
• Textile and Nordico faux leather upholstery in Indigo with Denim Deco Panel dashboard trim
• Single-zone automatic climate control
• Heat pump
• Adaptive cruise control
• Hill Start Assist
• Hill Decent Control

To that roster the Volvo EX30 Plus adds:

• 19-inch 5-spoke Aero diamond cut alloy wheels — Single Motor Extended Range and Twin Motor Performance
• Two-tone paint
• Electrically adjustable, folding and heated frameless door mirrors with incorporated ground lighting and auto-dimming glass on driver's side
• Digital Key Plus including keytag
• Electrically operated tailgate
• Harman Kardon Premium Sound 1040W seven-speaker dashboard-mounted soundbar
• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Textile and Nordico faux leather upholstery in Indigo with Denim Deco Panel dashboard trim or
• Wool Blend and Nordico faux leather upholstery in Pine with Flax Deco Panel dashboard trim
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Interior ambient lighting with five animated colour themes
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror
• Pilot Assist driving assistance package

Upgrading from Plus specification, the Volvo EX30 Ultra adds:

• 20-inch 5-spoke Aero diamond-cut alloy wheels
• Dark-tinted rear privacy windows
• Panoramic roof
• 360-degree parking camera system
• Park Pilot Assist
• Electrically adjustable front seats with driver's seat lumbar adjustment and memory function
• Textile and Nordico faux leather upholstery in Indigo with Denim Deco Panel dashboard trim or
• Wool Blend and Nordico faux leather upholstery in Pine with Flax Deco Panel dashboard trim or
• Tailored Wool Blend upholstery in Mist with Flax Deco Panel dashboard trim or
• Pixel Knit and Nordico faux leather upholstery in Breeze with Particle Deco Panel dashboard trim
• 22kW AC on-board charger

An upgrade package is also available in the guises of the Volvo EX30 Plus Black Edition and the Volvo EX30 Ultra Black Edition with additional and replacement features over the corresponding Plus and Ultra grades including:

• 19-inch 5-spoke High Gloss Black alloy wheels
• Onyx Black paint
• High Gloss Black exterior badging
• Dark-tinted rear privacy windows — Plus Black Edition only
• Textile and Nordico faux leather upholstery in Indigo with Denim Deco Panel dashboard trim

Atop the range is the Volvo EX30 Cross Country which builds upon the Ultra grade with:

• 19-inch 5-spoke Aero Matt Graphite alloy wheels
• 19mm ride height increase
• Front bumper design incorporating the Kebnekaise mountain range graphic
• Front and rear bumper skid plates
• Wheelarch extensions and side sill covers
• Tailgate Shield
• Textile and Nordico faux leather upholstery in Indigo with Denim Deco Panel dashboard trim or
• Wool Blend and Nordico faux leather upholstery in Pine with Flax Deco Panel dashboard trim